CHAPTER <b>0006 </b>


    Meadow’s POV:


    “Oh my God,” I moaned, my back arching as ric drove into me, deep and nonstop.


    His hands gripped my thighs, spreading me wide as he fucked me into the mattress like he owned me.


    Like he always had.


    I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t fucking think.


    I could only feel his thick length stretching me, his name falling from my lips like a desperate prayer<b>, </b>the


    sound of his skin pping mine and the way I clenched around him like I wanted more.


    Because I did.


    “ric,” I whimpered, chasing something that I’d never felt before.


    Was this what it felt like? What it meant to be taken and owned and ruined?


    But then, his eyes met mine, and that’s when everything shifted.


    Because I expected to see heat in his eyes. Lust. Something. Anything.


    But all I saw wasplete emptiness as he thrust into me.


    His voice was t. “This is what you wanted, isn’t it?”


    My breath caught. “Wait-<b>” </b>


    But his thrusts didn’t slow. They only got harder.


    “This is what you begged for.”


    <b>“</b>No,” I whispered, panic gripping my chest.


    Then–there was a sh of pain. A gasp escaped my mouth and my eyes flew open.


    Reality mmed into me like a bucket of cold water.


    I was in a room I didn’t recognize,ying on sheets that felt soft and expensive. And I was alone.


    A dream. It was only a freaking dream.


    But the wetness I felt between my legs and the way my core pulsed with need made it feel dangerously


    real.


    I sat up too fast, regretting it instantly. I pped my left hand onto my forehead as pain exploded in my


    skull-


    And I froze.


    My eyes dropped to the hand covering my face.


    To the finger.


    To the diamond ring sitting on my ring finger like it belonged there.


    I blinked once. Twice. No. No, no, no.


    “What the fuck…” I whispered, trailing off as I yanked my hand back to stare at it.


    It sparkled under the morning light, ring at me. Confirming that it was real. Not some hallucination or


    side effect from the hangover.


    And it was. But not only that–this ring had to be worth hundreds of thousands of dors.


    My heart pounded hard against my ribcage as I scrambled out of bed, looking around the room with wide, frantic eyes.


    The room was modern, sleek with floor to ceiling windows on one side, the curtains slightly open, allowing the morning light to filter through.


    But there was nothing personal about this space.


    It was a suite. Had to be.


    I let out a groan as I tried to remember what the hell had happenedst night.


    ric… He’d brought me to his penthouse suite when I was drunk and delirious with heartbreak and


    need.


    <b>I’d </b>asked him to-


    Oh God.


    I’d asked him to take my virginity.


    And that dream… It was so vivid. Had he-


    I let out a shocked gasp, my stomach dropping as the door to what I was certain was the bathroom creaked open.


    And out he came.


    ric Ashford.


    A towel hung low on his hips, his dark hair fairly wet, dripping water down the carved lines of his chest. His tan chest. And down the tattoos…


    He looked like he belonged in a freaking magazine.


    Or maybe a goddamn nightmare.


    He paused for a second when he saw me, not looking particrly surprised that I was awake.


    His gaze skimmed over my form once, and they lingered on my upper body, a slow smirk curling at the


    corner of his mouth.


    Feeling overly conscious, I looked down at my body, realizing for the first time what I was actually wearing.


    A bra. And panties.


    My face shed hot as I scrambled for the heavy duvet, holding it in front of me to cover myself.


    I didn’t know what made me more flustered.


    The fact that I hadn’t realized that I was practically half naked–or the fact that I’d dreamt of ric thrusting into me.


    If that really was a dream.


    “Sleep okay?” he asked, his rough, deep voice sending shivers down my spine as he reached for a ck t- shirt that was hanging on the dresser.


    He tossed it to me and I caught it, dropping the duvet aside and quickly throwing on the shirt. It smelled exactly like I remembered when he’d covered me with his suit jacketst night, and it took everything in


    me not to inhale.


    “I–I…” I stuttered. “D–did we-”


    ric arched a brow<b>, </b>walking toward the bed as he ran a towel over his hair with his beautifully tattooed hand, his muscles rippling at the motion.


    God, this man was a work of art. A god.


    “No.<i>” </i>His voice was t as he spoke. “You were drunk.”


    I swallowed. <b>“</b>I-”


    “Your brain must be fuzzy,” ric stated as he pulled on another ck t–shirt over his body, his broad chest stretching the fabric. “Room service should be here any second. You’ll eat something, take some aspirin, and only then will we discuss the next step we’re going to take.”


    His hand reached for the towel around his waist, and he arched his brow at me, silently letting me know that he was about to take it off and he didn’t care whether I was watching.


    I looked away just as he ripped it away from his waist, and he let out a dark chuckle.


    “Next… what do <b>you </b>mean next step?”


    <b>“</b><b>I </b><b>don’t </b><b>know </b><b>if </b><b>you’ve </b>noticed the ring, but we’re married, Meadow.”


    My heart froze in my chest and my body went still.


    And by the time I turned to look at him again, he had on a pair of grey pants that did nothing to conceal


    how endowed he was.


    My breath was knocked out of my lungs as the ring on my finger finally made a bit of sense to me.


    ric took a few steps toward me and I gasped, taking a few steps of my own backward.


    His lips twitched, like he was amused at my fear and confusion.


    “Stay away from me,” I breathed as my panic rose, gripping my chest.


    ric’s jaw ticked as he regarded me. “I’m afraid I can’t, Meadow,” he said,ing closer.


    <b>“</b>You’re my wife now.”