Page 9 of Forsaken Desire
He’d been waiting for another woman. Anger and hurt clashed, melding together to create a painful combination.
My nose stung with the urge to cry, and I sucked in a harsh breath. It burned to swallow, and I tried pulling away, but his grip tightened, squeezing my skin more. Although it was gentle, there was no room to get away unless I put up a fight. Even then, I doubted he’d release me.
“I said, getthe fuckout,” he hissed, and his palm engulfed my head to press my ear over his pounding heart. I remained frozen, unbelieving, as I worked through everything. The door thudded, and he sighed.
“You were going to fuck her?” My voice rose and fell like a question. I hadn’t tried to lift my head to face him, because I didn’t want him to see the pain. He was an obviously attractive man; of course he’d had lovers. But he’d mistaken me for one. Groped me and touched me all while angry that I hadn’t been in a dress. It hurt. The pressure in my throat was building. The rise and fall of his chest ceased, suspending us in a moment in time.
“Josephine, look at me.”
I flinched, keeping stiff.
“Let me go.” I didn’t recognize my voice.
His arm banded around my waist, tightening. An answer without words. He wasn’t going to release me. The hand on my head slid down to my neck, cupping the side of it. Tingles spread downward from his touch.
I gritted my teeth and took a deep breath, trying to keep it together.
“I have to go to work,” I muttered, pushing against the band of his arm. His hand slid up to my jaw. “Please let me go,” I choked.
I put more effort into my struggle, but he didn’t budge. His strength was unfair. I huffed; lips pursed.
“Look at me,” he ordered.
“No.”
“Josephine,” he barked, his aggression making me not want to even more.
My scowl deepened, and I stubbornly kept my eyes closed with my cheek pressed against his chest.
He growled, but I didn’t react. Finally, he sighed and pinched my chin,forcingmy face to look at him. His face lowered, and the tip of his nose pressed to mine.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured close to my lips. “No mate should see that.” His gaze shadowed, and he closed his eyes.
My stomach soured, and I twisted my lips.
“I didn’t know you . . .” He stopped and cleared his throat. It was true, he didn’t know me until ten minutes ago. Logically, I understood, but it fucking hurt. “But all I want is you. My fated.”
Should that make me feel better? Maybe it would have if the way he grabbed at me didn’t keep playing in my mind. I kept thinking about her sprawled on the bed, face down as he fucked her.
“It doesn’t make me feel better,” I mumbled.He didn’t know about me. I understood it was unfair of me to have expectations of him, but my emotions weren’t based on logic.
“I know, Princess,” he murmured into my hair. “I’ll make anything bothering you go away.”
I closed my eyes and forced my shoulders to relax. He hoisted me up and swept my legs across his lap. His hand settled on my waist, keeping me tucked against him.
I pressed my lips together, wiggling on his lap to get into a better position. The cock under my ass hardened, and a blush bloomed over my face.
“I was serious about needing to get back to work.”
“You don’t need to wor?—”
I held up my hand, cutting him off.
“Lucian.” I said his name. I’d heard it come from her mouth first. By the softening of his lips, it really was his name.
I couldn’t help but think of the tattoo on my rib cage. The Moon worked in mysterious ways. It had given me something to hold on to. “I have to work.” I licked my lips.
Iwouldwork, and there would be nothing he could do about that. Just because he was my fated mate, it didn’t mean he would decide for me. I refused to take his handouts, which I was sure were what he was about to offer.
