Bound by Lust

Esme had tasted victory, and she wasn't about to stop now.

For too long, Kael had dictated the terms of their arrangement—choosing when to acknowledge her, when to ignore her, when to drive her to the edge of her emotions just to watch her struggle. But now, she had seen something rare in him. A flicker of something that looked almost like irritation. A crack in that perfect, unreadable mask of his.

And she intended to push further.

The afternoon sun bathed the estate in a warm glow, but inside, the air was tense. Kael sat in his private office, absorbed in work, his sharp features illuminated by the light from his laptop screen. Papers were scattered across his desk, documents no doubt worth millions in negotiations and deals.

Esme stepped inside without knocking.

Kael didn't look up, but she saw the way his fingers paused briefly over the keyboard before continuing.

"Busy, as always," she mused, walking over to the shelves lining the office walls. She ran her fingers along the spines of the books there, pretending to be interested.

Kael still didn't acknowledge her.

Good. That made this more fun.

She let out a small sigh and walked past his desk, stopping at the couch across the room. Without hesitation, she reached for the remote and turned on the large television mounted on the wall. A lively romance drama immediately filled the space, the sound of passionate dialogue cutting through the heavy silence.

Kael's fingers stopped typing.

Esme bit back a smirk as she curled up on the couch, casually flipping through channels until she settled on a particularly steamy scene—a scene where the male lead was whispering sweet nothings to the female lead, his hands brushing against her skin.

Still, Kael said nothing.

She stretched, letting out a soft hum. "I wonder what it feels like to have someone say those kinds of things to you," she mused aloud, not looking at Kael.

She felt his gaze on her then, sharp and assessing.

Esme leaned against the couch's armrest, feigning deep interest in the scene. "Don't you think it's fascinating, Kael?" she asked, tilting her head slightly in his direction. "How some men can make a woman melt with just words?"

Kael's voice was smooth, cold. "If that's what you want, I'm sure Lucan would be happy to accommodate."

Esme smiled, unbothered. "Oh, I doubt Lucan is interested in me like that," she said, stretching her legs out. "But that's fine. I have plenty of time to explore my options."

Silence.

The tension in the room shifted.

Then, the click of Kael's laptop shutting echoed through the space.

Esme barely had time to react before Kael was standing, his tall frame moving toward her with slow, deliberate steps.

Her pulse quickened, but she didn't move. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her flinch.

Kael stopped just beside the couch, looking down at her with an expression that was unreadable—except for his eyes. There was something dark there, something dangerous.

"Are you bored, fiancée?" His voice was deceptively calm.

Esme met his gaze, unfazed. "A little."

Kael's lips curved slightly. "Then let me remind you of something," he murmured, reaching down.

Before she could react, he gripped her chin between his fingers, tilting her face up toward him.

His touch was firm, possessive.

Esme's breath caught, but she refused to look away.

"You can play whatever game you want," he said, his voice low, almost a whisper. "But don't forget—" He leaned in just enough that his breath ghosted over her lips. "You're still mine."

The words sent an involuntary shiver down her spine, but she quickly masked it with a smirk.

"Am I?" she challenged, placing a hand on his wrist. "Or am I just a contract you signed?"

Kael's eyes darkened further.

For a moment, it felt like he might close the distance entirely, that he might shatter the thin thread of control between them.

But then, just as suddenly as he had touched her, he let go.

Esme watched as he straightened, his expression returning to its usual impassive state.

"Keep testing me, Esme," he said smoothly. "See where it gets you."

With that, he turned and walked out of the office, leaving Esme with a racing heart and a triumphant smirk.

She wasn't backing down.

Not now.

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

Not when she had finally found a way to rattle the unshakable Kael White.