Bound by Lust

Kael's steps were unhurried as he walked away, as if Esme's words held no weight.

That only fueled her anger.

Her nails dug into her palms as she clenched her fists, her voice rising in frustration. "Kael White, if you try to walk out on me again, I swear I'll kiss your guard."

The words echoed in the vast hallway, daring, reckless.

Kael came to an abrupt stop.

At first, he didn't turn. He stood there, motionless, as if debating whether her threat was even worth his time. But Esme saw the way his shoulders stiffened slightly, the subtle shift in his stance.

Still, he didn't move.

He didn't think she was serious.

Esme narrowed her eyes, a defiant fire burning inside her. You think I won't?

Without hesitation, she spun on her heel and strode toward one of the guards stationed near the entrance. The man, taken aback, straightened immediately as she approached.

"I'm sorry about this," Esme muttered under her breath, before grabbing his face, shutting her eyes tightly, and tilting her head up as she brought her lips dangerously close to his.

She barely made it an inch.

A strong hand clamped around her wrist, yanking her away with such force that she stumbled backward.

Kael's grip was tight, unrelenting.

Esme gasped as she was spun around, crashing against the hard wall of his chest. His black eyes burned into hers, a storm brewing beneath their depths—dark, consuming, livid.

"Are you out of your mind?" His voice was sharp, controlled, but there was an edge of something raw beneath it.

Esme swallowed, her heart hammering in her chest, but she refused to back down. "I told you not to walk away from me," she said breathlessly.

Kael's fingers tightened around her wrist, his jaw clenching. "So your solution was to throw yourself at another man?" His voice was dangerously low now, a quiet fury that sent a chill down her spine.

"I wasn't actually going to kiss him," Esme snapped. "But you didn't know that, did you?"

Something flickered in Kael's gaze. His hold on her didn't loosen.

"That was a pathetic attempt at getting my attention," he muttered, his breath warm against her skin.

"And it worked," she shot back.

Kael exhaled sharply through his nose, his grip tightening for a fraction of a second before he abruptly let go. The absence of his touch sent an unexpected wave of coldness through her.

"Don't play these games with me, Esme," he said darkly, his gaze piercing.

Esme's chest rose and fell rapidly. "And what about you?" she demanded. "What exactly do you call what you've been doing? Ignoring me for days, acting like I don't exist, and then suddenly getting mad because I refused to put up with it?"

Kael's eyes darkened.

"You think this is about me ignoring you?" he asked, voice quiet but dangerous. "You think I care enough to be bothered?"

Esme flinched.

It was a cruel thing to say.

But his grip on her wrist moments ago told a different story. The way he pulled her away, the way his control had slipped—just for a second—it had been real.

"You're a liar, Kael," she whispered.

Kael's expression didn't change, but his silence spoke volumes.

Esme took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She shook her head, stepping back. "I'm done trying to figure you out," she muttered, turning away from him.

But before she could take another step, Kael caught her wrist again, gentler this time, but just as firm.

"You're not done," he said quietly. "And you know it."

Esme's pulse skipped.

She hated that he was right.

****. ****. ****.