Chapter 13

~Natalie~

My head felt heavy, my thoughts sluggish and clouded. I tried to push herself up, but my limbs felt like lead weights. What happened? Where was I? Panic began to rise in my throat as fragmented memories surfaced— the gala, the drink, Lucien...

Oh God, Lucien. My husband. The man I loathed with every fiber of my being. And now... now he was here, with me, in this dimly lit room that smelled faintly of lavender and something more faint.

I turned my head slowly, my neck stiff and uncooperative. There he was, sprawled on the bed beside me, his chest rising and falling in even breaths. He looked peaceful, almost innocent in sleep. But I knew better.

Memories of the night before came rushing back. The bitter taste of the drugged champagne on my tongue. The way the world had started to tilt and spin. And then... then Lucien had been there, catching her as her knees buckled.

My stomach churned with a mix of fear and something else, something darker and more primal. She tried to move away from him, but her body wouldn't cooperate. Instead, she found herself rolling towards him, her breasts pressing against his muscular chest.

I could feel the heat of his skin through the thin silk of her gown. Feel the way his heart beat steadily beneath my palm. It would be so easy to just close her eyes and let sleep take me again. To forget, for a little while, the tangled mess our lives had become.

But I couldn't. I had to get away, had to escape before he woke and I was trapped here with him. I gritted my teeth and willed her legs to move, to carry me out of this nightmare. But all they did was tangle with him, drawing me even closer to him. It seemed the drug hadn't worn off yet.

I could feel his breath ghosting across my cheek, could smell the faint scent of whiskey on his skin. My traitorous body responded to his proximity, nipples hardening as heat pooled between my thighs. No, no, no. I couldn't want this, couldn't want him. Not after everything he'd done.

But my body didn't seem to care about my mind's protests. It arched into him eagerly as his hand found my hip, his touch sending electric jolts of pleasure through my nerves. "Lucien," I whispered, hating the need I heard in my own voice.

He stirred at the sound, his eyes fluttering open to meet mine. For a moment, he just stared at me,his gaze heavy-lidded and confused. Then understanding dawned, followed swiftly by a cold, calculating hunger that made me shiver.

"Well, well," he purred, his voice low and rough with sleep. "Looks like we're finally getting our honeymoon after all."

I tried to pull away, but his grip on my hip tightened, holding me in place. "Let me go," I snarled, hating how weak and breathless I sounded.

Lucien just laughed, a dark, mocking sound that sent chills down my spine. "And miss out on all this?" His hand slid up from my hip to cup my breast, his thumb brushing over my nipple through the thin fabric of my gown. "I don't think so."

I bit back a moan as pleasure sparked through me at his touch. I wanted to hate him, wanted to fight him off and run as far and as fast as I could. But my body betrayed me, arching into his caress like a slut.

Lucien seemed to sense my weakness, his touch growing bolder as he tugged at the bodice of my gown. The silk gave way with a soft tearing sound, exposing my breasts to the cool air of the room. Natalie shivered, goosebumps rising on my skin.

"You're mine," Lucien growled, his mouth descending to claim one rosy peak. "My wife. My woman. And I'm going to fuck you until you forget your own name."

He sucked hard on my nipple, his teeth grazing the sensitive flesh and sending jolts of pleasure-pain straight to my core. Natalie cried out, my hands coming up to tangle in his hair, not to push him away but to pull him closer.

Lucien chuckled against my skin, the sound vibrating through my chest. His hand left my breast to trail down my stomach, his fingers dipping beneath the hem of my gown to stroke the smooth skin of my inner thigh.

My legs fell open of their own accord, inviting his touch higher. I could feel how wet I was already, how much my body craved his despite everything. It was humiliating, degrading... but it also felt so good.

Lucien's fingers found me through the damp silk of my panties, stroking along my slit and teasing me with feather-light touches. "So wet for me already," he murmured, nipping at the sensitive skin beneath my ear. "You want this, don't you? Want me to fill you up and fuck you until you scream."

"Yes," I heard myself whimper, all thoughts of resistance evaporating under the sensation. "Please..."

I felt almost drunk on the power of his touch, on the way he could make my body sing with pleasure against my will. It was wrong, so wrong... but God help me, I didn't want it to stop.

Lucien seemed to sense my submission, his fingers growing bolder as he pushed my panties aside and sank one long digit into my slick heat. I cried out at the sudden intrusion, my walls clenching around him as if to draw him deeper.

He pumped his finger in and out of me slowly, drawing out the sensation until I was writhing beneath him, desperate for more. His thumb found my clit again, circling the sensitive nub with merciless precision.

"Look at you," he breathed, watching my face with avid eyes as he worked me closer to the edge. "So pretty when you're desperate for my cock."

Natalie wanted to deny it, wanted to tell him that I didn't want this, didn't want him... but the words died in my throat as he added a second finger, stretching me in preparation for his thick length.

I could feel the pressure building inside me, could feel the tension coiling tighter and tighter in my core. Lucien seemed to sense it too, his touch growing rougher, more demanding.

"Come for me," he growled, his fingers plunging deep as his thumb rubbed tight circles around my clit. "Now."

The command in his voice shattered the last of my control. I came with a sharp cry, my body convulsing around his fingers as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over me.

Lucien rode out my orgasm with expert skill, drawing out every last drop of ecstasy until I was limp and spent beneath him. Only then did he withdraw his fingers, bringing them to his mouth to lick them clean.