Emilia's POV
The mattress dipped under his weight, the chains rattling above me as he climbed onto the bed. The sheer size of him made the air feel smaller, like there was no space left in the room for me to breathe.
I jerked my head away, but his hand caught my jaw, firm and unyielding, forcing me to face him. His thumb pressed into my cheek, his fingers curling around my chin as if he owned the bones beneath my skin. My chest heaved, the air sharp in my throat, as his face loomed closer—until his lips crushed against mine.
It wasn’t a kiss. It was a punishment. A violent claiming. His mouth was hard, demanding, his tongue forcing its way past my clenched teeth until I bit down, desperation sharpening into defiance. The metallic tang of blood burst across my tongue.
I broke away, gas
