The Contract Bride

Thirteen (Part II) – His POV (Control is Slipping)

She doesn’t understand what she does to me.

Or maybe she does, and that’s the problem.

The ride home was a battle—not between us, but inside me. I forced myself to sit still, to keep my voice even, when all I wanted to do was drag her across the seat and remind her exactly who she belongs to.

She accused me of parading her. She has no idea.

Every move I made tonight was deliberate. Every touch of my hand on hers, every introduction of her as Elena Steele, every cold glare I shot at anyone who dared look too long—it wasn’t for show. It was instinct.

Because she’s mine.

And then Damien Blackwood looked at her. That smug bastard’s eyes raked over her like she was prey, and I nearly lost control in front of an entire ballroom. If I hadn’t reminded him—reminded everyone—that she was untouchable, I might have done something worse. Something violent.

But Elena doesn’t see protection. She only sees control.

When I asked her if she felt unsafe under Damien’s stare, I was testing her. Hoping—needing—that she would admit it.

She did.

And when she whispered that she didn’t need my protection, I wanted to laugh. Or kiss her. Or both. Because I’ve seen the way her body tenses when she’s cornered, the way her eyes dart for an escape. She can fight me all she wants, but her instincts don’t lie.

She feels safer with me.

And God help me, I crave that.

The car stopped at a light, and for a second, the air between us was thick enough to choke on. I looked at her, really looked at her—lips parted, chest rising and falling too fast, stubbornness burning in her eyes.

I wanted to break her.

I wanted to protect her.

I wanted all of her.

When she turned away without answering, I should’ve been angry. Instead, I smiled. Because silence is as good as surrender.

She thinks she’s resisting me, but every day, every fight, every stolen glance brings her closer to the truth.

Elena Carter will never escape me.

And one day soon, she’ll stop trying.