I want My Wife back

Chapter two

Alexander Sterling!" I screamed, jumping out of the bed and landing hard on the floor, ready to run for my life.

​But before I could even make a dash for the door, his large hands clamped around my arms, holding me firmly in place.

​"Easy, easy. I'm not going to hurt you," he said, chuckling softly as he easily pinned me down.

​"No! I know who you are," I panted, tears blurring my vision as panic took over. "You're ruthless. You rule the Southern syndicate,you're Xavier's ultimate rival, and you have every reason to end me right now!"

​"No, love. That's where you're wrong," he countered, his deep voice remarkably calm. His grip loosened, but he didn't let go. "I have nothing against you. My war is with your ex-husband. If I wanted you dead, I would have just run you over immediately I saw you, instead of bringing you home."

​His words slowly sank in, and my worried nerves relaxed just a bit.

​Alexander smirked, leaning back slightly. "Besides, who are you going to trust? Your abusive, blind ex-husband... or me?" He let go of my arms and gestured to the edge of the bed. "Now sit, love. Let's talk about what you can do for me."

​I sat down, suddenly feeling as small and obedient as a child. "What do you want from me? I'm useless to you. I have nothing."

​"No, you're not. Think of it this way," Alexander murmured, his eyes darkening with a dangerous glint. "Imagine a man buys a beautiful, rare doll. He breaks it, abuses it, and abandons it in the dirt. But then, someone else picks it up, dusts it off, and fixes it until it's more stunning than ever before. Don't you think the first man will go crazy wanting it back?"

​I frowned, my mind racing. "I don't really follow..."

​"I know you're innocent, Elena. I know Mia and Xavier have been having an affair behind your back, and that's exactly why she framed you."

​Hearing him say it out loud made my blood instantly boil. The humiliation and betrayal roared back to life. "How do you know that?"

​"I have some old scores to settle with Xavier," Alexander explained, leaning back comfortably in his chair. "And if he finds out that I have you,that you belong to me now,he will lose his mind. He’ll make reckless mistakes, and that will give me the perfect opportunity to strike."

​"So... you want to use me as bait?"

​"You're benefiting from this too, love. It's mutual."

​I swallowed hard, looking at him. "When you said... have me... what exactly did you mean?"

​"Well, we’ll need to make public appearances, behave like a couple, and let the underworld see us together," he said smoothly.

​Before I could reply, a light knock sounded at the door. A maid walked in carrying a large tray filled with steaming, delicious food. The moment the aroma hit the air, my belly let out a loud, traitorous grumble.

​Embarrassed, I didn't care about manners anymore. I dug in, eating like a thief who hadn't seen food in days. Alexander just sat there, watching me with an amused, almost gentle smile playing on his lips.

​Once I was finished, I wiped my mouth, cleared my throat, and looked him dead in the eye.

​"Well, I understand what you're saying," I told him, a newfound coldness settling into my chest. "I want them to pay for every single tear I shed. I'm a willing participant."

​Alexander’s smile turned into a satisfied, boyish grin. "Good. I'll let you rest then. It's almost midnight." He stood up, towering over the room one last time, before turning on his heel and leaving.

​The moment the door clicked shut, I slumped onto the mattress, staring blankly at the ceiling. I clenched my fists, promising myself that I would get my revenge, no matter the cost.

​"Let me go, Xavier!" I screamed, my bare feet skidding on the marble as I sprinted down the grand staircase.

​"You're mine, Elena!" his monstrous voice boomed behind me, his footsteps heavy and relentless. "You can never leave me!"

​"Arrrrrgh!" I shrieked as his cold hands grabbed my shoulders, pulling me backward into the dark—

​I snapped my eyes open, gasping for air.

​My chest was heaving, and my body was drenched in a cold sweat. It was just a nightmare. But I was shaking so violently that I knew I wouldn't be able to fall back asleep. Parched and restless, I slid out of bed and quietly walked out into the hallway.

​The mansion was deathly quiet as I roamed the corridors until I finally stumbled upon the massive, modern kitchen. I poured a glass of water and drank it down greedily, as if my very life depended on it.

​"Why are you not asleep?"

​I jumped, spinning around to find Alexander standing in the doorway. He was still wearing his tailored trousers, his button,down shirt slightly unbuttoned at the collar, looking like he hadn't slept a wink either.

​"I... I had a nightmare," I stammered, holding the empty glass tightly. "I needed a drink of water."

​"A nightmare?" Alexander’s gaze softened, a hint of genuine sympathy flickering in his dark eyes. "Oh, you poor thing. You should go back to sleep now."

​He turned, attempting to leave the kitchen, but I remained frozen in place, still visibly shivering from the residual terror of my dream.

​Alexander paused. He looked at me, then extended his large, warm hand toward me. "Come."

​Without a second thought, I placed my hand in his. His grip was firm and protective as he led me down a different wing of the house, eventually guiding me into a master bedroom that was clearly his. The scent of expensive cologne and leather filled the air.

​"Since you're so scared, you can sleep here tonight," he said, climbing onto one side of the massive king-sized bed.

​I climbed in after him, immediately rolling over to lay with my back turned to him. But the feeling of the nightmare was still pumping through me. I couldn't stay still, restlessly moving my legs up and down beneath the sheets.

​"I'm trying to sleep here, love," Alexander’s deep voice rumbled behind me.

​I turned around to face him. The room was bathed in shadows, but the moonlight caught his piercing eyes. Right then, it felt like an invisible, magnetic pull was dragging me toward him. I didn't want to think about Xavier. I didn't want to think about the abuse. I just wanted to feel alive.

​I made a sudden, dangerous move. Closing the distance between us, I leaned up and sealed the space, pressing my lips firmly against his.

​When I pulled away, breathless, Alexander’s eyes had gone completely pitch black with desire.

​"You asked for it," he growled.

​Before I could even inhale, his powerful hands locked around my waist, dragging me flush against his hard chest. He came down on my lips, kissing me passionately, taking total control. A soft moan escaped my throat, and Alexander used the opportunity to slide his tongue deep into my mouth, consuming me entirely.

​Within minutes, our clothes were flying through the air, discarded on the floor. He hovered over me, his muscular frame blocking out the rest of the world. He took one last, intense look into my eyes before thrusting deep into me.

​I gasped, my fingers digging into his shoulders as I tried to match his frantic, punishing pace. At this point, I didn't care about the consequences. I didn't care about right or wrong. I just needed to be touched, to be held, to drown out the ghosts of my past.

​When it was over, the nightmares were entirely gone. I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep wrapped tightly in his strong arms, completely safe.

​The next morning, warm sunlight woke me up. I rolled over, but the other side of the bed was already cold. Alexander was gone.

​Instead, a small, heavy piece of cream stationery sat on his pillow. I picked it up. Written in elegant, commanding cursive were four simple words:

​Go shopping, love.

​A slow, genuine smile spread across my face. If I was going to stand by the side of a mafia king and tear Xavier's empire down piece by piece, I definitely needed to update my wardrobe.