Page 21 of Obsessing Over His Favorite
Emily had already changed into her nightwear. She stood at the vanity, patting cream on her cheeks with soft taps, calm as ever. Without even glancing his way, she got up, walked to the bed, and started arranging the pillows before slipping under the covers.
There was no trace of tension on her face. No hesitation. No sadness. Not even awkwardness.
She looked like someone who’d just come home from grocery shopping, not someone who had turned down a family engagement ring two hours ago.
Lucas dropped the towel onto the chair in the corner, his eyes never leaving her as he stalked across the room.
“Something’s wrong with you.”
Emily looked up at his voice, her brows furrowing in confusion. But Lucas kept walking toward the bed with firm steps. By the time he finished speaking, he was hovering over her, hands on either side of her body, gripping the headboard, his broad frame towering above her.
His face was just inches from hers. The clean scent of his soap and the subtle musk of his skin filled her nose, making her body instinctively tense. His intense eyes pierced into hers, suspicion flaring in them.
“You wanted that ring by any means,” he growled, his voice rough and steady, fingers curling tighter around the wooden frame. “You wanted that ring more than anything. Three years ago, the moment you found out it existed, you begged me for it. You wanted it just so you could marry me. You went as far as trying to win over my mother. You even begged me for it more times than I can count.”
Before she could process his words, he moved, climbing over her legs, caging her completely. One of his hands gripped her hip firmly, yanking her down the mattress. Her head fell onto the pillow with a soft thud.
He followed instantly, his body closing in. His forearm rested beside her face on the pillow, his body heavy and close. Her panicked eyes darted between his arm and his face.
“You used every trick you could think of to get that ring,” he continued, his voice low, close, almost a whisper. “You didn’t care how desperate you looked. And now? Now you turn it down in front of everyone like it means nothing?”
He leaned closer with each word, his mouth dangerously near hers. His tone was accusing, filled with disbelief—and something deeper that she couldn’t place.
Emily forced a weak smile, lifting a shaky hand to press against his chest. A nervous smile touched her lips.
“I don’t want it anymore,” she said quietly, her voice uncertain. “Whatever happened in the past… doesn’t matter now, does it? Besides, you didn’t want me to take the ring either, right? So why does it bother you now?”
She tried to push him off, but his body didn’t budge.
‘Doesn’t he hate me?’ she thought, her heart racing. ‘He clearly didn’t want me to have that ring at the party. Then what the hell is wrong with him now? Why is he looking at me like I killed his favorite dog?’
Suddenly, Lucas dipped his face into the crook of her neck. His hand slid from her hip upward, fingers trailing over the curve of her waist.
Her body went still. Electricity shot through her as his fingers pressed into a familiar spot, sending sharp tingles straight to her core.
‘This damn man knows every inch of me,’ her mind screamed, panic swirling with heat.
His hand moved with the confidence of a man who knew exactly what would unravel her. And it was working. Her breath turned shallow, her chest rising and falling in quick bursts.
Her heart was pounding so hard it echoed in her ears. Her hands moved instinctively to his chest, trying to push him away again. “You need to stay away from me,” she whispered, breathless. “You already got what you wanted, right? I didn’t take that ring.”
But he didn’t budge.
He ignored her words entirely. His head moved to the other side of her neck, tongue dragging along her skin, slow and hot. He licked, then nipped, then licked again. She shivered.
“There’s no need to pretend anymore,” he growled. “I know exactly what you want.”
His hand slid beneath her shirt, calloused fingers gliding over her stomach, sending heated jolts through her body. Heat followed the trail of his touch as he explored her skin like he owned it. He kissed her neck again, sucking lightly on her pulse point, making her body tremble beneath him.
His mouth found the soft skin beneath her ear, kissing and sucking as his hand moved higher—cupping her breast through the fabric, his thumb flicking over her already sensitive nipple.
Her back arched involuntarily, her body betraying her panic. The pleasure was overwhelming.
‘No, no, no… I can’t let this happen.’ Her panic returned tenfold. ‘I don’t even remember being with him—how am I supposed to sleep with him like this?’
His mouth lowered again. As his fingers worked on the buttons of her nightshirt, his lips wrapped around one of her nipples, sucking gently, then harder. She gasped—half in shock, half in need. His mouth wrapped around her nipple, lips soft and warm, tongue circling in a maddening rhythm.
She whimpered, her body shaking beneath him. “Ah—”
