The Billionaire's Unwanted Bride

CHAPTER 2

On my finger, the grip of the ring was like a noose.

I watched it, hands balled into fists as Lucas propelled me toward the car. My heart raced in my chest; my breaths were shallow. This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be.

Yet the cold metal on my skin said different.

I was married.

To Lucas Thompson.

A man I hated.

A man who had tormented me.

A man who now owns me.

The car door swung open. I hesitated. Lucas sighed, then slapped one hand on my lower back and ushered me inside without further comment.

I bristled at his touch but he didn’t seem to mind.

The instant the door was closed behind him, the tension between them in the car was almost palpable.

I looked at him, my tone biting. “What now?”

Lucas reclined back against the seat, his cool eyes gazing into mine. “Now, you come home with me.”

I scoffed. “Home? “You believe I’m going to live with you?”

A wisp of a dangerous smile flitted across his lips. “You are my wife, Elara.”

I flinched at the word. Wife. It felt foreign. Wrong.

“This was a deal,” I said, between gritted teeth. “Not a real marriage.”

Lucas looked at me for a long moment. “You’re right,” he finally replied. “But that doesn’t change that you’re mine now.”

My stomach twisted. “I don’t belong to anyone.”

His gaze darkened. “You do now.”

A shiver ran through me.

The driver drove onto the road. I looked out the window, the city rushing by. I couldn’t do this. I had to find a way out.

Lucas’s voice pulled me back. “You can’t run away, sweetheart.

I stiffened. “I wasn’t”

“Well, you were,” he interjected smoothly. “I can see it in your face.

His confidence infuriated me. “You don’t know me.”

His lips twitched. “I know enough.”

I faced away again, denying him the satisfaction of a reply.

Minutes stretched in silence before the car finally eased backward. I looked up and my stomach sank.

His house, his mansion, to be more precise, was grand. Cold. Intimidating.

A prison.

The car came to a stop in front of the girls’ house, and Lucas exited first. Before I could say anything, my door opened and he stood there, his hand out.

I abandoned it and struck out solo.

Lucas grinned, but didn’t deny it as he guided me inside.

As soon as we crossed the threshold, I felt a wave of warmth wash over me. The inside was clean, modern but lacked soul.

Just like him.

Lucas turned to me. “Welcome home.”

I crossed my arms. “It’s not my home.”

His eyes twinkled with mischief. “It is now.”

I swallowed hard.

Then Lucas stepped in closer before I could say anything more. His scent — clean, crisp and very male enveloped me.

“You’re mine now, Elara,” he said softly. “You need to start dealing with that.”

My breath hitched.

Then suddenly his fingers brushed my chin, lifting my face.

My heart quickened when his eyes flicked to my lips. “Unless,” he said, his voice quiet, gravelly, “you want me to remind you.”

There was a heat that spread through me, but I forced myself still. To stay strong.

I lifted my chin. “Go to hell.”

His smirk deepened. “Oh, sweetheart.”

Then, before I had the chance to react, his lips collided with mine.

I gasped, my body freezing as his mouth slid over mine with primal, possessive hunger. It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t sweet. It was a warning. A claim.

My hands flailed to meet, shoving him away from my chest, but he would not break away. Instead, he deepened the kiss as he tightened his grip on my waist, pulling me flush against him.

A shiver ran through me.

Damn him.

Damn my treasonous body for reacting.

I should’ve pulled away. Should’ve slapped him. But instead, he held me there, his fire consuming me, drowning me in something I didn’t know how to understand.

Then, almost as soon as it began, it was over.

Lucas pulled away, with dark, unreadable eyes. His thumb followed the cut of my lower lip, lingering.

“Get used to it,” he said under his breath. “This is only the beginning.”

I exhaled, my breath trembling, as he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving me standing there, heart pounding, hands shaking.

I’d just made the biggest mistake of my life.

And with that, there was no going back.

I froze, tingling in my lips, heart pounding against the bars of my ribs.

Lucas had kissed me.

Not just kissing me claimed me. And I had let him.

My fists balled up, and I pressed my nails into my palms. No. I was not going to let him dominate me.

Footsteps rang down the hall. Lucas turned and walked away, as if that kiss hadn’t meant a thing. Like I was not a person, just a game.

Anger bubbled up inside me.

I ran after him and seized his wrist. “What the hell was that?”

He looked down, his eyes falling to where my fingers dug into his skin. Then finally, in slow motion, his eyes turned to mine. “A kiss,” he said simply.

I scowled. “That wasn’t just a kiss. That was”

“A reminder,” he cut in. His voice was steady, but a dangerous glint lingered in his eyes. “You’re my wife now, Elara.”

My stomach twisted.

He cupped my ear with one hand, leaning in. “And wives kiss their husbands.

I shoved him. “You’re crazy if you think I’m going to go along with this.”

Lucas didn’t move. He stared at me, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. “You’ll come around.”

“Never.”

His lips twitched. “We’ll see.”

I glared at him. “I want my room.”

Lucas arched a brow. “You’ll sleep in mine.”

My breath hitched. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am.”

Heat rushed to my face. “I”

A knock on the door interrupted me.

Lucas didn’t even seem surprised. “Ah. Right on time.”

I frowned. “Who is that?”

He smirked. “Your father.”

My stomach dropped.

I barely had time to brace myself when the door flew open, and there he was—my father, framed in the imposing entryway, his critical eye skimming past my face like a scanner before landing in disdain on Lucas.

“Good. You’ve all settled in,” he said,

I stiffened. “What do you want?”

He barely spared me a glance. “I came here to have business with my son-in-law.”

It sent chills down my spine.

Lucas nodded. “Shall we?”

They began walking toward the study, and panic twisted my chest.

I wasn’t stupid. My father was never without an ulterior motive.

I high-fived Lucas’s sleeve before he could escape into the room. “Don’t trust him,” I said urgently.

Lucas looked down at me, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Oh, darling,” he said, “I never trust anybody.”

And then he pulled back, following my father into the study, and I stood there with my heart racing.

Something was wrong.

I could feel it.

And I had a sinking suspicion that this was just the start.