Chapter 9:

For Jayden, being accused of unrequited love by someone who failed to grasp its complexities was utterly absurd.

He broke away from his thoughts, a playful grin spreading across his face as he looked at Elyse. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her and walking toward the bedroom.

“Shouldn’t a woman reward her husband after a long day at work?” he asked, a smile tugging at his lips.

“Where’s mine?” Elyse clenched her teeth, slamming her fists against his back. “I’m not your wife,” she snapped. “If you need to satisfy your needs, find someone else. Don’t drag me into it.”

Ignoring her, Jayden continued, his voice dripping with persistence.

“Come on, babe. I want you. The effect of that drug Aarya used on me still lingers. You have to help me.” He kept pushing.

Elyse’s temper flared. “Are you serious? It’s been days since you took that. There’s no way it’s still working. Can’t you think of a better lie?”

When they reached the bedroom, Jayden tossed her onto the bed, pinning her down as he wrapped his arms around her. The heat from him was unmistakable, and Elyse felt her nerves kick in.

Her eyes darted around as she warned, “Don’t do anything stupid. We’re not married anymore. We’re divorced! If you touch me again, I’ll call the police.”

Jayden shrugged, his voice calm as he began to unbutton her shirt. Leaning in close to her ear, he whispered, “Guess I’ll just make sure you won’t be calling the police, right?” Elyse’s eyes widened in shock.

She wanted to scold him, to tell him off for being so bold. But before she could say anything, he stripped her clothes off and pulled her tightly against him.

She resisted every step of the way. She didn’t want him touching her, and her body fought against his. She even tried to kick him, aiming at his groin.

Jayden had intended to be gentle, to hold her softly. But with her resisting, that wasn’t possible. If she wasn’t going to give in, he figured she couldn’t blame him for being rough. When he entered her without warning, Elyse gasped in pain.

She whimpered, her hands pushing against him as she cried out, “Stop! It hurts!”

But Jayden didn’t stop. He had been craving this moment for too long. The time without her had driven him nearly mad, and he wasn’t going to let it slip away. He had missed her in a way that words couldn’t explain. As soon as he was inside her, her whole body shuddered. Her face twisted in discomfort, and she stared up at him with eyes full of pain.