Fallen 8_HIS DOE, HIS DAMNATION (An Erotic Billionaire Romance)

CHAPTER 0008 

 Meadow’s POV: 

 This man was delusional.

 Straight up delusional. And insane.

 Maybe, along with spreading rumors about how cold and brutal he was, people also needed to add the fact that there was a loose nut in his brain.

 I shook my head, dropping the fork onto the te. “And how long have you been stalking me, exactly?” 

 I expected him to deny it. Say that he hadn’t been stalking me, but the more he remained silent, the more chill that ran down my spine.

 Because he didn’t deny it.

 Instead, he said, “That’s not a matter of immediate importance, Meadow.”

 I scoffed. “If that isn’t important, what is, then?”

 ric leaned forward, keeping his hooded eyes on me as he linked his hands together and rested them on the table.

 Panic coursed through my veins as I wondered what next he would say. But it wasn’t the kind of panic that was associated with fear, it was the kind that made my legs press together under the table.

 Which was exactly the problem.

 I shouldn’t be feeling this way. Not when I was sitting across from a lunatic who’d imed we’d gotten married. Not when I was trying to piece my life back together from the wreckage Juniper and Tyler left behind.

 Not when I knew nothing about this man except that he was terrifying, powerful, and had no business knowing my name–let alone slipping a ring on my finger.

 And yet, here I was, legs crossed tightly, my thoughts all over the ce because he was staring at me like I was the most interesting thing he’d ever seen.

 But if I had to admit it, I liked that.

 “Like I said,” he stated, his voice deep and low. “You’re my wife now, and we need to discuss the next steps to take.” 

 “ric, I have no recollection ofst night,” I said, throwing my hands up exasperatedly. “I woke up with a giant rock on my finger, and as far as I know, you forced it on me. So, no, I’m not your wife, and there is absolutely nothing to discuss.” 

 I jumped down from the chair, fed up with his evasiveness, and, frankly? His entire bullshit. Right now, all I wanted to do was grab my phone and text my best friend, Nova. And then hop on the next flight back to Seattle, away from all this toxicity.

 So much for a get–away weekend.

 I was relieved when ric didn’t follow me into the bedroom, but that relief was cut short when I couldn’t find my phone anywhere.

 Not in my purse, not on the bed, not anywhere in the room.

 And even worse, I had no idea whether I even had it on mest night.

 “Looking for this?” 

 I whipped around, my breath stuttering as I came face to face with ric. He towered over me, and my eyes widened as theynded on my phone. Clutched in his hand.

 Relief washed over me for a single, stupid second.

 “Thank-” A gasp escaped my mouth when ric tossed the phone behind me without a single hesitation. 

 I spun around to see itnd on the bed.

 “Are you kidding me?” I shot him a re.

 But before I could take a step toward the bed, his hand mped around my waist and pulled me into his body.

 “ric,” I warned, trying to ignore the warm feeling that had pooled at the bottom of my stomach. “Let

 me g-” 

 “You don’t remember what happenedst night, yeah?” he said, voice dark. “Then allow me to refresh

 your memory.”

 And before I could utter a word. Before I could even blink, he picked me up and tossed me onto the bed.

 A shocked gasp tore from my throat as my back hit the soft mattress,

 And I stopped breathing, because within seconds, ric was on me.

 One of his hands pinned both of mine above my head with minimal effort, the other supporting his form as he slid between my legs, his body hovering but not touching.

 “This counts as assault,” I hissed, even though my traitorous thighs had locked around his hips without thinking. “I really hope you know that.”

 His mouth twitched and I red at him, hating how my body responded to his touch. “Add to that your

 +15 BONUS 

 stalking habit and we’ve got ourselves a criminal.”

 “Meadow-”

 “Get off me.”

 “You don’t really want that.” His voice was a whisper, and it pulled at my chest.

 “Oh really?” I scoffed, wiggling harder against him. “And who the hell are you to think that?”

 ric’s eyes darkened, his lips curling sinisterly. “I’m your husband, Meadow.”

 I froze.

 My heart pounded hard against my ribcage, but what I felt wasn’t fear. Not entirely.

 His breathing was heavier now. Ragged, but controlled. It was like he was on the edge of something and

 was barely hanging on.

 He leaned in slowly, his face only centimeters away from mine. “You want me, Meadow.” His minty breath fanned my face as he spoke and my mouth parted in return. “You’ve wanted me since the second

 you saw me looking at you from upstairs.”

 “I haven’t-”

 “Don’t deny it, baby girl.” His thumb brushed the side of my neck and I trembled.

 “I feel like your memories areing back now,” he muttered, eyes dropping to my mouth. “Are they?” 

 I reluctantly shut my eyes as memories began to assault me. My legs thrown wide, his mouth on me. The feeling on being deliciously andpletely wrecked.

 But that was just a dream, wasn’t it?

 Or was it- 

 “We didn’t do anything,” I said, swallowing hard. “You said so yourself. Or did you lie?”

 ric hummed as his mouth grazed my jaw, and then he chuckled. “I’m a lot of things, Meadow, but I’m not a liar.”

 His lips brushed the shell of my ear. “And you’d remember if I fucked you.”

 I couldn’t help the whimper that escaped my lips.

 Oh God. I was totally done for. I tried to wiggle out of his grip, but all my efforts proved fruitless.

 “Let’s not waste anymore time with this,” his voice went deeper as he raised his head to nce at me. “I can give you what you want. Just say the word ”

 His mouth twitched. “Surely, you remember me saying that?” 

 I did. I definitely did.

 I tried to gather thest of my rational thought. “Revenge. You mentioned that, right? Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but I wouldn’t waste your time trying to get revenge on someone who always wins.” 

 Something thick clogged my throat and I swallowed hard.

 I didn’t lie. Juniper always won. Always.

 “I’m not talking about revenge, Meadow Russell. That’s not what you really want.”

 I opened my mouth to snap at him but stopped short when his fingers began to trail slowly down my side.

 “I’m talking about this.”

 My breath hitched as I felt the hem of his t–shirt lift upward, his hand brushing over my thigh, edging toward my panties. I squirmed under his touch. It didn’t feel like a question.

 It felt like a promise.

 “ric…” My chest heaved up and down, my mouth parting as I tried to take deep breaths.

 He was touching me, hooking his fingers slightly into the waistband of my underwear.

 Teasing.

 My core throbbed nonstop.

 “You want me to take your virginity, yeah?”

 I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t. Fucking. Breathe.

 “I will,” he said softly. “And I’ll even give you the revenge you’re pretending not to want. All you have to do is keep my ring on your finger.”

 His other hand finally released mine, but he paused, raising my left hand between us and linking our fingers together.

 “Be my wife, Meadow.”

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Fallen 8