Chapter 8 Not Here
My worst fear materialized in an instant: Charles was here, in this very bar, and he’d seen me.
Every lie I’d just spun over the phone hung between us, sharp and humiliating. I stood frozen, muscles locked, caught in the glare of his presence.
Charles kissed me hard, not letting up until my lips were tender and bruised.
When he finally pulled back, he brushed his thumb slowly over my swollen mouth. His eyes held a dangerous glint, a faint smile playing on his lips, but his voice was pure ice. “I thought you were asleep. Not… here.”
Anger surged through me. He’d seen me, he knew exactly where I was, and yet he’d called, baiting me into lying again. “You saw me,” I snapped. “Why play games? Why test me like that?”
Charles’s expression darkened into a mocking smirk. “I gave you chances. I thought maybe, just maybe, you’d tell me the truth. But you chose to lie. Every single time.”
His fingers trailed slowly down my neck and came to rest lightly against my skin, a silent threat in the gentle weight of his hand.
My heart squeezed with dread.
He leaned closer, his grin turning sharper. “Did you really think I’d let you get away with it?”
Who was I kidding? I wasn’t his first love, not even close. What made me think I could lie to him and slip under his radar? That smirk of his was enough to unravel me completely.
“It wasn’t like that,” I protested weakly, and then sighed in defeat. “Okay, fine. I lied. So what’s my punishment?”
“What do you think?” His smile turned predatory, his gaze sharp like a wolf closing in.
Memories of last night flashed through my mind–his intensity, my helplessness. My knees went weak just thinking about it.
He caught me by the waist, his voice dropping to a husky murmur. “We haven’t even started. Why are your legs giving out already?”
Maybe it wasn’t too late to backtrack. I clutched his collar, voice pleading. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to lie. I was just scared you’d be angry.”
“Oh?” Charles’s hand slid beneath the thin fabric of my top, resting warm and possessive on my hip. He chuckled softly, “So you think lying means I won’t get mad?”
“No, that’s not what I meant,” I said, squirming slightly. “I know you hate it when I come to bars. But Diana just got back today. We hardly ever see each other. I didn’t think-”
“And Ethan?” he cut in, his voice turning cold. “He’s back today too, isn’t he? Couldn’t wait to see him? Holding hands already?”
“No!” I shot back without thinking. He must have seen Ethan grab my wrist. But grabbing and holding hands were two completely different things.
I opened my mouth to explain, but Charles was already pulling me toward the side exit. He pushed me into the passenger seat of his car, got in, and sped off without another word.
I straightened myself in the seat and stole a glance at him.
His jaw was tight, his expression unreadable and dangerously calm. This wasn’t the Charles I used to know. This version was colder, sharper, and completely out of my league.
Nervously, I twisted the strap of my purse. Agreeing to be his lover might have been the biggest mistake of my life.
My phone buzzed. Ethan was calling. I glanced nervously at Charles, whose expression was like ice, and quickly declined
the call.
Charles let out a low, sarcastic chuckle. Infuriating.
The old me would’ve snapped back without a second thought, but now? Fear kept me quiet. I was paralyzed, honestly.
Ethan called three more times during the drive. Each ring felt like an accusation. I ignored every one.
When we got back, Charles shot me a look that was equal parts amusement and warning. “Why didn’t you answer?”
Because I was scared you’d get mad. I screamed inside. Outwardly, I forced a sweet smile. “Why would I? I have nothing to say to him.”
“Is that so?” He hummed skeptically, then scooped me up out of the car and carried me toward the house. The staff watched discreetly, pretending not to see.
I squirmed, embarrassed. “Put me down. I can walk.”
1/3
Chapter 8 Not Here
“You walk too slow,” he murmured, his voice dropping. “And I don’t want to wait.”
My breath hitched. The implication in his tone sent heat rushing to my cheeks.
The moment we entered the bedroom, he pinned me against the door and captured my mouth in a searing kiss. His hands slid possessively around my waist. And just like that, my mind went hazy.
Suddenly, he leaned close to my ear and chuckled darkly, “Dressed like this? Who are you trying to impress?”
I stayed silent.
He led me to the bed, roughly tearing off my dress. His intense gaze burned into me. “You knew he was coming back today, didn’t you? Is that why you dressed up?”
I almost rolled my eyes, but held back, not wanting to provoke him further. “I always look good,” I muttered under my breath.
He let out a cold, dismissive snort.
Then my phone rang again. Still Ethan.
Charles snatched it up, a deliberate taunt in his eyes. “Want to get that?”
I shook my head quickly.
He smirked. “Aw, but he’s probably worried. If you don’t answer, he’ll just keep calling.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m not answering,” I insisted.
Charles raised an eyebrow. “Oh really? Then I will.” He went for the answer button.
I panicked and grabbed the phone back, shooting him a furious glare. He was doing this on purpose, trying to get under my skin. Ugh, I’d been too easy on him. I should’ve made him suffer when I had the chance.
Just as I was fuming, Ethan’s concerned voice came through the speaker: “Annie, are you okay? You were in the bathroom so long…”
Charles watched me with amused contempt, like he’d just caught me red–handed.
Unable to stand his stare, I quickly spoke into the phone, “I’m fine. Just wasn’t feeling well, so I headed back early.”
Ethan sounded worried. “Annie-”
“Really, it’s okay. You and Diana have fun,” I cut in, hurriedly hanging up before Charles could stir up more trouble.
“Done?” Charles chuckled darkly.
I nodded, tossing the phone aside and praying Ethan wouldn’t call back.
He brushed his lips against my earlobe and murmured, “Time for your punishment.”
“P–punishment?” I stammered, uneasy under his intense gaze.
He didn’t answer and just smiled faintly.
I soon found out exactly what he meant. He gave me no chance to catch my breath, overwhelming me without mercy.
My pleas went ignored; he was far more ruthless than I’d ever imagined. It was as if every emotion he’d ever held back had finally broken loose.
Furious, I dug my nails into his arm and yelled, “Charles, you’re a jerk.”
“Jerk?” He let out a harsh laugh, “You have no idea. I’ve wanted this for years. Three years of marriage, watching you sleep night after night, I just wanted to hold you down and lose control.”
“You… you’re insane,”
I’d never seen someone change so completely. Or maybe he was always this much of a monster and just better at hiding it.
Charles kept at me for what felt like half the night, until I was crying freely. Drifting toward exhaustion, I mumbled hatefully,” I should’ve killed you when I had the chance.”
I faintly heard his low laugh in the dark, followed by a warning. “Stay away from Ethan.”
*****
I didn’t wake until the next afternoon, my throat raw and burning.
I stumbled toward the kitchen for a glass of water when my phone rang. After everything that happened last night, every sound put me on edge.
But when I saw the caller ID, I froze completely.
