Kingsley's Bride

Chapter 32: Ruthless Husband

Surprise Update

Scarlett

His lips press against mine, and for a moment, I'm frozen, lost in the shock of it all. It's like time stops, the air around us thickening with an intensity I've never known. His kiss is searing, full of a passion that leaves me breathless. My mind spins, trying to process what's happening, but before I can think, I feel my hands moving on their own, gently brushing against his chest.

There's a warmth there, a connection that stuns me even more than the kiss itself. There's something undeniably tender in the way he moves against me. My heart hammers in my chest, a wild rhythm that matches the fervor of his embrace.

He finally pulls back, but only just, his breath mingling with mine as our eyes lock. His forehead leans against mine, and I'm acutely aware of how small I feel beneath his towering frame. The scent of his woody cologne surrounds me, filling my senses, making it impossible to think of anything else. His hands, strong and deliberate, find my shoulders and slide down, clasping my hand in his.

My heart pounds even harder, an erratic beat that I'm sure he can feel through our joined hands. There's a strange vulnerability in this moment, something raw and powerful that I don't quite understand.

I've never felt like this before, so out of control, so completely at his mercy.

Then, with a suddenness that takes my breath away, he pulls me closer, his hands firm on my waist. I gasp, the sound escaping my lips before I can stop it. He inches even nearer, his eyes closing as he draws me against him.

Our bodies collide, pressed tightly against each other. I'm so close that I can hear the powerful, steady thud of his heartbeat, and feel the warmth of his body seeping into mine.

"Let me go," I whisper, the words barely more than a breath against his lips.

But instead of releasing me, he captures my mouth again, his kiss even more insistent, more consuming. He smooches my lips, the sound loud and unmistakable, a reminder of just how deeply he wants me. The sound echoes in my ears, sending a flush of heat up to my cheeks.

I try to resist, try to fight the pull of this overwhelming sensation, but it's no use. A soft squeal slips from me as he deepens the kiss, his lips smacking against mine in a way that makes my head spin. The smooches continue, each one more fervent than the last, leaving me breathless and trembling in his arms.

I don't want this. I shouldn't want this, not at a time like this.

And yet, I find myself responding, hesitant and unsure, but unable to deny the magnetic pull between us. His lips move against mine with a fervor that leaves me trembling, and when he finally pulls back, breathless and intense, he whispers a single word that sends shivers down my spine.

"Never."

The resolve in his voice is undeniable, and it terrifies me as much as it captivates me. I can't escape him, not now, not ever. And as I stand there, trapped in the whirlwind of his desire, I realize with a sinking heart that I might not even want to.

I watch him, breathless against me, his chest heaving as he tries to catch his breath. The fact that I made him like this sends butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

As his eyes meet mine again, the intensity in his gaze makes my heart skip a beat. He takes a step back, his left hand clasping my right with a firm grip, and without warning, he pulls me towards him.

"My Lord, please," I plead, still feeling the tingling sensation of his kiss lingering on my lips.

For a brief moment, I had completely forgotten why I had come this far. Meredith.