She wrapped her arms around herself, her breath hitched she knew, but wrapping her arms wasn't going to save her, and watching her try made my heart flutter.
The sweatshirt hung on her shoulder, its sleeve draped around her wrist, she looked small in those clothes, a child playing with borrowed clothes.
The fabric where she clutched the hem, her finger curling tight at the materials by her side, her knuckles turning white.
She looked fragile, but I knew she wasn't weak with the burning look in her eyes.
It was a flicker of something untamed, a spark of breath waiting to burn.
Her lips parted, and I could hear the sharp intake of breath when she asked.
" Who... who are you?!" The words escaping her lips, barely above a whisper, like she wasn't sure she wanted to know the next answer.
Her voice was shaky, her words filled with uncertainty which showed her fear, betraying her mask.
Her hands playing with her fabric, her fingers twisting it as if it held her on her feet making it possible for her to rewind time and erase the moment she found herself in.
I didn't give her a reply, my intimidating aura should have given her the answer she was looking for.
I stretched my legs walking close to her, my boots hitting the floor giving out a soft thud.
She stood frozen as though her legs were glued to the floor, her hands holding tighter around her with every step closer to her.
The scent of lavender and vanilla which was in the air curled into my nose, I tilted my neck seeing it was from the candle on a coffee table.
The sweet air didn't hide her anxiety which was sipping away from her despite trying to cover it up.
Megan sucked in a sharp air, tilting her face to me, as I sat on the couch, stretching my arms over the backrest as though I had every right to be in here, yes I'd have the right.
"Get out," she ordered, her voice loud but the weakness dripped despite the fact she tried hiding it
"Or I'll call the cops."
A small laugh escaped my lips, a deep and rich sound that filled the silence thick between us. I stood curling around her like a predator circling its prey,
"You're threatening to call the cops?" I tilted my head, my eyebrows furrowed, my head tilted to the side and my eyes raised."When you walked into my life and seduced me into having sex with you, did I call the cops?"
Her chest rose, her pupils searching around the room, then her chest fell, shock written on her face.
Her lips parted, wanting to say something but no words came out she closed them back.
"Uhh..."
" Dumbfounded ?" I said with a smirk on my face, one which sent darts of fear down her spine. I could feel it and I liked it.
"That's what I thought."
I could see the anger boiling in her face, taking over the fear she had filled in her.
"You're insane, I never had a one night stand," she said, turning on her heel and walking toward the side table.
Her fingers fumbled as she grabbed the phone, quickly pressing the buttons with shaking hands.
"911, what's your emergency?" The operator's voice tore through the other end.
She parted her lips to respond, I moved slowly like a shadow slipping through the dimly lit room.
The air stirred as I closed the distance, and in an instant, I was behind her, close enough that I could feel the heat her body emitted.
Her muscles tightened, her bones stiff, her eyes fixed, then taking in a sharp breath, it cut on her throat, her shoulder stiff, her hair at the nape of her neck stood, betraying the emotions she tried to mask, I guess she wasn't good at it.
I leaned in slowly, the scent of her sweet cologne filled my nose, drawing my senses to it, I closed my eyes taking in her sweet scent.
I walked closer again, the tension grew making the space between us feel small.
My lips were playing and drawing around her ears, so closer I could feel the skin of her ear. I whispered some words in her ear.
I could feel her heart pounding, hitting hard on her chest, the whispers sending featherlike tingles against her skin.
I wanted to claim her as mine but something was resisting me.
"You have something that belongs to me," I said, my voice smooth, chilling and deep in masculinity.
I felt her body stiffen, my eyes on her stomach again, the meaning I know we both know, her eyes popped growing wide in their sockets, her grip on the phone loosened, her fingers shaking around the phone until her phone fell on the floor slipping away from her grip.
The full sound from the phone on the wooden table was heavy, filling the air like gunshots.
Her hands slowly moved to her stomach, like she was shielding the life inside her.
I stood tall, my eyes on her piercing her with it.
"I want my baby." Her chest tightening, falling and rising fast, her whole body shaking with a force, she let her emotions out.
"You're out of your mind if you think I'm letting you anywhere near my child," she shot back, her voice laced with defiance.
My smile is slow, a hungry and satisfying one spreading on my lips, taunting.
The candlelight threatened to lose its light, casting shadows over my face, sharpening the edges of my face, my jaw tight, revealing my dark side,my cruel face burning.
"You have no choice, Megan." My voice low , harsh and deep coming in whispers, if only she knew the coldness in the voice.
Megan stood stiff, her bones glued to the floor like a statue, she took a little step back, her eyes wide, wide enough to make her eyes fall out. I wondered if she was the bold woman threatening to call the cops on me a few minutes ago.
"My family is bloodthirsty," I said, tilting my head as if considering all the ways this could go. "And they'll stop at nothing to have this baby..." I let the words echo in the storm, piercing the way she shook, her knuckles turning white as she held the edge of the table.
I took a slow step closer to her, drinking in the way she flinched. "With or without you."
The silence in the room thick, with only the storm outside, the unspoken promise filled with threats must have tied her throat.
Her heartbeat was loud enough to stop the noise outside, I could hear it pounding in her vein, the reality of my words sinking deep into her, tearing away every false hope she had left.
She has no idea what kind of family I came from, but soon she will be a part of it and she will understand.
I took another step closer covering the distance between us, tilting my head slightly while watching her.
"I'll give you two days to decide." My voice was lower, quieter, but each word was a promise of threats. "You either agree to be my bride and make this easier for everyone... or you'll be forced."
She took in a deep breath, closing her eyes to know she wasn't dreaming, her hands forming a fist with her hands curling hard by her side, the urge to reject burned in her eyes but fear was a weakness.
I stretched my hands closer to her, letting my fingers trail lightly on her wrist, making a subtle shiver run through her, she didn't move away, the tension was thick, the air charged with something both of us couldn't place our hands on.
I moved back, walking away from her with my hands buried deep in my pocket.
"The clock is ticking."
I turned on my heels, my back hitting her eyes, my legs stretching to the door without looking back.
I didn't need to, the moment will be part of my memory, everything about her, the way she stood there, shaking, her entire world playing in her eyes.
She thought she had a choice, I don't think she knows she doesn't have.
All thanks to Jason for informing me about her movements early.
She's under my watch.