GENESIS My senses were heightened, absorbing every sound and scent around me. After thirteen long years of confinement, I found myself not only married but also in a car, venturing into the unknown. The fresh air brushed against my face, a sensation I had longed for.“Come on,” he urged, placing his hand at the small of my back. Instinctively, I recoiled from his touch and glanced up, unable to see his expression behind the large sunglasses he wore.“What do you think I’m going to do to you here?” he asked, stepping closer. I fought the urge to flinch, instinctively shutting my eyes as I felt his hand on my waist, guiding me toward what I suspected was a mall.Every sensation felt amplified. The sun warmed my skin, a stark contrast to the constant chill of my previous life. The air buzzed with the aroma of roasted chestnuts from a nearby vendor, mingling with the sharp scent of car exhaust and the delicate sweetness of flowers blooming in a planter by the entrance. It was a whirlwind
Kier's POVFrom the corner of my eye, I noticed her suddenly go tense, her face turning even paler than usual as she stared at her stepbrother."Why are you still sitting there? Stand up," I said. Without looking at her, I pushed open the door on my side and stepped out.Her brother's smile widened—not at me, but at Genesis as she stepped out of the car.That smile didn’t sit well with me."Come here," I said immediately. She tore her gaze away from him and walked over, eyes downcast, her movements hesitant."What’s your brother doing here?" I asked. She flinched, then slowly raised her head to look at me.Fear. It was unmistakable.It was always there, lingering beneath the surface, but during the drive back, it had been different. She had stared out the window, taking in the view like she was seeing something out of a dream—not just plain old New York.She shook her head.Footsteps.I looked up to see Richard descending the stairs, a maid following behind him.I gestured toward the
Genesis's POVWas I in trouble?The question gnawed at my mind as I stood before the large mirror in his room, watching the maid silently zip up the yellow dress we'd gotten from that massive mall.With each inch of fabric closing around my body, the pressure in my chest tightened. My heart pounded against my ribs, louder than the soft rustle of the cloth. He had left so abruptly.He was angry. I wouldn't fool myself into thinking otherwise.I had stood there and watched as he discarded the coat like it was nothing. He'd stormed up the stairs without a second glance, leaving me frozen in place until he returned fifteen minutes later in fresh jeans and a white shirt. He barely spared me a glance before disappearing out the door again.I didn't know whether that was a good thing or not."Ma'am... ma'am?"A light tap on my shoulder made me jolt, stumbling forward. My hands shot out, catching myself against the mirror before I could topple it over and make more trouble for myself.I glanc
Kier's POV"I don't think it's a good idea to go back to the estate looking like this," Damon said, watching me slip into the car seat.I gave him a look that clearly screamed, Do I look like I give a fuck what you think?He sighed, always so fucking dramatic, then closed the damn door and got into the driver's seat. Leonardo, my other bodyguard, took the passenger seat next to him. If I had to choose, I'd pick Leo over Damon any day. The fucker knew how to mind his own business, unlike Damon, who always felt the need to fill the silence with useless words.The engine purred to life, and for a second, just one blissful second, I thought I'd get to enjoy the ride in peace without anyone trying to bore holes into my headache-ridden skull.I should have known better."What I'm trying to say is..""No." I cut him off, gritting the word through my teeth. Each syllable felt like someone was hammering nails into my skull. "You don't talk while driving. It's against... the driving code or wha
Genesis's POVThey were beautiful, I couldn't believe my eyes. They were nothing like the dull flowers back at my former estate.The garden stretched endlessly, vibrant and alive. Red roses, yellow sunflowers, white lilies, daisies, gardenias, every flower I could think of was blooming. Their sweet scents mixed in the air, making my nose tingle.People were scattered around, trimming leaves, watering plants, and carrying small baskets filled with freshly cut flowers. The soft rustle of leaves and birds singing made everything feel... peaceful. Like a place where pain couldn't reach me.I wanted to stay here forever.And when I meant here, I meant exactly where I stood, the small patch of perfectly trimmed grass under my feet. Without realizing it, I had slipped off the soft yellow fuzzy slippers my husband had bought for me. The grass was cool and gentle, soaking into my skin like a silent comfort.I hadn't even noticed the gazes I was drawing from the gardeners and workers passing by
Kier's POVWhere the hell had she been running from?My gaze locked onto her trembling form, then drifted down to her bare feet. No slippers?I adjusted my glasses, the thick-rimmed, large-ass ones I'd been forced to wear since Damon and Leo were hellbent on making sure I didn't scare the new little wife with my bruised-up face. The glasses did a good job hiding the evidence, even if they made me look like some wannabe professor.Still, I didn't mind playing nice... for now.I stopped in front of her, towering over her small frame. She wouldn't meet my eyes, her fingers gripping the edge of the door like it was the only thing holding her up. She reeked of fear, and I found myself fascinated by it.Not in a twisted way. I loved women, or more accurately, I loved what they could give. Most of the ones in my circle were just pretty faces with sharp tongues and ulterior motives, so I learned not to get attached.But Genesis...The way her pale toes curled into the marble floor, the way sh
