Prologue

“Why are you here?” I asked the man standing in front of me.

My heart is racing as if I have just run three miles nonstop. I couldn't breathe easily. I couldn't move normally with the eyes of the man in front of me.

He smirked and moved closer, towering over me. “I bought you,” he said menacingly. His eyes tore my whole soul apart just by giving me a stare like that.

I clenched my fists and glared at him. I can’t believe this. I can’t believe I am dealing with this devil right in this instant.

Why do I have to see him again? My life was fine when I was alone. My life was going well when he wasn’t here with me. I was okay. I have finally moved on. So, what’s this mess? Why am I caught up in this fucking situation?

I am lost for words because I don’t even know how this happened.

He laughed at me, mocking me. “Don't glare at me like that, Janice. I own you.”

My lips parted at his choice of words. No. He doesn't own me. No one owns me but myself. And I wanted to shout at him but I couldn't. My whole body just can’t seem to find its way to move now. Not even an inch.

“Thirty billion dollars, Janice. I bought you. So please be respectful to your master.” I fucking hate that voice. I hate how he was able to change drastically since the last time I saw him.

I narrowed my eyes at him. My parted lips are now pressed in a grim line.

Fuck!

He inched closer to me and held my shoulders sensually. His eyes are on my body as he caressed my shoulders up to my neck.

I swallowed hard and prayed that it would calm me down but to no use. I just couldn’t relax when he’s staring at me like he’s about to devour me whole. There’s no calming down when he’s showing me this side of him. I have never seen this from him.

He lifted his gaze and met mine. I almost shivered. No, I did. I could feel tingles running down my spine with just his eyes on me. The usual calmness and warmth from his eyes are gone. All I could see now is his darkness and unadulterated lust.

Clarkson Peters, what happened to you in the past years? Why have you turned into this?

He cupped my cheek and ran his thumb softly. I gulped at his move and anxiety ran through my system. The softness of the touch of his finger against my skin just brings in too many emotions in my body—ones that I have never felt with someone else. Only with him.

“You...” he trailed. “...can't host other men now.”

I froze at stared at him. Did he think I am hosting other men? Did he think I would have the heart to do that? What even made him think that I am doing that? I can’t even imagine myself with someone else. I am already contented with what I have now. I am contented with being alone.

He leaned down until his lips touched my ear. “You're mine now, Janice Lawson. Do you hear me? Mine...” he whispered like a chant. “You’re mine. Do you understand?” he repeated like he is not yet contented with saying it twice.

My breathing hitched as I felt his mouth on my jaw. Shit! It was I was getting paralyzed with the proximity that we have. I could not move. Not even an inch.

“You can't run away from me now,” he mumbled as he leaned down to place soft kisses on my jaw. “You can't leave me again. I swear to God...” he hissed, sounding angry over something. It’s like he still has some pent-up frustrations for me.

My lips parted as his kisses went to my cheek. He stepped forward and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer until our chests collided. I pressed my palms on his chest while feeling his lips moving on my cheek to my earlobes.

He bit my earlobe slightly. “You don't get to have a say now...” He continued to shower me with kisses. “I am the boss.” His voice was marked with finality.

I hate to say it. I hate to admit it to myself. But his kisses brought back so many things that I have felt with him before. Him kissing me like this gives me a flashback of how he touched me…years ago. It gives me a flashback of how I felt when we made love…when we were still together.

I bit my lip and tried to shake all of those thoughts out of my head. I cannot be thinking about that right now. “Clarkson...” I gasped as I felt his fingers inside my thigh.

“Hmmm...” he moaned as he ran his nose against my neck. “Did you not miss me?” he was taunting me and it very effective. He was making me feel a familiar but unexplainable wave of heat—lust. And I have not felt like this before.

He slowly parted my legs and I let him. He then went on and touched my core. He ran his fingers on top of my laced panties making me shut my eyes as an embarrassing whimper escaped out of my mouth. I couldn’t stop myself. It was just not possible at the moment.

“You're mine now, Janice. So mine,” he whispered in a seductive tone that caused my heart to flutter severely. “And so wet...” he added, making me shiver on my spot.

I gasped as I felt him insert a finger inside my panties. Ah, fuck this dress! I hate being this accessible! Who the fuck made me wear this shit? I can’t stop him.

“Hmmm...” I moaned as he flicked his finger against my clit. Just one movement had already set my whole being on fire.

I held his arm because my knees are already getting weak. It is getting more impossible for me to stand up when he’s doing all these for me.

“You're so ready for me...” he whispered as he delved a finger inside me. I arched my back and moaned his name. He was slowly thrusting in until he stopped and smirked at me. “...but you're not going to get it tonight.”

And then he left me in this cold room.

What the fuck just happened?!