—JENNIFER—“ Shall we?? “ He asked, watching my flushed face with amusement. I hopped off his lap and reached for the breakfast but he pulled me back again and made me sit on his chair.“ Let me do it.” Saying that he grabbed the bag and took out the sandwiches. “ Here!” I watched his face as he handed me one and then leaning back his hip on the table, starting eating his own. I didn't realise when my annoyance turned into a smile as I munched on the sandwich. He passed me the tissue when both of us were done and I stood up wiping my mouth. “ I better be leaving now.” I said and picked my sweater from his table before pushing it over my head and fixing it. “ I'll walk you out.” He said and I nodded before we both headed out. His hand reached mine, clasping mine and I smiled looking at him. All the eyes present in the office followed us with shock till the exit. If it wasn't Christian's
—JENNIFER—When I reached the penthouse, It was around 5:00 in the evening. I directly headed inside my room and stopped in my place with a frown. The frown was soon replaced with shock as I ran my gaze around my room with hanging jaws and watched it empty. There was nothing. Zero, Zilch, Nada!! “ What the heck?? “ I asked myself in shock, staring ahead. I raced towards my closet and opened it, only to find it empty. I sucked into a sharp breath and turned to look at my bookshelves. This time, unable to suppress it, I gasped loudly seeing them empty. I stalked towards the empty shelves, aggressively shocked and looked closely.And surprise!! They were still empty. My conscience rolled its eyes on me as I moved my head to look around like a crazy person. Did this place get robbed?? OH MY GOD!! Wait, Good heavens!! Why would anyone steal my goddamned clothes and books? Arghh!!!
—JENNIFER—“ What on the sweet heavens?? “ I screeched in horror as he opened another cabinet of the closet which I previously ignored thinking it must be empty or something since it was big and all of my clothes were already in the other cabinets. “ Stop screeching. Will you?? “ He glared, turning back to face me. “ Did you just buy a whole showroom for me? Or what?? And when did you even buy all of these?? “ I asked, staring behind him at so many designer dresses and heels and shoes. The sight had me mesmerised that I couldn't even get myself to blink. “ I was thinking of taking you shopping since I thought you might not like these.” He shrugged. “ I think I'm going to faint.” I stumbled backwards with an inhumane sigh but his hand caught me pulling into himself. “ You are overreacting. “ He rolled his eyes which had me glaring at him. “ This is what OVER means.” I said, flailing my hands towards the dresses. “ How much did exactly every single one of these cost?? “ “ Not m
—JENNIFER—His already slowed steps halted suddenly as I felt him stilling in my hold. I watched as his whole calmness disappeared and his jaws clenched making me gulp besides him. I waited for him to turn towards me, to respond. But he didn't. For a whole minute he did not. “ I don't want to talk about this, Jennifer!! “ The way he took my name sounded like a threat itself. His suddenly cold voice had me reconsidering my decision of trying to dig into his past. But I knew that it was important. Important for us, for our relationship. “ But I want to know what's going on in my husband's life.” I said, adamantly. I spinned back and a mere look in those red eyes had me take a step back. His jaws were ticking. “ Don't ruin the moment, Princess.” I could see the way he was trying to keep his rage under check. Looks like I had a death wish. “ I'm more concerned about not letting our relationship get ruined. “ The words were out before I could consider the meaning twice. His scowl
—JENNIFER—He obeyed my wish like he has been doing lately. His lips met mine in an aggressive way. As if he was waiting for me to ask for this. They claimed me, possessed me in a way that I would never ever want to be free again. My hands reached up to hold the collars of his sweater, tugging him closer and trying to match with his speed. The way his lips were trying to mould mine was insane. It was driving me crazy and making me go desperate at the same time to sync my movements with him. I couldn't help but wonder how his lips could be so sweet and soft in spite of spitting fire all the time. His fingers in my hair were putting a spell on me, and I wanted their movements to never cease. His teeth grazed my lower lip asking for the entrance which I happily gave and he plunged his tongue inside my mouth. His tongue dominated my mouth, marking every single part as his as if he owned it. His mouth slowed down before we both stopped to take a breath while our lips still touched each
—CHRISTIAN—“ So tell me. What do you want to know? “ I asked as we both laid back on the bed with Jennifer resting his head on my chest and my arm wrapped around her waist. “ Everything.” Her answer was short, but it had me getting a flashback of all the shit that had happened with me in the past. “ There's a lot.” I said, staring at the ceiling. “ And we have all night.” She answered, patting my chest. “ We could have done more important things with this ‘All Free Night’.” I grunted and she slapped down on my chest. “ Why are you always thinking this?. You have one track mind.” She complained, huffing. Being quick with my motive, I flipped her over so that now I was hovering over her. “ Can't help myself. You drive me crazy!” I whispered, seductively.She narrowed her eyes in return, accusingly. “ Do you really think that your seductive tricks can take my mind off the topic??I sighed in defeat at getting caught. “ Fine! “ I grunted. Sitting up, we both leaned back into th
—JENNIFER—“ An accident?? “ My eyes went wide in shock.“ The one after which you took him to the hospital. Remember?” He told me and my mouth fell open. How can I even forget that. That was the day everything in my life turned upside down. “ She's so… Oh my god!! How can she do that?” I mumbled in disbelief.“ She can stoop to any level.” He said and my mind went back to the moment when Micheal told me that Jessica was planted in their life by Lauren. That time, I found it hard to believe. I thought a mother would never do such a thing to his own son. So what if they have differences, she would still be caring about him. But listening to all her deeds from Christian now, had me rethinking my opinion about her.“ That's why I didn't want you to know this. I don't want you to be scared for being with me.” Christian’s hand reached close to mine and he interlaced our fingers. I huffed. “ You are an
—JENNIFER—“ What?? “ I asked, scrunching my nose. “ You heard me princess.” He rolled his eyes. “ Fine. Tell me what do I have to do?” “ Kiss me while I'll sit back and relax. “ He shrugged, getting away and sitting up. I blinked twice, trying to get his words into my head. “ You want me to initiate a kiss while you won't be doing anything in it.” I asked in disbelief, getting up. “ Exactly.” He smirked at me as I stared back at him with red cheeks. “ I-I don't know how to do that.” I said, trying to hide my blushing cheeks. “ Oh, I bet you know! Those dark romance books must have taught you way more than just a kiss.” He winked at me, making my embarrassment worse. “ No,.. I-My stuttering was cut short when his hand came and pulled me over his splayed thighs, grabbing me from my arm. A squeak escaped my mouth and the sudden action before I found myself on his lap,
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