Page 58 of Misconducts & Temptation

His words wrapped around me like a warm blanket, making my heart race even faster. Keaton's pace quickened, each thrust more urgent and desperate than the last. I could feel him growing more erratic, his grip on my hips tightening as he chased his own release.

"Fuck," he groaned, his breath hot against my ear. "You're perfect."

The intensity of his movements built, each powerful thrust driving me closer to the edge once more. His hands roamed over my body, touching and caressing in a way that made every nerve ending come alive.

Keaton's breath grew ragged, and I could feel the tension in his body as he neared his climax. With a final deep thrust, he buried himself inside me and stilled. His body shuddered, and I felt the warmth of his release filling me.

He collapsed onto me gently, careful not to crush me under his weight. Our breaths mingled as we lay there, tangled together in the aftermath of our shared passion. I could still feel the aftershocks of pleasure coursing through my body, a lingering reminder of the intensity we'd just experienced.

"Thank you," I whispered back to him, unsure if he even heard me over the pounding of our hearts.

Keaton lifted his head slightly to look at me again, his eyes softening with an emotion I couldn't quite name. He brushed a strand of hair away from my face and pressed a tender kiss to my forehead.

"Such a good girl," he said quietly. "And you're mine."

His possessive words filled me with an unexpected sense of belonging. In that moment, lying in Keaton's arms, I felt like I had finally found something—or someone—that was mine, too.

Chapter 18

Keaton

Elodie fell asleep easily, her breath steady and soft against the silence. I watched her, unable to tear my eyes away. The harsh lines of worry and exhaustion smoothed out on her face, revealing a softness that caught me off guard. Her lashes cast delicate shadows over her cheeks, and I found myself tracing the contours of her face with my gaze, memorizing every detail.

She stirred slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips, and an unexpected wave of protectiveness surged through me. I never expected to feel this way. Fierce. Possessive. She was mine now.

Gently, I wrapped her in a blanket, careful not to wake her. The room was dimly lit, casting a warm glow over the aftermath of our lovemaking. The sheets were tangled, evidence of the intensity we’d shared.

Lovemaking… It struck me then that I'd never thought of it that way before. Every other encounter had been mechanical, a means to an end. But with Elodie, it had been different. It had been raw, real.

My eyes caught sight of the blood on the sheets. A small stain but significant. She really was a virgin. A strange mix of emotions swirled within me—pride, astonishment. I thought I'd be disgusted by it, but instead, I felt an odd sense of hunger.

Proof that this marriage was real.

I settled beside her, my mind racing yet oddly calm. This wasn't just about defying my father or escaping Lola anymore. Elodie had become more than a pawn in my game; she was becoming my anchor.

I brushed a strand of hair from her face and watched as she slept peacefully on.

My cock started to stir, an all-too-familiar sensation that usually led to me waking up whoever was beside me for round two—or three. But tonight, I stayed still. The thought of waking her up crossed my mind briefly, but something held me back. She was probably sore from earlier, and despite the persistent ache in my pants, I didn’t want to add to her discomfort.

I scowled at the ceiling, annoyed by the sudden wave of concern. Since when did I care about anyone's comfort but my own? It felt foreign, almost wrong, to be considerate. Normally, I wouldn’t have given it a second thought. Normally, I'd be getting what I wanted regardless of the cost.

But with Elodie... something was different.

I turned my head to look at her again. Her breathing remained steady, her face relaxed in sleep. The faint glow from the bedside lamp highlighted her features in a way that made her seem almost ethereal. She looked peaceful, untouched by the shit of my world. It stirred something inside me—something that both intrigued and irritated me.

I shifted slightly, trying to ease the discomfort in my groin without waking her. My scowl deepened as I realized how much this situation bothered me. Caring wasn’t part of the plan. She was supposed to be a means to an end, a way out of my father's iron grip and Lola’s manipulative clutches.

Yet here I was, lying awake and fretting over her well-being.

I closed my eyes and exhaled sharply, willing myself to push these unwanted thoughts away. This was a temporary lapse in judgment—nothing more. She didn’t deserve my concern any more than anyone else did.

Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that keeping her safe mattered more than anything else right now.

I settled in beside her, feeling the warmth of her body seep into mine. The room was quiet, save for the rhythmic sound of her breathing. The scent of her lingered on the sheets, a mix of sweat and something floral, grounding me in the present.

For once, my mind wasn’t racing with thoughts of my father’s demands or the looming threat of Lola. Elodie’s presence had a strange calming effect, and I found myself sinking into the mattress with an ease I hadn’t known in years. It was as if the weight I always carried around had lifted, even if just for a moment.

Her breathing steadied me, a soft reminder that for tonight, at least, I wasn’t alone. The feel of her skin against mine was both comforting and electrifying. She shifted slightly in her sleep, curling closer to me as if seeking my protection even unconsciously. A part of me reveled in that, knowing she trusted me enough to let her guard down.

---