Bound by Lust

The morning light filtered softly through the grand windows of Kael's mansion, but the tension in the house was palpable. Esme had spent the last few days wrapped up in her thoughts, brewing with a mixture of frustration, irritation, and a silent challenge to Kael. She had become accustomed to the cold distance between them, but inviting Sophia into their home was crossing a line she couldn't ignore.

Kael, however, seemed perfectly unfazed by her growing ire. He was always calculating, always in control, but today he was testing her patience in a way she hadn't anticipated. The invitation to Sophia was his move to retaliate against her newfound boldness. It was as if he was challenging her—daring her to do something about it.

Esme's anger simmered beneath the surface, but she was determined not to let Kael see her frustration. She spent the day in a cool silence, walking past him without a word, her gaze steely as if she were carefully constructing her next move.

Later that evening, the doorbell rang, and Esme knew exactly who it was. She could hear the familiar voices of Kael and Sophia greeting one another, followed by laughter that stung her ears. The air in the room thickened, and Esme's chest tightened with a feeling of possessiveness she had never quite recognized before. She couldn't let this continue.

When she finally walked into the living room, there they were: Kael, standing tall and aloof, with his usual nonchalant expression, and Sophia, dressed in a silky red dress that clung to her every curve. The sight of her made Esme's blood boil, and she could feel the heat of jealousy crawling up her spine.

Sophia's eyes gleamed as she saw Esme entering, a slight smirk playing on her lips. She was fully aware of the tension that had been building, but she seemed unbothered, as if she had already claimed her place in Kael's world.

Esme, however, wasn't about to let this go on any longer.

"Kael," she said, her voice cold but steady, her eyes locking onto his with an intensity that dared him to challenge her. "I don't think you understand the gravity of what you're doing."

Kael didn't even acknowledge her, his attention focused entirely on Sophia. His indifference only stoked the fire in Esme's chest.

"I don't think you understand, either, Esme," Kael replied, his voice as calm as ever. "You seem to think you have some sort of claim over me."

Esme's heart pounded in her chest. His words were like a slap in the face, but she wouldn't back down. Not this time.

She turned toward Sophia, her voice dripping with venom. "Do you think you can just waltz in here and claim him? Is that it?"

Sophia, who had been lounging on the sofa, raised an eyebrow and gave Esme an almost bored look. "I don't recall asking for permission," she said smoothly, her eyes scanning Esme's face with amusement. "Kael and I have history. You're just the latest distraction."

That was the final straw.

Esme's fury erupted, and before she even realized what she was doing, she shouted, her voice echoing in the grand room. "He belongs to me, Sophia! He's mine, and you're nothing but a past mistake."

The room fell into an eerie silence.

Kael's expression remained unchanged, though his eyes narrowed slightly at Esme's outburst. Sophia looked between them, unruffled by the confrontation, as if she were watching an amusing little show unfold.

Esme, breathing heavily, refused to back down. She stared at Kael, her eyes burning with intensity. "You've been treating me like I don't matter, but this is the last time. I won't let anyone else touch you like that. Not when we're supposed to be getting married."

Kael's lips curled into a small, mocking smile. "What do you want me to do, Esme? Send her away? You think I'll stop everything for you?"

The coldness in his tone only pushed Esme further. She couldn't let him disrespect her like this, not now.

Without thinking, she stepped forward and grabbed Kael's collar, pulling him toward her. It was reckless. It was impulsive. But in that moment, it felt like the only way to assert herself.

She kissed him.

It wasn't a kiss filled with passion, but it was deliberate. A simple brush of lips. Just enough to claim him in front of Sophia, in front of the entire world. The contact was fleeting, but it sent a jolt through her body, making her heart race.

Sophia stood up, her expression now a mixture of surprise and something else—anger, perhaps. But Kael didn't move, didn't react the way Esme had expected. He didn't pull away immediately.

Esme pulled back first, breathing heavily, her eyes locked on Kael's. "You're mine, Kael. And don't you forget it."

Kael's gaze was cold, unreadable. He looked at her for a long moment before his lips curled into that same nonchalant smile.

"You really think that changes anything?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Esme didn't care. She had made her point.

Sophia was still standing there, her eyes flicking between them, but she said nothing. She simply watched as the tension thickened in the room, her smile now faltering.

Kael's eyes, however, were focused solely on Esme. And for the first time in a long while, Esme felt a surge of power. She had just marked her territory in a way that couldn't be ignored.

And maybe—just maybe—this would be the start of something new. A game, yes, but a game that Esme was ready to play.

Kael might have been indifferent, but she wasn't done yet.

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