HIS OBSESSION

CHAPTER 4: THE FIRST NIGHT

Chapter 4: The First Night

Elena paced the length of her new bedroom, the silk nightgown clinging to her skin like a second thought.

Her bedroom. In his house.

The reality of what she had done was beginning to sink in. She had married a stranger—a man whispered about in the darkest corners of the city. And not just any man. Abina Varela.

She exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair.

The room was grand, of course. Everything about this house was. The massive bed was adorned with luxurious sheets, and the fireplace flickered, casting shadows across the walls. But it felt empty. Cold.

She had agreed to this arrangement, but now, alone in the quiet of the night, doubt crept in.

What the hell have I done?

A knock on the door made her freeze.

She turned, pulse quickening.

“Come in,” she called hesitantly.

The door opened, and there he was.

Abina leaned against the frame, his presence effortlessly commanding. He had shed his suit jacket, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, revealing a hint of tanned skin. The air between them shifted, thickened.

For a long moment, he simply looked at her.

“You’re not asleep,” he murmured.

Elena folded her arms. “No.”

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

A thrill of something dangerous curled in her stomach.

“Are you afraid of me?” he asked, voice smooth as silk.

She hesitated. “Should I be?”

Amusement flickered in his dark eyes. “Most people are.”

Elena lifted her chin. “I’m not most people.”

A slow smirk. “No, you’re not.”

He took another step forward, and suddenly, the space between them felt far too small.

“You agreed to be my wife,” he said softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. The touch was light, teasing, but it sent a shiver down her spine. “Do you understand what that means?”

Her breath caught.

“I understand the terms of the contract,” she said, voice steadier than she felt.

His fingers traced along her jaw, slow and deliberate.

“Good.” His voice was dark, almost possessive. “Because from now on, everything about you belongs to me.”

The air crackled.

His hand lingered, but then, just as quickly, he pulled away.

“Get some sleep, mi esposa,” he murmured. “Tomorrow, you’ll be on display for the world.”

Then, without another word, he turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.

Elena let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

One thing was clear.

This marriage was going to be far more dangerous than she had ever imagined.