Genesis's POVHe was different?Scary... but different."Here, you can have this."Daisy's small hand stretched out, holding a chocolate toward me.I took it tentatively, my fingers barely brushing hers. My eyes flicked to my husband from the corner of my eye, half-expecting him to snap or snatch it away.But he wasn't even looking at me.His attention was entirely on Daisy, a small smile playing on his lips as if he hadn't just caught me trembling against the door minutes ago."We'll eat it like this," Daisy continued, her voice soft like she was explaining something very important. "You will eat one chocolate... and then I'll eat one... and then you again... like that. How do you see it?"I just stared at her, the words floating in my head without landing.She tilted her head, waiting for an answer I couldn't give.My throat felt tight.Say something...But nothing came out.Daisy's smile wavered for a second, and panic stirred deep in my chest.I wanted to nod, to do something. She
Kier's POVShe kept me at a distance?Of course, what could we possibly talk about when she couldn't even talk? But still…I glanced down at the curly head resting on my thighs. Deidre had fallen asleep watching Frozen for the hundredth time. At this point, with the amount of time she'd watched the damn cartoon, they might as well cast her in it.“Daisy,” I called softly. You could never be too sure with her, one minute she'd be snoring, the next she'd be standing at the arm of the couch, staring at you like a little ghost.But when her lashes didn't even flutter and her soft snores continued, I knew she was out for real this time.I caught sight of a maid passing by and motioned her over.“Hey,” I called.I didn't know her name, and I didn't like that. Sure, I'd fired the others for their incompetence, but I'd known every single one of them. Their names, their families... hell, even their dog's name if they had one.The girl stopped beside me, her hands clasped in front of her.“What
GENESIS He was gone before I woke up. I didn’t even get to kiss him like he had told me.I sighed, propping myself against the headboard. My pencil and book rested on my thighs as I skimmed through the rule he had given me yesterday.To say I wasn’t surprised would be a lie.But I had to do as he said, of course.After going over the book one more time, I climbed off the bed and made my way to the bathroom.What am I going to do today?It was Monday. He was probably at work. Daisy would be in school too.She was the only person I talked to.So that meant I’d be here alone.I shed my clothes and stepped into the shower stall. The moment the water hit my head, I shivered, even though it was hot.I closed my eyes, but the second I did, I was there again.That cold, musty room…My eyes snapped open, my chest rising and falling too fast. I quickly shut off the shower and stepped out, my breath coming in short, ragged bursts.Gripping the sink, I stared down at the white porcelain, then sl
Kier's POV"Does your father still think we’re in the 1800s? Who still forces their children to marry some random girl they don’t even know?" Veronica huffed, clearly more annoyed by the situation than I was, the one actually in it.I let out a small, humorless smile, but as my eyes drifted toward Genesis, the smile vanished.Why was she smiling?I glanced at Charlie, who was leaning in too close to my wife, that ridiculous grin plastered on his face—the same one he always wore around women he fancied.And she wasn’t even pulling away.Okay, she wasn’t exactly leaning in, but she was sitting there, smiling at him.I didn’t like that.Wait—saying it like that made me sound like a controlling asshole.I just didn’t like that she was smiling at him.I thought she didn’t like strangers. She barely even talked to me. But now, she was completely comfortable, amused even.And that bastard was—"Kier, are you even listening to me?"Veronica’s voice snapped me out of my blatant gawking—no, no,
GENESIS "And who might you be?" Veronica asked, stopping just a few feet away from me. Daisy clung to her hand while she used the other to remove her glasses. Without them, I was met with sharp, cat-like eyes that swept over me from head to toe. I couldn’t deny that I did the same. She was stunning. Platinum blonde hair sleekly pulled into a ponytail, perfectly arched brows, and an air of quiet authority that made it impossible to look away. One perfectly manicured brow lifted, her lips parting as if she were about to speak— But before she could, Daisy tugged on her hand. "Aunt Vera, that’s Uncle Kier’s wife," Daisy said innocently. "And she can’t talk." The second the words left her mouth, Veronica’s fingers slackened. The glasses she had been holding slipped from her grasp, hitting the floor with a sharp clang. Her eyes widened, horror and disbelief flashing across her face. "Wife?" she whispered, barely audible. She swayed slightly, unsteady on her feet. Instinct kicked in
