The ocean stretched endlessly before Evelyn as she stood on the balcony of Nickolas's island mansion. The soft breeze brushed against her face, the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs below filling the air. The beauty of it all felt surreal for a moment—this place, this luxurious prison. But the truth was inescapable: she was trapped. She was trapped by a man who claimed to love her but whose love was a dangerous, consuming force.
Nickolas was downstairs, handling "business," as he called it. The island was private, secluded, and guarded by his most loyal men. Even if she wanted to escape, there was nowhere to run. The thought weighed heavily on her as she gripped the railing, her knuckles white from the pressure.
What frightened her the most wasn't the captivity itself. It was how Nickolas looked at her, how his eyes burned with a mixture of obsession, desire, and something darker. She had seen that look before, but never this intense, never so all-consuming. He wanted her—completely, irrevocably—and would do anything to ensure she never left him again.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. She didn't have to turn around to know it was Nickolas. His presence was as overwhelming as ever, filling the space with a tension that tightened around her chest.
"You're quiet today," Nickolas said, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine as he stepped closer, standing beside her. His hand rested on the small of her back, his possessive and gentle touch.
Evelyn didn't respond, keeping her gaze fixed on the horizon. She couldn't look at him right now, not when her emotions were swirling in a mess of confusion and frustration.
"I've given you everything, Evelyn," he continued, his tone softening though the intensity in his voice remained. "Why do you still resist me?"
Finally, she turned to face him, her green eyes meeting his dark, brooding ones. "Because this isn't love, Nickolas," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "This is control. You've taken me away from everything and everyone I know. How am I supposed to love someone who treats me like a possession?"
Nickolas's jaw tightened, and she saw a flash of anger in his eyes for a while. But it was gone just as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by that familiar, dangerous calm. He stepped closer, his hand sliding up her back, pulling her against him. "I don't just want your love, Evelyn," he whispered, his lips brushing against her ear. "I want you. All of you."
Evelyn's heart pounded in her chest as she felt the heat of his body against hers. There was a part of her—a deep, buried part—that responded to him, that was drawn to his intensity, to the way he made her feel desired in a way she had never experienced before. But she couldn't ignore the fear that came with it, the knowledge that his love was dangerous, that it could destroy her.
"I can't live like this," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Nickolas pulled back slightly, his eyes searching hers. "You can, and you will," he said, his voice low but firm. "Because I won't let you go, Evelyn. I can't. You're mine."
His words sent a chill through her, and she pushed against his chest, breaking free from his hold. "You say you love me, but you don't even know what that means, Nickolas. Love isn't about possession. It's about trust, about freedom."
YOU ARE READING
I Won't Accept Any of Your Regrets
Romance"I can't promise you love, and I'll have no other woman but you," he said. I thought it would be okay. Even if he didn't love me, I thought my love would make our marriage happy. But I'm very naive to think he will love me even for once. Because Lou...
