Bound by Lust

Esme straightened her posture, her heart pounding with determination as she faced Kael. She wasn't going to let him control the situation this time. Before he could say a word, she took charge.

"We're leaving," she declared, her voice unwavering. "When are we going back home?"

Kael arched a brow, his arms lazily crossed over his chest as he leaned against the desk. "We?" he mused, clearly amused by her sudden authority.

"Yes," Esme said sharply. "Lucan is leaving this weekend. If you're not ready, I'll go back with him."

Something in Kael snapped.

He pushed off the desk and advanced toward her, his movements slow, calculated. His dark eyes gleamed with something dangerous-something possessive.

"You'll go back with Lucan?" he repeated, his voice deceptively calm.

Esme lifted her chin. "Yes."

Before she could blink, Kael grabbed her wrist, yanking her toward him. In one swift movement, he pinned her against the cold wall, his body pressing dangerously close.

"You still don't know who you belong to, do you?" he whispered darkly, his fingers tightening around her wrists.

Esme's breath hitched. She struggled against him, but he didn't budge.

Kael's lips curled into a smirk, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "You want attention? I'll give you that." His voice dropped lower, more menacing.

"You want to get kissed, huh?"

Before she could react, he crashed his lips against hers.

It wasn't gentle. It wasn't sweet.

It was raw, fueled by frustration, dominance, and something else neither of them was ready to name.

Esme's mind spun as she felt the heat of him, the force of his kiss demanding a response. For a moment, she froze, her body betraying her. But she wasn't about to let Kael win.

With all her strength, she shoved against his chest, breaking free.

"Stop-" she barely got the word out before Kael grabbed her head, his fingers tangling in her hair, pulling her closer again.

He kissed her again-rougher this time, as if daring her to fight back.

And she did.

Esme struggled, her hands pushing against him, her nails digging into his arms. She twisted her head, breaking the kiss with a sharp gasp. Her hand flew before she could think—

A loud slap echoed through the room.

Kael's head tilted slightly from the impact, his cheek reddening from the force of her strike.

Silence.

Esme's breathing was uneven, her chest rising and falling rapidly as realization set in.

She had slapped Kael.

Kael remained still, his dark gaze unreadable as he slowly turned back to her.

A moment stretched between them, charged with something thick, suffocating.

Esme swallowed hard, her fingers trembling at her sides. "Don't you ever do that again," she whispered, though her voice wasn't as firm as she wanted it to be.

Kael didn't move. Didn't blink.

Then, slowly, dangerously, the corner of his lips lifted into something almost resembling a smirk.

Esme's pulse pounded as she took a step back, her body still tingling from his touch, her mind a mess of emotions she refused to acknowledge.

Without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed out, leaving Kael standing there, still smirking.

This wasn't over.

Not by a long shot.

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