Kingsley's Bride

Chapter 33: Not meant to be tamed

A woman's terrified scream echoed, sharp and piercing, immediately followed by the vicious crack of a whip slicing through the air. The harrowing sounds jolted me awake with a terrified gasp, chills running down my body.

I looked around, scared, the dreadful sound still fresh in my mind, the night clings to the room like a suffocating veil, the silence punctuated only by the steady rhythm of someone's breath against my neck. 

And then I sensed a firm hold on my waist. 

Lord Darius's arm wrapped around my waist, his grip firm, almost possessive, as if even in sleep, he's determined not to let me slip away. The warmth of his body seeps into me, a stark contrast to the cold reality outside. 

I turn my head slightly, my eyes settling on the balcony shrouded in darkness. 

A pang of guilt twists in my chest. Meredith must have waited for me, desperate and alone, only to leave when I didn't come. The thought is unbearable, but there's nothing I can do now. I've been caught, ensnared by my husband, again.

Carefully, I shift in bed, turning to face him. 

Lord Darius's face is serene in sleep, the polar opposite of the man who has been chasing me, controlling me, and binding me to his will. 

His white satin robe clings to his chest, which rises and falls with each breath, and the soft glow of the moonlight from the balcony highlights the recently grown beard that frames his face. His hair falls across his forehead, and for a moment, I find myself captivated by the serenity in his expression. 

In this moment, he looks almost vulnerable a man, not a lord, not a tyrant, but someone who might feel as deeply as I do.

A strange impulse tugs at me, a challenge whispered by some rebellious part of my heart. 

Before I knew it, I found myself inching closer, closing the distance between us. I wanted to feel his warmth again, to connect with him in a way that defied the fear and anger I harbored. My gaze fell to his lips, remembering how they had claimed mine with a force that left me breathless and confused.

My gaze falls to his lips, remembering how they claimed mine, leaving me breathless and confused. 

But then he moved a little bit and shook me back to reality.

What is wrong with you, Scarlett?

I scolded myself, pulling back. 

I was supposed to be mad at him, furious, even. 

He tried to control me and whipped Eliza, and yet, I couldn't bring myself to blame him entirely. Day by day, I was seeing new sides of him, and understanding more of what drove him.

He had been on edge lately, and I knew it was because of me and my sister. 

But I couldn't let that stop me. I had to prove Meredith's innocence before him, no matter the cost. Still, I couldn't deny the conflicting emotions stirring within me. The more I tried to hate the situation, the more I understood him. 

And the more I understood, the harder it became to hold on to my anger.

He cared for me, in his own twisted way. 

He followed me, found me, every single time I tried to slip away. 

Was it because he was lonely? Or was it because he couldn't tolerate the thought of losing another family member?

I closed my eyes, trying to shake off the confusion, but exhaustion quickly pulled me under.

When I awoke, it was to the soft sound of movement. Sunlight streamed in through the balcony, casting a warm glow across the room. I blinked, disoriented, before realizing Lord Darius was standing by the bed, his back to me as he adjusted the cufflinks on his white outfit. His robe had been replaced with something more formal, but the sight of him still made my heart race.