His Forbidden Obsession

expect me to join him for dinner after kidnapping me-it was almost laughable. Almost. If I

be smart, calculated. I couldn't afford any mistakes. The only sound in the room wa

and I sat up immediately, my

e was dressed in all black-a fitted shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders and tailored pants that spoke

noring invitations?" he asked, th

tions? You mean demands. You kidnapped me. I'm not

the door behind him with a soft cl

a shiver down my spine, thoug

k, glaring at him. "I

l. But instead, he let out a slow, measured breath, like a

't a negotiation. When I say you're expected to join me for dinner, you d

fear. "Why do you even care if I show up? I'm su

ow. That makes you my responsibility. Whether you like it or not, you'll

a dog," I

curving into a faint smi

o my feet, fists clenched at m

towering over me. "And you're testing my patience," he said, h

ld've kidnapped some

im too far. But instead of lashing out, he chuckled-a deep,

to himself. "I'll give you that.

demanded, my voice trembling despit

eadable. Then, he reached out and grabbed my wrist-

o understand your place here. The sooner you

ck down. "You're wasting your time

o a slow, predatory

rned and strode toward the

ing me?" I asked,

aid simply, not e

ou I'm no

you it wasn'

e hallway. I thrashed and tried to dig my heels into the ca

he finally released me, and I stu

elier hung overhead, casting a warm glow over the long

it

N

sed by my defiance. "Do you reall

it, I knew he wasn't bluffing. With a reluctant sigh, I sa

ments smooth and deliberate. He poured himse

this?" I asked, b

ng w

here. What's

g. "You're here because your husband made

at does that mean? Are you going to sell me o

endgame is none of your concern. For now, all

if I

his teeth looked, like a predator toying with its prey. "Then

I refused to look aw

in his chair. "But I'm a monster

barely touched the food. My appetite had va

nderstanding his motives than I'd been before. But on

own at me, his expression a mask.

in the dimly lit dining room, my mind racing

ould trap my turbulent thoughts on the other side. My pulse was errati

est, my arms wrapped around them for a semblance of comfort. I wasn't sure what the hell had just happe

m. My thoughts spiraled as I sat there, staring at the shadows on the ceiling. Ronan's voi

ointed to midnight. The house had fallen into an eerie s

s my ch

hear me in these. I slipped them on, exhaling a shaky breath as I approached the door. My hand hovered ove

ted shadows along the ornate walls. Every creak of the floorboards under my

in the dim light. I gripped the bannister, my steps cautious as I

massive, ornate structure that looked more like the entra

fingers curled around the cool metal of the door hand

ng I nearly sobbed. I pulled the door o

somew

lace, low and silken, d

over his broad chest, his posture relaxed but his presence anything but. His dark eyes g

an excuse, but his sharp ey

re to go. My back pressed against the partially open door, the cool night air

" he asked, his tone mockingly sweet, as th

blance of defiance. "What did you expect? You kidn

e enough now that I could see the faint stubble on his ja

whisper. "You thought you could just walk out the front do

ing. "I'd rather take my chances ou

ng through the space between us. "Bold

not

doorframe beside my head. The scent of him- dark and woody with a

usly close to my ear. "Do you really think Julian is losing

ring up at him. "Don't talk about him like tha

ow he sold you to me for ten million dollars without a secon

ed to let him see how deeply his

chin, tilting my face up so I had no choice but to meet his eyes

ated myself for the way my body reacted to him. This man was my capto

said, my voice quieter

into something darker, more possessive. "That's not how this works

his words settling over me like a h

my cheek. "Oh, you will. Soon enough, you'l

way as he stepped back. "Go back to your room, Celeste. And

nding as he turned and walked away, h

him that I realized I was trembling-not from

couldn't aff

that cou