Page 101 of Angels Are Falling

“It’s two simple words, Princess.”

For a moment, his whole body went rigid against mine at my refusal. Then he pressed his mouth to the crown of my head and held it there, breathing me in, like he thought he could keep me by inhaling. To my relief, he didn’t make me finish the sentence. I think he was afraid of how it might end.

Instead, his hands shook as he tugged at my panties, like he was barely holding on. He tore open his own trousers to free himself.

There was a feverish energy in the air. His jealousy had flared, and now he was determined to brand me. He pushed me high against the glass, braced my hips, and drove into me in one fierce motion. I gasped, my body pinned like a butterfly as he pounded into me, each stroke rocking my spine.

Every thrust seemed like his proprietary claim.

“Kai, slow down.” I pressed my hands on his shoulders.

His hand merely fisted in my hair as he sucked my neck.

I was helpless as pleasure tore through me. My vision blurred, and I cried out while my body clenched and quivered around him, milking him until he cursed and spilled inside me.

He held me against the cool glass while he caught his breath, then slid us down to the floor, where I curled into him.

For a while, neither of us spoke. His heart was still beating too fast to speak. I leaned against his chest as he carried me to bed, barely aware that I had nothing to wear when we checked out of the hotel. I was mostly focused on how overwhelmed I was by his claim.

Moreover, I was absolutely terrified by how I had reacted to it.

I should’ve been horrified by the brutal attack. Instead, everyone else in the world had ceased to matter. What did that mean for the other person in this marriage?

Kai’s dreaded request rang in my ears.

Say you are only mine.

He demanded that I become only his, even though he knew the reality of our situation. I was his, but I could never be only his.

Chapter

Thirty

STEFAN

Matt found me sitting on the hotel balcony with a coffee and the fragility of someone who had slept three hours and was pretending otherwise. He had his phone out, and the expression he wore was one of delivering unwanted news.

“What?” I asked, alarmed.

He handed me the phone. “You’re not going to like this.”

Kai had sent an email to all the execs, including Matt. I hadn’t gotten around to opening my email yet. We returned to Dubai yesterday and did another round of the Gulf nightlife. I was still recovering.

“I recommend extending the trip for additional footage and auditions,” I read aloud from the email. “This is bullshit.”

We already extended this trip at Kai’s suggestion to gather enough material for two issues. We added Singapore and Malaysia. Now, he was suggesting we get ahead of the third issue. Was it his life’s mission to never let me return home?

I refused to take Kai’s ‘strongly recommended advice’ under consideration. Amelie’s birthday was coming up, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world, especially with our recent setbacks. She still refused to discuss what happened in Beirut and only responded when I asked questions about the children. I gave her space, but enough was enough. Even if I had moved mountains to be there with my wife, I’d find a way to wrap up and take my crew home.

The two-week trip had already turned into several weeks. Long enough to miss the small things I took for granted. The specific weight of Amelie’s head on my chest. The twins fighting over a piece of toast like it was the last one on earth. Bella’s wild spirit.

“Sorry, man,” Matt said tightly. “I know you miss your girl.”

“I’m not extending the trip,” I said sourly, positive that Kai would try to talk me into staying again. “My wife’s birthday is coming up. I can’t miss it.”

“You have something planned for Amelie’s birthday?”

I glanced at Matt. “I’ll throw her a party when I get back.”