Chapter 18

Kelvin's POV

I pressed my tongue against the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to suppress the smirk that threatened to spread across my face. It wouldn’t do to let her see just how much I was enjoying this.

She was already rattled. Pushing her further would be fun, but not yet. Not until she fully understood what this was.

I picked up my glass of wine, taking a slow sip as I let the silence stretch between us, deliberately making her squirm.

She sat stiffly across from me, her back unnaturally straight, her jaw tight. I could almost hear the frantic thoughts racing through her head.

Would I use the footage against her? Would I humiliate her? What did I want from her?

I wanted her to ask.

I wanted her to say it out loud, to acknowledge the truth neither of us could escape.

She had been thinking of me.

Moaning for me.

And now, she sat across from me, pretending she hadn't been digging up her guts trying to reach an orgasm… for me.

Pathetic little liar.

I took another sip before finally setting my glass down, locking eyes with her. “You seem uncomfortable.”

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. “I’m fine.”

Liar.

I tilted my head, feigning concern. “Are you sure? You seemed pretty relaxed earlier.”

Her entire body went rigid.

Watching her struggle, watching her fight against the undeniable reality that she had walked right into my hands, delighted me.

Way more than my usual games of violence did.

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. “Tell me, Laura…” My voice dropped, smooth as silk. “What were you thinking about when you touched yourself?”

Her eyes widened, a deep flush crawling up her neck. “I told you…”

I clicked my tongue, cutting her off. “Lying doesn’t suit you.”

She clenched her jaw. “Why do you care?”

A slow, dark smile spread across my lips. “Because I enjoyed watching you.”

Her breath hitched, a barely audible gasp escaping her lips. There it was.

That delicious little reaction.

She could pretend all she wanted, but she felt it too. The heat, the pull between us, the inevitability of it all.

She hated me.

But she wanted to fuck me.

And I was going to make sure she admitted it.

I leaned back once more, watching her intently. “I could keep this going all night,” I mused. “Watching you unravel, seeing how long it takes before you break.”

Her eyes burned with frustration and humiliation. I let my smirk widen, my next words exactly what I wanted to say since we started talking.

“Or…” I reached for my glass again, swirling the wine lazily. “You could just admit the truth.”

“I had needs to satisfy, Kelvin.” Her voice was sharp, laced with defiance. “I owe you no explanation for that.”

My smirk didn’t waver, but fuck, she was making this more entertaining than I anticipated. She wasn’t running or cowering like I thought she would.

“There’s no clause in whatever twisted arrangement we have that states we can intrude on each other’s privacy,” she added, her tone colder now.

I let out a low chuckle, amused by her attempt to regain control. Maybe I should add that into the contract. She must have skipped the part where I reserved the rights to switch things up when I like.

“So that’s your stance?” I mused, swirling the wine in my glass. “That what you do in private is none of my concern?”

Her jaw tightened. “Exactly.”

I studied her for a moment, dragging out the silence, savoring the tension between us. Then, I leaned forward, voice dropping to a lazy drawl.

“If I had no right to intrude…” I tilted my head, watching the flicker of unease in her expression. “Why didn’t you stop watching the moment you saw me?”

She took a tiny intake of breath. She wasn’t as unaffected as she wanted to seem.

“I was caught off guard,” she forced out, but her voice wasn’t as sharp as before.

I chuckled, slow and knowing. “Is that what you’re calling it?” My smirk widened. “Because to me, it looked like you enjoyed seeing me watch you scream my name.”

Her lips parted, but she quickly pressed them together, as if afraid of what might slip out.

She was burning up.

And I fucking loved it.

“You’re delusional,” she spat, gripping the edge of the table like she needed something to hold on to.

I exhaled a quiet laugh, savoring every second of this. “Maybe,” I murmured, cocking my head. “Or maybe, you’re just afraid to admit that you wanted it.”

Her hands curled into fists on her lap, her knuckles turning white as she fought to maintain her composure. I could see it, the war raging behind her eyes, the desperate attempt to cling to whatever was left of her dignity.

I took another slow sip of my wine, deliberately dragging out the silence between us. Let her stew in it. Let her feel the weight of my gaze on her, stripping away the last of her defenses.

“You’re awfully quiet now,” I soliloquized, setting my glass down. “Did I touch a nerve?”

Her nostrils flared. “You’re insufferable.”

I let out a low chuckle. “You say that, yet you still haven’t denied it.”

Her eyes flashed, a storm brewing in those defiant depths. “Deny what?”

I tilted my head, watching her like a predator playing with its prey. “That you wanted me watching. That the thought of my eyes on you didn’t make it even better.”

Her breath hitched, barely perceptible, but I caught it.

“You’re disgusting.” She spat the words like venom, but her voice wavered just enough to betray her.

I smirked. “And yet, you’re the one who spread her legs, moaning my name.”

Her chair scraped against the floor as she shot to her feet, her whole body taut with fury. “This conversation is over.”

I didn’t stop her.

I leaned back lazily, watching as she grabbed her purse with trembling hands. “Where do you think you’re going?”

She whirled on me, eyes blazing. “As far away from you as possible.”

I laughed, deep and rich, enjoying this far too much. “Oh, sweetheart.” I stood up, taking my time, stretching the moment just to watch her squirm. “You should probably start getting ready.”

Her brows furrowed, confusion flickering beneath her anger. “For what?”

I stepped closer, crowding into her space, reveling in the way her breath quickened. “For a party.”

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

I leaned in, brushing my lips near her ear, my voice a dark promise. “Don't worry. Next time, I won’t just be watching.”

Then, with a smirk, I pulled back, watching the storm rage on her face before she spun on her heel and stormed out.

I laughed again, shaking my head as I reached for my wine.