Kier's POV"Aren't you supposed to be home with your new wife instead of checking out single ladies?" Charlie teased, his tone dripping with mockery.I barely spared him a glance, raising a brow in silent thanks as the bartender slid my whiskey across the counter.Then, turning to Charlie, I shot him a glare. "Would you lower your damn voice? Do you want everyone to know I'm married?"He scoffed. "Really? That’s what you're worried about? When you called me, while I was in Rome, by the way, and told me you were getting married, I was surprised. No, actually, I was shocked. Then I was happy. And then…" He took a dramatic pause. "I was horrified."I took a slow sip of whiskey, letting the burn sear the back of my throat. That was exactly what I needed.Maybe it'd knock some sense into me.Because I had taken my wife against the wall. Like some kind of maniac.I shook the thought off. Dwelling on it only made things worse. And not just because of the guilt.Turning back to Charlie, I exh
Genesis’s POVWarmth spread across my face. My eyes were closed, but that wasn’t the only thing I felt. My entire body ached, sore yet not in a painful way. There was a lingering sensation, a hum of pleasure woven through the soreness, making me want to stay in bed, to keep sleeping.But something wasn’t right.One of the rules was that I had to kiss him every morning.So I needed to wake up.My eyes fluttered open, the sunlight filtering through the blinds warming my skin. I closed them again, adjusting to the brightness before blinking back to awareness.I turned to the side, expecting to find him beside me, but he wasn’t there.Panic jolted me upright and u realized I was naked."Ugh." I groaned, pressing a hand to my face as the memories rushed in.Oh god.How could I have been so… wanton?What was different about his… his…Even in my own thoughts, I couldn’t say it.Yet I had screamed and moaned from the overwhelming pleasure of his…I clenched my eyes shut.Why had it felt so go
Kier’s POVDamn it. I wanted to hear her moans. I wanted to hear her scream my name, to make sure she knew exactly who was inside her and never forgot it.But since I couldn’t have that, I’d make sure she felt it.With every thrust of my hips, I’d etch myself into her body, deep enough that she’d never want to lay with another man.The thought was possessive. Animalistic. And yet, it was me. It had always been me. Even as a child, I hated sharing what was mine. As I grew, that feeling only became fiercer, especially with the women I fucked.But they were never for keeps. When I took them, they knew, as long as they lingered around me, only I got to touch them. And when I was done, the others could have them.But this? This was different.She was my wife. My wife. And I didn’t just want to claim her, I wanted to own her in every way. Even men who hated their wives still refused to share them. That was just how it worked.And right now, as I looked down at her, I knew one thing for cert
Genesis's POVIt was happening.And I was scared.Things like this had happened before—but in more violent ways.When he placed me on the bed, flashes of Jimmy surfaced in my mind. I forced them away.I had fought before. But as time passed, I learned that resistance only led to more pain. It was easier to shut down, to detach, to let it happen.That was what I planned to do now.But for some reason, it wasn’t working.My heart pounded in my chest, my breaths shallow. I felt fear, yes—but something else lurked beneath it. Something unfamiliar.Anticipation.That made no sense. There was nothing to anticipate. Sex was pain. It had always been pain.Yet as I was pressed against the wall, my legs wrapped around his waist, his mouth warm against my neck, kissing, licking—this strange feeling only grew.I told myself this was for the baby they needed. Once it was done, I could leave. I wouldn’t let my past haunt me forever. I would do what I had to do, no matter how much it cost me.But wh
Kier’s POVYou could ask me what the damn movie was about, and I wouldn’t have an answer.But if you asked me what I noticed about my wife?I’d have about ten things to say.One: she had four tiny birthmarks—just little dots—on the left side of her neck. How I even noticed them in the dim lighting of that fucking cinema was a question for another day.Two: she always bit down on her lips when she was concentrating, like right now. I was sure she had completely forgotten I was even here.And there were more. I could keep listing them. And why I did this? I had no idea.But I couldn’t deny it anymore—I was getting attracted to my wife.She wasn’t my usual type. Yeah, I didn’t know how many times I’d said her face was beautiful, but a pretty face alone never got me as hard as a rock for a woman. That was just one part of it.And yet, here I was, hard as a damn brick, and it was freaking me out.I had spent days wondering how I’d be able to knock her up when I couldn’t even get it up for
Genesis's POV"Right here, Mr. Blackwood," a lanky man in a wine-colored shirt and jeans said. I looked up at him, noticing the easy smile on his face as he spoke to my husband. But when his gaze shifted to me, awe flickered in his eyes.I quickly looked away, pressing my face against my husband's torso."Look away," Kier said, his voice calm but firm. The man cleared his throat awkwardly, nodded, and turned to lead us toward a large, red-colored door.He pushed it open, and my mouth fell open in surprise. Rows upon rows of seats stretched across the vast, empty hall, yet not a single person was inside. It was only then that I realized something odd—aside from this man and the one who had given Kier popcorn and soda earlier, I hadn’t seen anyone else around.I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t even notice we were moving toward the seats until kier spoke."Where would you like to sit?"His voice startled me. I turned to him, my pulse skipping as I realized he was staring down at