Chapter 126: I Hope You Can Be Tough

Claire gasped, “Frederick!” As she realized her pleas for mercy were falling on deaf ears, a sense of defiance began to stir within her. Yet, injured and vulnerable, how could she possibly fight back? The disparity in their strength—a man against a woman—was starkly evident.

The moment she attempted to shift, Frederick’s grip on her thigh tightened effortlessly, as if he were merely adjusting his hold. She found herself completely immobilized.

“Claire,” he said with a smug expression, “as a woman, I think it would be wise for you to be more sensible. Don’t you realize that the more you resist, the more you ignite a man’s desire to conquer? Or are you trying to provoke my desire to dominate you?”

His arrogance was palpable. Claire had always adored him, chasing after him since childhood, and now she understood that all her efforts were indeed meant to draw his attention and provoke his possessive instincts. Every year, on his birthday, she would surprise him with the most astonishing gifts.

But the Claire of today was far more worldly than the naive girl she once was. Four years in prison had changed her.

“Desire to conquer?” she thought. It dawned on her that Frederick had been playing hard to get all along. A wry smile crossed her lips as she recalled a saying she’d heard men despise women who are unresponsive in bed.

“Frederick,” she replied coolly, “If that’s how you see it, so be it. Your perceptions matter little to me; I care about my own feelings.”

“I just don’t want to be your plaything anymore,” she continued. “After everything I’ve been through, all I want is peace. The last time you toyed with me left me utterly drained; I really don’t wish for another round of that. But given my current state, I can’t resist you anyway.”

“After all,” she added with a hint of sarcasm, “you mentioned before that I was merely a stand-in for Caroline.”

“You said it yourself; this is just me repaying my debt to Anna.”

With that thought, Claire released her grip on Frederick’s hand and let herself relax completely. She lay there, staring at him with an expression as calm as a still lake devoid of any turbulence.

Frederick observed Claire intently. Beneath her grandiose words about debts and roles lay an undeniable yearning for him. In the past, she had clung to him like a vine, desperate for his presence in her life. Now, her current demeanor seemed like yet another scheme designed to ensnare him further.

“Is that so?” he mused with an amused glint in his eye. “Very well then; just submit and endure.”

Frederick reached out, deftly avoiding Claire’s injury as he began to unbutton her clothing, one button at a time. In just a few swift motions, he stripped her bare.

A sudden chill enveloped Claire as she lay exposed on the bed, her heart racing with an inexplicable tension. Frederick’s gaze was filled with intrigue as his fingers glided from her fingertips, tracing a path up her arms, over her shoulders, along her collarbone, and finally to her face and lips. Each touch was featherlight, sending shivers coursing through Claire’s body.

Men seemed to possess an innate understanding of such moments. Although Frederick had never practiced these arts with other women, his experiences over the years in various settings had equipped him well for this encounter. He was patient, trailing his hands down from her collarbone until they reached her chest, covering her softness with his palms.

Claire bit her lip, instinctively stifling a sound that threatened to escape. Even as Frederick’s fingers danced across her skin, she felt an involuntary tremor ripple through her body—an unfamiliar reaction she couldn’t quite comprehend. It took every ounce of strength she had to suppress the urge to respond.

“Your heart is racing,” Frederick observed, placing his hand over her chest. While he might not have noticed the subtle quivers of her body, he could certainly feel the frantic rhythm of her heartbeat beneath his palm. Claire could mask many feelings from him, but she couldn’t control the pounding of her heart.

“Very well, Claire,” he said with a hint of challenge in his voice. “I hope you can keep your lips sealed tonight and not ask me for anything.”