BRIDE OF WRATH

The Unraveling

I was stretched out on the couch, watching an episode of Tyler Perry's Beauty in Black when Zephyr walked in, carrying a larger-than-life bouquet of white roses in one hand and a large box of chocolates in the other.

Benedict quietly hung Zephyr's suit on the rack before leaving the room.

I stood, eyeing the bouquet curiously, my heart flipping.

Had Zephyr Wrath really bought these for me?

"Hi," I whispered, rising to my feet.

He smiled. "Hi."

Was that… nervousness on his face?

He extended the bouquet toward me, and I walked forward reluctantly, accepting it.

"I, uh… thought you might like flowers, so I got you these," he said.

I stopped looking at him, my attention entirely on the sweet-smelling white roses. No one had ever given me flowers before, especially not in this quantity. And roses weren't cheap.

Bringing them to my nose, I inhaled happily, cradling the bouquet to my chest as if it were precious gemstones.

"They're beautiful," I whispered sincerely. "Thank you."

He nodded and set the box of chocolates on the nearby table. "I hope you have a sweet tooth."

Gently, I placed the flowers beside the chocolates and turned back to him. "First, you hand me your credit card, and now you're giving me gifts," I said, trying not to blush. "Is there a particular reason for all this?"

Zephyr shrugged. "Do I need one? You're going to be my wife."

He moved closer. "How was today?"

I shook my head, not wanting to think about the sight of my parents' house. Even now, a pang of pain sliced through my heart.

"Fine," I said coolly. "You mentioned we'd talk after you got back from work."

He nodded, moving past me to sit on the couch where I had been lounging.

Beauty in Black continued playing on the large smart TV, the scene showing Horace gunning down the masked men attempting to rob him.

I sat beside Zephyr.

"We're getting engaged next week," he said.

I shouldn't have been surprised, yet the announcement still caught me off guard.

"Oh." That was all I managed at first before my brain booted. "And the actual wedding?"

"Still uncertain," he replied, leaning back into the plush pillows and rubbing his temple. "You know why."

Yes, I knew why. Zephyr wouldn't move forward with the wedding unless I willingly agreed to marry him. Unless I loved him.

A sudden realization hit me, and I stilled. "Wait… is that why you got me flowers and chocolates?"

His hand stopped rubbing against his temple, and he turned to look at me, his eyes darkening in irritation. "What?"

I gestured toward the gifts. "Did you buy these because you're trying to win me over, or did you do it out of the kindness of your heart?"

He scoffed, shaking his head. "Is this what your brain does 24/7? Overthink things."

I crossed my arms. "You didn't answer my question."

"I bought them because I wanted to make you happy. f**k's sake. Maybe I shouldn't have bothered."

'Wanted to make me happy?'

A blush crept up my cheeks, and I muttered a quiet, "Thank you. I appreciate it."

Zephyr loosened the buttons on his sleeves, rolling his shirt up to his elbows. His arm muscles flexed in the process, and I gulped. His hands were large and fine.

I imagined them around my neck. Gripping tightly as he plunged into me over and…

"I'm leaving for New York tomorrow morning," Zephyr's voice pulled me out of fantasy land.

For some reason, the information caused an unexpected sadness in my chest, pulling at my heartstrings.

"For business?" I asked.

"Pack issues," he elaborated. "Nik and Alex are already there, but as Alpha, it's something I need to handle personally."

I nodded in understanding. "Okay. What about the spy issue in your office? Nik once mentioned you were dealing with something like that."

"Yeah." He shifted slightly, turning to face me, resting his head on his hands, elbows propped on the couch. "My PI already handed over the information. I just haven't gone through it yet."

He looked exhausted, and all I wanted was to smooth my hands over his face, through his hair, and ease away some of that tension. Bring my lips to his while I straddle him and…

Holy s**t.

"I guess I'm not ready for the betrayal," he admitted. "It could be someone I know… or not."

My face softened in understanding. "Yeah, I get that," I said softly. "My parents' betrayal and all."

My parents. I'd be seeing them at the engagement. At first, a wave of happiness washed over me, only to die just as quickly. Those people didn't truly care about me.

Zephyr's warm hand covered mine, and when I looked up, he was watching me with an expression so soft, so genuine, it made my heart soar.

No. I was supposed to hate him. No.

Get yourself together, Lyla.

"Why don't you go shopping tomorrow?" he suggested. "Pick out some nice dresses, especially one for the engagement."

"I already have enough dresses."

He shrugged. "You can never have enough."

"I'll go, but only if you don't put a time restriction on me like last time. It's not like I can run off anyway. You have your guards watching my every move."

"Trust me, it's for your own safety."

"It's just shopping, Zephyr. You need to chill a little." I relaxed into the couch, stretching slightly. My blouse rode up a little, exposing a bit of my stomach.

"You have no idea how awkward it feels being accompanied by two bodyguards. It's not like I'm a celebrity or anything. I'm only attracting unwanted attention to myself."

Zephyr shifted closer, his hands slipping under my blouse, pushing it up further. His fingers brushed over the spot where he had marked me, now almost fully healed.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked gently.

I shook my head, secretly wanting him to keep his hands there. "No."

His fingers traced the spot again, slowly. "I'm glad."

Zephyr must have sensed how much I enjoyed his touch because he didn't stop.

His fingers inched upward, climbing higher until they reached the underside of my breasts, where they halted.

It was late, and I'd already taken off my bra. I hated those deadly contraptions anyway.

The moment he realized I was bare underneath my blouse, something changed in his expression.

The softness in his eyes was replaced by something more intense. His breathing deepened, and the air between us hummed with an electricity so thick it set my body, my very soul, on fire.

I pressed my thighs together, trying to suppress the ache inside me.

It was maddening how little control I had over myself around him, how effortlessly he unraveled me, how my hormones spiraled out of control when he was near.

Zephyr's fingers moved again, running over my already sensitive n*****s.

I didn't realize his name had slipped from my lips in a whisper until it was too late. "Zephyr…"

My voice sounded so needy. So unlike me.

He pinched a n****e, his eyes not leaving mine, watching as I melted.

"B-Benedict could walk in any second," I stammered in embarrassment. But I was too aroused to care.

"f**k Benedict."

The roughness in his tone only made me grow hornier, feeding something inside me... something wild I had no intention of putting out.

I grabbed his hand, dragging it away from my breast and placing it on his thigh before shifting dangerously close.

My mind screamed at me, warning me against what I was about to do. But I'd wanted this for so long, ever since that night at the soiree. Ever since I saw that woman on her knees. Since he told me he had denied her.

Zephyr's brows furrowed in confusion for a second before realization dawned. His green eyes darkened as he watched me move between his legs, sinking to my knees.

"Wildflower," he rasped. "What are you doing?"

Yes. What the hell was I doing?

I should've hated him. That was the plan. To loathe him for the rest of this marriage. But I didn't care. Not about that, not about the fact that any moment a staff member could walk in and freaking catch us.

If the past me could see this… see me kneeling, about to suck the d**k of the man whose brothers had bought me, she'd shake her head in disbelief.

But I didn't care.

There were days for making good decisions, and there were days for making bad ones.

Tonight, I was making a bad one.

His hand slid into my hair, smoothing it down in a way that felt almost… soothing.

"You sure about this?" He asked again.

His voice was raw, and I could just tell he was teetering on the edge of control.

The signs were there. How tight his jaw was, how his hardness pressed against his trousers, how his breathing pattern had changed into something harsher.

Slightly agitated by his question, because we both knew he wanted this just as much, I licked my lips and reached for his belt, my fingers fumbling slightly.

"Shut up and let me focus, unless you want me to change my mind."