—JENNIFER—“ Thank you so much.” I said my 5389264th ‘Thank you’ while suppressing the urge to bark a ‘Fuck off’ instead in the answer of anyone's ‘congratulations’. If I had known receptions are this much shitty to tolerate, I would have never gotten married. But again, I didn't have the option in the first place. I sighed loudly when the old couple who had been talking with us left. “ Fucking heels!! “ I muttered, shifting my weight from one leg to another continuously. “ Why did you wear them in the first place?? “ Christian snorted beside me. “ Because of you, Mister. “ I accused, giving him a stink eye while pointing my index finger at him. “ Excuse me?? “ He raised both his eyebrows, demanding an explanation while turning to face me. “ Will you be okay with the news highlighting my comfy cheap sneakers paired with this expansive charming gown?? “ I squinted my eyes at him. “ If I was you, I wouldn't give two fucks about news over my comfort. “ He answered, stuffing his h
—JENNIFER—A woman in her late forties dressed in an expensive dress and a complimenting handbag was walking towards us like a Queen. A big smile spread on her lips as she kept her eyes trained on Christian. I sighed in annoyance. “ There we go again.” I suddenly winced in surprise when Christian grabbed my arm harshly. “ Let's go!” He said while taking a step in the opposite direction from the woman. “ Wha- No. It's rude. A thank you wouldn't take much. “ I said, trying to free my arm when my eyes caught his face. His jaws were clenched and the vein in his forehead was ticking like a time bomb. His eyes were deadly glued on the woman, coming towards us. “ Is anything-“ How are you, Son? “ Before I could ask, the woman was standing before us with a big cheeky smile. “ Won't you introduce me to my daughter-in-law?? “ She asked him and my face snapped towards her at the speed of light. Daughter-in-law??I turned to Christian who didn't say anything but his glare was clearly scre
—JENNIFER—My cheeks turned red because of all the unholy thoughts that had been trying to enter into my head since he invaded my personal space. Or might I say, he made me invade his personal space. I couldn't even move and just stayed frozen in my place as he rested his face into my neck while hugging me. “ You are impossible!!” He spoke up after a minute or two and seemed to return to his normal state. “ What?? “ I asked, confused by his comment as he pulled himself back and faced me. FROM CLOSE!! I didn't know where to look. His eyes were distracting and his lips were distracting even more. Don't even get me started with the protrusion on his throat. Kill me, please. “ You were just telling your husband about your thousands of crushes. “ He gave me a look of disbelief and in a hurry to distract myself from his features, I didn't realise my next words before they were out. “Why?? Are you jealous?? “ I clamped my mouth shut immediately and looked away. I could feel his hot
—CHRISTIAN—The door of the elevator opened and Jennifer instantly ran towards the door, pushed it open, ran inside and locked herself up inside her room. I stared at her actions while suppressing the urge to laugh out loud. This is how she has been behaving since we've left the Brown Mansion. Silent, awkward and shy. She literally ran out of the car towards the elevator. The expressions on her face were so damn hilarious when I reached it and she had to stay in my presence for another two minutes. I couldn't help but keep staring at her through the glass which made her even more anxious and red that she didn't even look up for once. On my part, I literally have no fucking Idea what has gotten into me but It's feeling difficult for me to get my hands and eyes off her. Maybe because of that black dress that she wore tonight. In spite of the dress being not very revealing, she looked ravishing-ly hot that I couldn't take my eyes off the moment I saw her in the kitchen. She managed t
—JENNIFER—My sleep was broken because of the loud rumbling of my stomach. Midnight cravings are a different thing but I was hella hungry tonight. Because of all the attention in the party I couldn't eat properly and when I finally had made my mind about taking care of my stomach, it went into another direction and I ended up sitting in Christian's lap with him talking weird stuff that made me forget that I was hungry because that time, my stomach was full with thousands of fluttering butterflies. And whatever happened afterwards, I didn't have the courage to stand him another second and locked myself up in my room. It was almost two in the morning when I checked the time before heading out towards the kitchen as my stomach rumbled continuously. On my way, I saw the lights of his study still turned on and realising that Christian is still up, My first thought was to turn and run back to lock myself up again. But another rumble had me keep going. This time, with careful steps. I ope
—JENNIFER—Not knowing what I'm supposed to do, I just stood there staring at him as he chopped the vegetables. I noticed that he wasn't wearing his formal suits but a casual black lower and a white sweatshirt under the apron that he had put on, just a while ago. I mentally fanned myself watching his hard muscles flex with every move under those fitted sweatshirt.I've never seen him in his casual clothes before and to be honest, he looks hot in them too. “I know that.” I was pulled out of my trance by his words and looked up at his face to find him smirking. “ What?? “ I asked, pretending to be confused but guessing his answer. No way he can hear my thoughts. “ Not really. You were just thinking aloud. “ His smirk widened and I looked away silently wishing to set myself on fire. Can't I even think in my mind now?? I cleared my throat and walked up to him. “ I'll do this.” I said, trying to change the topic and took the onions and knife from his hands. He let me and started chop
