Page 104 of Iced Up Love: Part Two
His smile softens.
“We’re going to be together,” he says. “The way we were always meant to be. Body and soul.”
The words land slowly.
A sharp, cold kind of understanding that cuts through the fog just enough to hurt.
“You mean… sleep with me?”
The question feels wrong in my mouth.
He tilts his head slightly, like he doesn’t understand why I would phrase it that way.
“Of course,” he says. “We’re going to be together properly. No more interruptions. No more distractions.”
My chest tightens.
“I don’t want that.”
The words come out faster this time.
Stronger.
Something shifts in his expression.
Not fully.
Not yet.
“Don’t fight me on this, Liana,” he says, his voice still calm, but there’s something underneath it now. “You know this is what’s meant to be. You belong with me.”
“No,” I say, shaking my head, the movement making my vision tilt slightly. “I don’t. I don’t want this.”
He steps closer.
“I’m doing this nicely for you,” he says. “I’m making it right. Romantic. You deserve that.”
“I don’t want it.”
The words come out sharper now, something pushing up through the fog, something closer to clarity than I’ve had in days.
Adrenaline.
It hits fast.
Hard.
Like my body suddenly remembers what it’s supposed to do, what it’s been trying to do this entire time.
He reaches for me. For the chain. For my clothes.
“We need to get you into the dress,” he says.
“No—”
I pull back, the movement clumsy but immediate, my heart kicking harder in my chest as something finally breaks through the weight holding me down.
“I said I don’t want this!”
