Chapter 6: His Claim
1025 Words
Dario’s POV
She stirred beside me.
I wasn’t asleep.. far from it. I could feel her hesitation in the way her body shifted slightly against the sheets, as if she were debating whether to slip away.
Did she really think I wouldn’t notice?
The moment she moved, I reached for her, sliding an arm firmly around her waist and pulling her against me.
Her breath hitched.. mine did as well the moment her body became entertained with mine.
Fuck!
I muttered inside of me..
The heat of her back pressed into my chest, the curve of her hip fitting too perfectly against me.
“You’re not going anywhere,” I murmured against her hair, my voice low and controlled.
Her body immediately stiffened, but didn’t fight me. Instead, she lay there, tense and restless, her heartbeat pounding like a drum I could almost hear.
I wanted her to sleep, to relax. To surrender. To trust. But she remained awake, her breaths shallow, her thoughts clearly racing.
Cute.. She was trying to mask her fear by being alert.
It was a good thing because.. Fear of the unknown would keep her close.
Minutes passed slowly and eventually, her body began to relax in my arms. Still, I stayed awake, listening to her breathing, studying the faint outline of her face in the dark.
Her soft breaths filled the silence, and I realized she had finally fallen asleep.
As if instinct guided her she slowly shifted, her hips brushed firmly against mine as she tried to make herself more comfortable.
The contact jolted me.
My body reacted instantly, hardening against her without my permission.
I clenched my jaw, my throat tightening as I swallowed hard, fighting to keep my composure.
“Damn it.” I slowly muttered.
She had no idea.. She had no idea that every innocent move of hers was pushingme closer to the edge. She had no idea that she was feeding the hunger that already threatened to consume me whole.
I tightened my grip around her waist, pulling her even closer as though restraining her would help me restrain myself. But it only made it worse..
My breathing turned heavier..If she only knew how close I was to losing it…
And then.. she turned.
Her soft movement brought her face to mine, so close that our lips were only inches apart. My mind immediately drifted between self control and the urge to take her again then and there..
Her sleepy murmur slowly brushed against my chest before she went calm again, before she curled even closer.
Again.. She had no idea that every brush of her hair against my chin, every accidental graze of her lips when she shifted in order to stay comfortable, was torture.
Her breath warmed my skin to the point I subconsciously clenched my hand tightly around her waist pulling her closer to me.
And her lips..
Don’t kiss her. Don’t.
But gods, I wanted to.
The temptation was unbearable..
I leaned in closer to her. My lips brushed hers, light as a feather's touch. I told myself I’d stop there.
I should have actually stopped but.. I didn’t.
I kissed her again, deeper this time, claiming the mouth that had been haunting me since the moment I first saw her..
Since the moment I had kept my head high acting as though her very existence wasn’t a massive threat to my mental health.
To my surprise.. Her lips parted faintly, drowsy, instinctive and she kissed me back.
She was not fully awake, and not fully aware of what was going on, yet her lips moved against mine, soft, hesitant. A sleepy, instinctive response. And it unraveled me.
Heavens, I wanted more.. I needed more.
I pulled back slowly, staring at her closed eyes. My voice came out colder than I had intended, and it was deeply laced with possession.
“You’re finally mine.”
She made a small sound in her throat and nestled closer, curling against me as though she belonged there.
Something twisted in my chest, sharp and unfamiliar.
Yes.. Mine.
I must have dozed off at last, because the next thing I heard was a roar.
A commotion.
I jerked awake instantly but the noise continued, louder and more furious, it vibrated through the mansion’s walls.
Emily slowly stirred awake..
“What’s happening?” she whispered, her sleepy voice laced with fear.
“Stay here,” I ordered, already throwing off the covers.
But she didn’t listen. I should’ve known she wouldn’t.
By the time I reached the staircase, she was right behind me, her small frame moving quickly to keep up.
The noise grew louder as we descended, until we reached the vast living room and what met us was..
Chaos.
My guards were holding someone back.. someone that was thrashing violently, shouting words I couldn’t make out.
“LET ME GO!” the intruder bellowed.
Emily gasped and her eyes went wide the moment she saw his face. Her hands flew to her mouth.
“Austin?”
The name left her lips like a broken prayer and it hit like a bomb.
I didn’t even have to ask who he was. The way Emily gasped told me everything.
Austin thrashed harder, his gaze wild as it landed on Emily.
“You.. How.. how could you?!” he shouted, voice breaking.
Emily’s lips parted, trembling. “Austin, I don’t understand what are you doin…”
Before she could complete her sentence.. His scream tore through her words.
“HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME..” his chest heaved with undiluted anger, fury and rage that made his entire frame shake, “..FATHER?!”
The word detonated like an atomic bomb in the silence.
Ah yes.. my dear prodigal son was back home to cause yet another pathetic scene.. How exhausting, he didn’t even allow me enjoy my first morning as a married man..
Emily froze as though the world had stopped. Her face was suddenly drained of all color, her horrified and confused gaze snapped to me.
“Father?” She slowly asked.
And I… smiled.
Slow and deliberate.. Dangerous.
Now she understood.
- Writer
