Chapter 1188:
A sly grin curled across Torin’s lips. He let out a low, taunting laugh and pulled the belt free, looping it several times around her wrists until she was bound tight. Leaning close, his voice dropped to a whisper. “What’s got you so nervous?” His breath skimmed her ear. “Afraid I’ll take you right here, in this car?”
A shudder of disgust ran through Elena. She spat out her words. “You’re disgusting. Get off me.”
Not backing down, Torin tipped her chin upward, locking her gaze with his own. Raw hunger flashed in his eyes, unhidden and fierce. “Why get so worked up now? Didn’t Wesley ever tell you that a woman protesting in moments like this just gets a man’s blood running hotter?”
Elena strained against the belt, trying to free herself, but the knot was too tight. Panting, she lashed out with a swift kick toward him. Quick reflexes saved Torin from her attack; he caught her legs with his own, pinning her even more firmly to the seat.
As they fought, their heavy breaths filled the cramped space, every second winding the tension between them tighter. Torin’s eyes narrowed in warning. “You want to make this worse?” His voice had grown rough, barely more than a growl. “Keep fighting, and I’ll stop holding back.”
Heat coursed through his veins, barely restrained. First times were never supposed to be rough, but she kept testing his control, and he could feel himself slipping.
Stillness finally settled over Elena as the pressure at her waist grew more insistent. The sudden calm in her made Torin’s heart pound. His gaze fell from her glare to her lips, and he swallowed hard. Control was a thread stretched to breaking, and he knew he was seconds from snapping.
Intending to claim her lips, Torin closed the space between them.
Without warning, the front car door swung wide open, a blast of icy air jolting both of them back to reality. Torin halted in place, his face turning stormy as he jerked his head away from Elena. A growl rumbled from his throat. “You better have a reason for this,” he snapped, his glare fixed on the driver standing by the open door.
Frozen at the sight before him, the driver realized he had chosen the worst possible moment to interrupt. Faced with Torin’s menacing stare, he stumbled over his words. “Y-your Grace, the military called. The team you deployed to international waters… they were ambushed. There were no survivors.”
Torin glanced at Elena, sat up straight, and moved off her. Uncertainty held the driver by the car door, torn between entering and retreating.
𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲: ⲅ𝖺𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀﹒ⅽ𝗼𝗺
A curt order left Torin’s lips, sharper than ever. “Get in the car. We’re leaving for the base.”
No argument came from the driver, who quickly slid into the seat and stared straight ahead, not daring to look around. They sped through city streets, racing toward the military base. A heavy silence settled inside the car, broken only by the sound of their breathing.
Torin’s shirt hung open, the evidence of his desire lingering, the belt still wrapped tightly around Elena’s wrists. He sparked a cigarette to life, exhaling smoke while his eyes locked onto her. “Was that your doing?”
The roughness in his voice betrayed a mix of anger and unfulfilled longing.
Despite her vulnerable position, Elena held her ground, her demeanor just as commanding as Torin’s. With the tension momentarily broken, she gathered her thoughts. Victory was within reach—Lance and Avo had handled their part. No matter what became of Wesley, she had cleared his enemies, ensuring his survival.
One final task remained unfinished. Elena looked Torin in the eye and answered, “Yes.”
Torin’s jaw tightened before he broke into a cold, humorless laugh. “So that’s it. I thought you’d really given up on Wesley, but you’ve just been playing me this whole time. You’re counting on my feelings for you. You know I won’t hurt you.”
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