—JENNIFER—I tripped on the carpet in the living area and fell flat on my butt.“ Fucking Carpet!! “ I cried, frustrated while rubbing my behind and still sitting on the floor miserably. “ The carpet is sorry to get in your way. “ The sarcastic voice came from near me and I looked up to see its arrogant owner looking with a mocking expression. “ It should be. “ I said, swatting his hand away, that he offered me to get up and did that by myself. “ You can't even walk straight on a flat floor without tripping. “ He scrunched his nose and headed toward the dining table. I followed him behind and took my usual chair, opposite him. “That's because this STRAIGHT floor belongs to you. Even your house is conspiring against me. Like owner, like house!! “ I mumbled bitterly, loud enough for him to hear. He said something about me talking absurdly as he ate a spoonful of omelette. Me, on the other side kept muttering incoherent things about him while stuffing my mouth with my own food. Af
—JENNIFER—The elevator ride was uncomfortably silent and all the while Christian's body language was tense, angry. As soon as we entered the house I decided to break the silence. “ I'm sorry!! “ I said, causing him to stop in the doorway and turn to look at me beside him. His face was unreadable as he stared for a moment at my face before stepping close to me, making me hitch my breath. His hand went up to touch my forehead and rubbed a spot gently. “ Does it hurt? “ He asked and I remember that I had hit my head on the steering wheel and might have gotten a scratch. “ A little!! “ I answered, keeping my gaze fixated on his face and tried to read him. “Com'on!! “ He said and grabbed my head again, tugging me with him in the living area. Making me sit on the couch, he brought the first aid kit and cleaned the small scratch before applying the ointment on it. “ Aren't you angry at me?? “ I asked when he was done and had placed the first aid kit aside. “ For what?? “ He frowne
JENNIFER The next few days were spent with everyone celebrating my memory regaining and for our soon to be born child. Mom and Dad disclosed the whole truth about Catherine and I was just happy that they at least told me whatever it was. I was upset for being lied to but never angry. It eases their tension and we are back to normal. I looked at the clock and then towards the main door. With a sigh filled with disappointment, I had just turned back when the click of the door opening had me turning back again only to see my husband dearest entering with a bag in his hand. “You’re home.” I exclaimed, with a relieved smile while mentally thanking God. At first glance, he looked the same as when he’d left— black shirt, black pants, hauntingly beautiful face—but a closer look revealed the quiet storm brewing in his eyes. “You asked me to come home.” He watched, body still but gaze burning like an open flame, as I closed the distance between us. “So here I am.” His rough velvet
JENNIFER When I opened my eyes, my head felt heavy. It was hurting like someone had crushed it under a car wheel. With a wince of pain, I opened my eyes and the first thing I landed my eyes on was a pair of black eyes. Two moments of unblinking stare into those worry filled eyes before I took a sigh of relief. “ Christian!” I called out his name in my weak and hazy voice and saw him practically relaxing. As if a burden was taken away from her chest. “ Princess! You are awake.” His voice was filled with relief. “ What do you think?” I joked at his obvious question. A small sigh left his lips before a soft smile appeared as he bent down to kiss my forehead. “ You scared the shit out of me.” He murmured, straightening back. “ What? I don't remember anything?” I asked and he froze in his place. “ You don't remember anything?” He asked, repeating my words and emphasised on the last word. Now it was my turn to freeze in my place. I paused and all the events of the past
CHRISTIAN “Hello, Raphael.” I examined Jennifer’s stalker, who was strung up with heavy cuffs locking his arms and legs into a vertical spread- eagle position. Nails pinned his palms to the wall behind them, while black and blue bruises mottled his body like an obscene piece of abstract art. We were in the warehouse I’d bought for this specific purpose. Remote, soundproofed, and guarded enough that an ant couldn’t crawl across the floor without me knowing. Not all of my guys were okay with dirty work, which was fine. I only needed a few who were, and they’d done their job prepping the bastard for me. I couldn’t have him waiting too comfortably while I tended to Jennifer. My gaze flicked to the floor. A small pool of blood stained the smooth grey concrete. That was also fine. It will grow soon enough. Raphael’s face was so beaten up it was unrecognisable, but the heat of his glare made me smile. He had a bit of fight left in him. Good. That would make our session so much m
