Chapter 74 74
He moved toward her.
No he stalked.
Every step was slow, deliberate, predatory. Her legs were already weak, her body still trembling and pliant from everything he’d done to her. Dizziness clung to her, leaving her boneless and unsteady.
Her mind was a tangled, hazy mess, thoughts blurring into one another until only a single realization remained, sharp and undeniable.
He hadn’t forced himself on her.
He could have. Easily. But he hadn’t.
“Come,” he said, extending his hand.
She stared at it for a long moment, unmoving. Then, instead of taking it, she quietly lay down on the couch, turning her back to him and squeezing her eyes shut.
She expected him to leave her alone.
Mr. Ruiz had other plans.
A sharp gasp tore from her lips when he lifted her effortlessly into his arms, carrying her bridal-style. A startled yelp followed as her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, her eyes widening as she stared up at him.
His closeness sent her heart into a frantic sprint.
He laid her gently on the bed, but before she could scramble away or even think about running he hovered over her, supporting his weight on his hands. She gasped at the nearness, curling her fists against her chest like a shield.
“If you try to escape this bed,” he said coldly, “I’ll punish you.”
A shiver of electric awareness slid down her spine. She knew exactly what he meant. And after the punishment she’d already endured, she was certain it would only be worse.
“Am I clear?” His voice was stern, unyielding.
Sofía said nothing.
He dipped his head and pressed a brief kiss to her lips. She shrank back instinctively.
“Are we clear?” he repeated, his tone sharper now, edged with fraying restraint.
She nodded.
A slow smile curved his lips. He rewarded her with another soft peck—this one deliberate before dropping down beside her on the bed.
A breath rushed out of her in a shaky whoosh. She immediately scooted away, turning toward the wall and curling herself into a tight ball at the edge of the mattress. One more inch and she’d fall.
The bed dipped.
Movement.
A startled gasp escaped her as a strong arm wrapped around her waist, dragging her back until her spine collided with a solid, unyielding chest.
She froze.
Rigid as a drawn bow, she lay trapped in his embrace as he shifted, settling behind her, spooning her effortlessly. He swept her hair up and away from her neck, baring her nape, and brushed his nose along her skin.
Sparks exploded.
He kissed her there, slow and intimate, inhaling deeply as though committing her scent to memory.
When he finally stilled, she began to struggle.
With both hands and every ounce of strength she had, she tried to pry his arm away. Instead, his grip tightened, jerking her back against him and pulling another gasp from her lips.
She kept wriggling.
A thunderous growl rumbled against her back.
“Stop fucking moving. You’re turning me on.”
She went utterly still.
Her body went limp in his arms, fear and awareness locking her in place. She didn’t dare move again.
She lay awake while his breathing slowly evened out, calm and steady sleep claiming him while she remained trapped in the dark with her thoughts.
Sleep refused to come.
And in some twisted, confusing way… she felt safe.
He hadn’t hurt her the way she had expected after discovering the truth about him.
Her fingers found the pendant at her chest, fidgeting with it nervously. His hold never loosened, not even in sleep, as if some part of him feared she’d disappear.
With great effort, she shifted, turning to face him, her arms wedged between their chests.
Moonlight spilled softly across his face.
She studied him quietly. His brow was smooth. No harsh lines. No cold stare. He looked peaceful. Almost… divine.
How badly she wished things were different. How easily she could have chosen him if only he’d told her the truth.
The betrayal burned.
She wanted to hurt him for it. To punish him.
Yet the thought of seeing him in pain made her chest ache.
It was ridiculous.
She didn’t understand herself anymore.
The future loomed heavy in her mind.
What would become of them?
There were too many unanswered questions. Too many misunderstandings waiting to be unraveled.
She would have to choose.
Because she knew without doubt he would never let her go.
Either she gave him another chance… or she stayed like this forever. Sad. Broken. Stubborn.
She watched him for hours, unmoving, until exhaustion finally dragged her under.
A loud moan tore from her lips.
Heat engulfed her, sudden and overwhelming, as though fire had been lit beneath her skin. Her body buzzed, jolting with sensation.
Sparks everywhere.
Another moan slipped free as her back arched, fingers clutching the sheets. She felt something pressing inside her, and her eyes flew open in shock locking onto dark green ones.
He hovered over her, half-on the bed, half-above her.
His large hand was buried between her thighs.
A sharp cry escaped her as he slipped another finger into her, working her relentlessly.
She panted, grasping his wrist in a futile attempt to stop him, but he was unwavering driven. His lips brushed her jaw, then her neck, feather-light kisses that only fueled the pleasure burning through her.
She tried to close her legs.
He tangled his leg with hers, forcing them open wider as his pace quickened.
Sofía shattered.
She collapsed back against the bed, chest heaving as she struggled to regain focus, the world slowly coming back into place.
If this was how he chose to wake her in the morning…
She was certain she might one day die from the pleasure he gave her.