Chapter 20

Chapter 20
Willow POV
I stopped struggling.
Even—kissed him back.
I felt his body freeze.
Then he kissed me deeper, dominating and fierce.
His hand slid from the back of my neck down to my waist, lifting me entirely, pinning me against the wall.
The robe's tie came loose. His hand slipped inside.
His scorching fingertips touched my skin, making me shudder.
"Crying?" He pulled his lips away, voice low and ragged. "Sorry. My sex addiction's kicking in. If you don't want this, you can leave now."
I said nothing. Instead, I hooked my arms around his neck.
"Someone hurt you?" He bit my earlobe. "Want revenge?"
How did he know?
"Use me," he said. "I don't mind."
His hand covered my thigh.
"But you need to be sure."
"Once we start," his thumb brushed my lips, "I won't stop halfway."
"I'm sure." My voice sounded cold, almost frightening.
"Then don't regret it."
He scooped me up and strode toward the bed.
The negligee was pushed up to my waist. His burning lips traveled down from my collarbone.
"Don't think about anything else," he murmured in my ear as I drifted. "Tonight, think only of me."
Then everything spiraled out of control.
Our bodies fit perfectly. Pleasure struck deep into my soul, wave after wave of climaxes, until dawn broke.
Feeling the man's low, steady breathing, I didn't sleep. My legs trembling, I got out of bed, dressed, and tried to slip away quietly.
As for Charles—he was probably still in Rachel's bed.
What happened tonight would remain between me and no one else.
As I opened the door to leave, I glanced back one last time.
That one glance made my eyes widen!
The man was impossibly handsome.
Sharp brows, striking eyes, features as chiseled and perfect as an ancient Greek sculpture.
But how could it be him?
Sterling Lancaster!
Charles's cousin!
The current head of the Lancaster family!
Rumor had it Sterling was cold by nature, distant even with relatives. In all the years I'd been with Charles, I'd only met him for the first time yesterday.
I hurried back to my room, not noticing the pair of eyes watching me with bitter resentment from the shadows of the hallway.
After I disappeared, a woman stepped out from the corner, a cold smile curling her lips. She removed her necklace and slipped it through the crack under my door.
As I expected, Charles hadn't returned yet.
Exhausted, I took a shower. When I came out, Charles was back.
"Honey..."
The moment he saw me, his expression looked unnatural.
"It's still early. Why don't you sleep a little more?"
His show of concern made me sick.
If he loved me, why did he sleep with another woman?
"Where did you go?"
"Couldn't sleep. Went for a walk. Why? Can't sleep well when I'm not beside you?"
Desire flickered in his eyes as he reached to pull me into his arms. "It's still early. Let's finish what we didn't do last night."
His hand met empty air. Charles's face darkened.
"Willow, what's wrong with you? Since yesterday, you won't let me touch you."
"Didn't we agree? After the wedding, we'd give each other our first time."
Hearing him say that made my stomach turn.
He'd just climbed out of another woman's bed, and now he had the nerve to touch me?
But I didn't show it. I just said coolly:
"I'm hungry."
Perhaps feeling guilty, he looked apologetic, even concerned.
"I'll get you breakfast."
I gave him a mocking smile. After doing something like that, Charles had the audacity to face me without a hint of shame.
Before long, Charles returned with a sandwich and a glass of warm milk.
On the sandwich, he'd drawn a frowning face with ketchup.
One of Charles's usual tricks.
"I was too excited yesterday. I didn't think about how you were feeling. I didn't realize you were so tired. I'm sorry, honey."
Charles reached for my hand.
"When it's just the two of us, you can throw all the tantrums you want. But at the family banquet later, please don't act this way. You need to make a good impression on the elders."
He spoke earnestly.
I sipped my milk without responding.
Which of those condescending Lancaster elders truly respected me anyway?
The wedding had been held at a Lancaster-owned hotel, attended by every notable family in high society.
The next day's family banquet was set at the Lancaster estate—family only.
I was distracted the entire drive.
Charles assumed I was just nervous and kept trying to reassure me.
The car stopped at the entrance. We got out, just as a man stepped out of another car.
Polished leather shoes. Long legs in tailored suit pants. Six-foot-three, imposing presence.
Sterling looked like he'd just come from a negotiation, his cold, chiseled face slightly grim, radiating the natural authority of someone in power.
The moment he stepped out, his eyes found me.
I met his emotionless gaze—deep emerald green, holding a dangerously captivating edge.
My heart leapt into my throat.
"Sterling."
Charles greeted him respectfully.
I felt Sterling's icy stare settle on the top of my head.
My pulse raced.
What now?
Would he recognize me?