My blood ran cold.
I could not comprehend if he truly believed me or if he only wanted me to think he did, but the way his lips curved into that slow, satisfied smile told me one thing.
Whether it was truth or a lie, didn’t matter to him. He got my submission. He wanted me broken enough to say it.
The only thing he craved was dominance over me.
And that now I had given him exactly what he wanted, he would not leave such a chance.
Josh’s hand moved suddenly, his fingers curling around my shoulders.
The touch was light, almost careful, but it made every nerve in my body jolt.
My stomach knotted in disgust as my skin crawled under his grip. I wanted to jerk his hands off and scream at him to stay away, but I couldn’t.
Instead, I forced myself to stay still. If I broke now, everything I had built in the last few minutes would shatter completely.
"Stand up," he ordered quietly.
This time, his tone was not as harsh as before. When observed, it was not even angry. It was calm, almost... gentle, which made it worse.
I pushed myself up slowly, my legs unsteady. His hand remained on my shoulder, guiding me like I was something fragile but from inside, I was shuddering.
I dared to lift my eyes at him for a moment...just a small glance and for God’s sake I literally froze at my position.
Josh’s face was not twisted with suspicion or anger. It was not even mocking or cruel the way it usually was.
No. His expression was something else entirely.
Something that unsettled me even more. His eyes shone with a strange light, wild but soft. Like a man standing before a miracle he had prayed for too long.
His lips were parted slightly, and his breath came out unevenly.
It was not hatred I saw.
It was an obsession. Pure, dangerous obsession.
My blood turned cold.
Josh leaned closer, his hand sliding from my shoulder down to my arm, holding me steady as though he was afraid I might vanish.
"Do you have any idea," he whispered, his voice trembling with a strange kind of joy, "how long I dreaded this moment? How many times I imagined it? You finally realize... finally understanding me."
His grip tightened slightly as my body stiffened that same instant.
"I was over the moon, Elena. Over the damn moon," he went on, his tone rising with an almost boyish excitement.
"Every night, every single night, I pictured you saying those words that you see me. That you love me." His eyes darkened, heat sparking in them. "And now, finally, it’s real."
My throat worked, but no words came out. Relief flickered for a fleeting second that he had bought my act. The first part of my plan worked. He was convinced, at least enough to lower his guard.
But before that relief could stay a moment longer, it turned into dread the moment I saw the hunger in his eyes.
Josh was not done. Not even close.
He took a slow step toward me, then another. Each one felt like the beat of a drum inside my skull.
I instinctively backed away, inch by inch, my heart hammering. His expression did not falter. If anything, it grew softer, more dangerous, as if he thought my retreat was some kind of shy response.
Until finally, my back slammed against the wall.
Cold spread across my spine.
Josh stopped just inches away, his body looming over mine. His breath brushed against my cheek, and his gaze dropped to my lips before lifting back to my eyes.
I could not breathe. My chest rose and fell too fast, panic clawing at my throat.
His hand lifted slowly, almost tenderly, as if to cup my face. I could not let it happen. I pressed both my palms flat against his chest, the heat of his body searing through the fabric.
"Don’t," I snapped, my voice breaking but sharp.
The air between us cracked.
Josh froze. His eyes flickered just for a second with something sharp...suspicion. The warmth in them drained slightly, replaced by that cold glimmer I knew too well. My stomach dropped.
Jesus!
Had I ruined it? Did he see through me?
He tilted his head, studying me, his lips pressing into a thin line. My hands trembled against his chest, but I did not push him harder.
I kept them there, like I was caught between hesitation and fear.
"Don’t?" he repeated slowly, his voice quieter now, dangerous. "Why not?"
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. One wrong word and everything would collapse.
He would know. And once he knew the truth, he would destroy me in every unimaginable way.
"I... I just..." My voice faltered, weak, shaky, but I forced the words out. "It’s too much. Too fast. I only just... realized everything. I am trying to... to catch up with what I feel."
Josh’s eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion still there, but his breathing slowed. He tilted his head again, as if weighing my words, testing them in his mind.
I dared to lower my gaze, pretending to hide embarrassment, while inside I was fighting not to collapse. My entire body screamed with terror.
Josh’s hand lingered in the air a moment longer before he let it fall back to his side. His smirk returned, faint but sharp.
"You’re scared," he murmured, almost pleased. "Scared of how much you feel. Scared of me?" His last words felt like a pure statement rather than a mere question.
He leaned closer again, his lips nearly brushing my ear. "But that’s alright. Fear makes love stronger. It makes it real."
I clenched my fists tightly against his chest, forcing myself not to push him away, and definitely not to scream.
He drew back slightly, his gaze locking onto mine with dangerous devotion. "We will take it slow then," he said softly, as though he was making a promise. "But make no mistake, Elena. You are mine now. And soon... we will be complete. A real family." Get full chapters from ⓝovelFire.net
My insides twisted violently, but I nodded, forcing a faint trembling smile. "Yes... yours."
The word burned like acid on my tongue.
Josh finally stepped back, just enough to give me air. Relief crashed into me, but it was poisoned with dread. He believed me...for now, but his belief came with a price I was not ready to pay.
As his eyes lingered on me with that feverish glow, I realized something terrifying.
I was not just playing his game anymore.
I was trapped in it.