waking up married

Chapter 2 Trapped?

Caroline's gaze flickered nervously across the enigmatic, alluring figure before her.

Eric's breath against her cheeks, a blend of seduction and command, bore the masculine scent that tugged at her senses.

A primal instinct screamed danger, urging her to flee.

Eric's lips descended furiously upon hers in a frenzy of a kiss.

"It has to be you..." He murmured, burying his face in the cascade of her hair. "You're all I desire."

Caroline quickly surrendered herself to Eric. She collapsed on the plush mattress, resembling a fish washed ashore, breathless from the exertion.

Eric's fingers wound securely around her thigh, delving into her intimate depths without any forewarning. Her scream pierced the air as she toppled over him.

As the man caught his breath near her flushed ear, he whispered soothing words yet persisted in his movements unchecked.

Overcome by intense pleasure, Caroline's sense of self dissolved. Her secretion dripped onto his stomach and his crotch, lubricating herself for his impending entry.

Inside her, clenching cramps rippled through her, legs quivering uncontrollably. Eric's exploring hand confirmed it—a finger was all he could manage. Forced to halt, he acknowledged her climax had tightened her to an impossible degree. Pushing further would rob the moment of its mutual delight.

Nevertheless, there was no cause for alarm. Time was on their side.

At sunset, Caroline fell asleep in Eric's arms.

Beneath the bed lay their discarded clothes. Eric picked a piece up and put it on, eyes burning with possession as he looked at the woman on the bed.

Two long years had flown by, and at long last, he was finally about to make her his.

Their bond might have been purely carnal for now, but it didn't matter. This time, he was determined to make her fall in love with him.

With that thought, a deep sense of elation enveloped him.

As exhaustion gripped her, Caroline remained oblivious to Eric's contented gaze.

Like a predator sated from a hearty feast, Eric's expression grew proportionately more solemn as the room darkened around him.

He had vowed to Caroline that he would not lay with her against her wishes.

Yet, in that moment, it was evident she had consented.

Had her memory not been lost, he would have never found another opportunity to be close to her.

Eric gently stroked the sleeping Caroline's cheek, a twinge of heartache and guilt surged within him, but he swiftly quashed these feelings.

Under no circumstances could he allow Caroline to detect his dishonesty; it was too risky to let her leave. Outside the confines of this house, danger lurked at every corner, with many out for her life, not to mention...

Eric shut his eyes in exhaustion and let out a soft sigh.

Caroline hadn't chosen him out of love. Nevertheless, he couldn't forsake this sole opportunity to be in love with her.

Because his love for her was intense, without expecting anything in return.

Come morning, Caroline awoke to comforting domesticity—the scent of cheese, toast, and steaming milk.

Her eyes focused on the robust outline of a man, his imposing back to her.

He dressed in a white shirt with sleeves rolled up, showcasing strong, taut arms.

The reality of this perfect, thoughtful man being her husband seemed like a fantasy.

Her life now surpassed her wildest dreams.

"You're awake." Eric turned around with a tender smile on his face.

Recollecting yesterday's afternoon tryst, which was merely fingering, Caroline felt her cheeks burn with a blush that spread to her ears and down her neck.

Eric's eyes seemed to drink in her blush, savoring the moment before handing her a crisp white dress.

After putting it on, the hungry Caroline gulped down the toast and milk he prepared for her.

"You made it?"

Eric, considerate of her preferences, had doubled the cheese on her toast and left the milk unsweetened. Clearly, Eric understood her tastes intimately.

With a swell of pride gracing his features, Eric nodded.

Looking around, Caroline found only two of them living in this building, which seemed too spacious for just two people.

"It's quite a large place you've got here. Ever thought about bringing in some help? A few maids, perhaps?" Caroline mused, noting how even the most wonderful place could feel less like home when only two souls roamed its halls.

"No, I'm not too keen on having others around," said Eric lightly.

Curiosity piqued, Caroline pressed on, "Then how do you manage everything? Don't you have to work?"

She hadn't once seen him leave here, his presence a constant shadow in her daily life.

Flashing a knowing smile, Eric boasted, "I’ve got enough means to sustain our life without the need for a job."

Caroline paused. The wealth her husband possessed was beyond her expectations—a dreamlike reality that a man so perfect was her husband.

However, a perplexing thought suddenly crossed her mind. "Eric, after the accident, how come my mother didn't visit?"

Caroline, born out of wedlock, had leaned on her mother for support throughout her upbringing. They shared an incredibly tight-knit bond. During her academic years, Caroline frequently called her mother.

Yet, it'd been an entire week without a single call from her mother. Initially, Caroline suspected she might have been abducted, preventing her mom from reaching her. But now, despite being with her husband, there was still no word from her mother.

Something must have been wrong!

A momentary pause in his dining, and his smile waned.

Caroline got nervous and fixed her eyes on his face, and a bad feeling haunted her.

"Caroline, do you not recall?" Eric reached out his chiseled hand and held hers tightly. "Your mother... she passed away two years ago."

"What? How could this happen?" Caroline, in disbelief, felt a massive shock that made her head reel, almost causing her to pass out. Eric, quickly stepping in to support her, looked at her with deep compassion.

Barely in her forties, her mother had been the epitome of vigor. Her untimely demise was an unthinkable reality.

The death of her mother signified the loss of her sole kin in this world and the individual who cherished her most and cared about her the most.

Ever since the car accident, Caroline never shed a tear, even when she was terrified. However, the devastating news of her mother's passing utterly broke her heart.

"She passed away in a car accident," Eric's voice was filled with tenderness as he gently wiped away Caroline's tears. But there was a noticeable dimness in his eyes.

The chilling reality was that her marriage to Eric was rooted in her quest for answers, seeking his influence to find out the truth behind her mother's death.

The mere thought that she had agreed to marry him for such reasons brought a sharp pain to his heart, making him reluctant to divulge any more information.

It would be better to make her think that they got married because of love.

As Caroline refrained from sobbing and thought about asking for more details, Eric's phone rang, and without a word, he stepped out.

Amidst the strained silence, a snow-white cat came in from the unlocked door, its sapphire gaze scanning the table, likely lured by the aroma of the breakfast.

The sight of the cat offered Caroline a fleeting solace from her grief.

A longtime cat enthusiast, Caroline, alongside her mother, had shared her life with many cat companions, all of whom had been like family.

"So, it's not just two of us with beating hearts in this vast house," Caroline rubbed her wet eyes, severing a slice of delicious toast and approaching the cat.

As she squatted down, the cat puffed up its fur suddenly, its eyes wide, staring at her, hissing fiercely.

Startled, she fell back, and by the time she regained her composure, the cat had vanished.

Caroline noticed a faint red mark on her wrist, a stark reminder that she had been restrained.

Her recollection confirmed it—she had been bound upon waking from her accident

until Eric realized her sightless state.

Digesting the week's events filled Caroline with a subtle unease that refused to fade.

If she and Eric were an ordinary couple, why did he keep her confined like this?

An icy shiver crept down her spine. It dawned on her that Eric might be fearing her flight.