JENNIFER I slept in until almost noon the next day. It was the latest I’d ever woken up, but the previous day’s events had taken their toll. Even after a solid sixteen hours of rest, fogginess clouded my brain as I walked to the kitchen. Being drugged and kidnapped. Finding out my husband dearest has a brother about which I still have to ask him, Nearly dying, then getting rescued by Christian, and sort of/kind of making up with him. I’d had time to process, so it was easier to wrap my head around what happened, but yesterday was so surreal I still felt like I was walking on the edge of a dream. It was Monday, so I’d expected Christian to be at work. But when I entered the sun-splashed kitchen, I found him standing by the espresso machine, dressed in a black shirt and pants instead of his usual suit. I blinked with surprise. “You’re here.” I asked and he turned back swiftly as if pulled back harshly from another world. I guess I disturbed his thoughts. “It is my house,” he s
CHRISTIAN She’s here. She’s safe. I repeated the words in my head as I held Jennifer tight. Tiny shivers rippled through her body, and even though she was almost as tall as me, she felt fragile. Breakable. Fierce protectiveness burned in my chest. “It’s all right, princess,” I murmured. “You’re okay. You’re safe.” She buried her face deeper in my neck, her soft sobs twisting my heart like a wrung-out rag. Her hold on me felt like I was the only trustable and safe place for her. It felt like the old times, before her accident. It felt like I was holding her again for the first time in years, but this wasn’t how I’d wanted it to be. Not with her bruised, hurt, and terrified. Something struck my mind and my one hand automatically moved towards her belly. I felt my heart clenching in my chest at the thought of any possible harm to our child. The relief I’d felt at seeing her alive gave way to renewed rage. My cold gaze found Rapheal over Jennifer’s shoulder. He should pray t
Jennifer Lights washed across my vision at the force of the impact, but I didn’t have time to waste. I slammed my wrists down as hard as I could behind me until the frayed rope snapped against the protrusion. Luckily, Raphael hadn’t tied my legs, and I stumbled to the door. I almost made it before strong hands yanked me back. I hit the floor with a thud. Raphael pinned me to the ground and manacled my wrists above my head. “Let go of me!” I struggled against his hold. “You’re mine,” he said calmly, like we were at a picnic in the park and he wasn’t holding me hostage. “It’ll be so much easier if you give in, Jennifer. I don’t want to hurt you.” I couldn’t keep struggling forever. My energy was already fading, my muscles sore and my thoughts jumbled with panic. I turned my head a fraction to the right, and my breath hitched when I saw my purse lying a few feet away. My taser. I always kept it on me because since Christian forced me to do it. If I could only reach it… Raphae
JENNIFER A prickle of sensation dragged me from the dark, murky wells of unconsciousness. It started as a tingle in my fingers and toes. Then it was the hard press of wood beneath my thighs. Finally, it was the rough abrasion of ropes around my wrists and a pounding pain behind my eyes. I didn’t know what was going on. All I knew was, it hurt, and my throat was dry, and my head throbbed like someone had shoved a jackhammer or ten in there. Concrete anchors dragged down my lids. The darkness wasn’t soft and gentle like the gradual drift to sleep. It was endless and menacing, like the weight of the earth after being buried alive. I forced my lungs to expand past my rising panic. Breathe. Think. What happened? I struggled to sort through the day’s events. I remembered meeting my friends at the cafe. Morris running to the restroom. Nausea, dizziness, stumbling out for air…and the cold press of a gun against my ribcage. A voice, then blackness. Oh God. I’d been kidnapped. Th
JENNIFER A sharp stab of concern pulled my brows together. “Do you need to sit down? You don’t look so good.” Actually, I didn’t feel great either. My usual lethargy intensified and tugged at my limbs and eyelids. Morris’ face swam before me until I blinked the blurriness away. “Yes, I”—he gripped the edge of the table. “I”— his face turned ghostly white before flushing the crimson. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.” He bolted toward the bathroom. The door slammed shut. A second later, I heard the faint but unmistakable sound of vomiting. My own stomach twisted at the noise. I hoped we hadn’t gotten food poisoning, but something was clearly wrong. My vision blurred again. This time, blinking didn’t help. I stood, hoping the change in altitude would clear my head, but an instant wave of dizziness forced me back into my seat. What is going on? I’d only had tea and a pastry. Could you even get food poisoning from tea and pastries? Black dots danced in front of my eyes, and panic
—JENNIFER— As soon as our mouths collided, I felt colours bursting behind my eyelids, making them shut up automatically. Christian went frozen at my unexpected stunt and couldn't even move for a long moment. For myself, I was in shock about how the mouth of this cold man could be so warm and soft. I didn't give it any thought so I was as stunned as him at my own action and couldn't even move out of shock until I felt his hands coming up to grab my waist and he pulled me into himself. My body felt burns and chills at the same time where his fingers were digging into my skin in a firm but not painful hold. Suddenly I was too conscious about the things that his touch was making me feel. The pause we both took out of shock had me thinking for a moment that he would pull back but instead, he tilted his mouth and deepened the kiss with a sudden force that I almost lost my step. A gasp of shock couldn't find a place to escape me because of the way his mouth was perfectly occupying m