Accidental Marriage with the CEO: Unwanted Bride
Chapter 44: No affection

Chapter 44: No affection

"What the hell are you doing?!" Silas hissed in a hushed tone, frowning as he glanced toward the door, checking to make sure no one was coming.

"You make it sound like I forced you. Really? With my strength? I dragged you down?" Zara smirked, the look in her eyes telling him she knew exactly what he was doing.

Silas had no words. He couldn’t even argue back because, as much as he hated to admit it, part of him wanted to be led on. He could have easily kept his balance, even with how sudden it was, but he didn’t. Deep down, he wanted to see where it would lead. He wanted the thrill. And he hated how quickly he was drawn to her. It made him feel like a fool.

No one, not since his first girlfriend had managed to pull him in this hard. Even with her clearly naughty intentions, he craved her more than he dared admit.

"You turned me down last time. Or is your memory that bad?" He said, trying to patch the moment, trying to sound in control. But her smile only confused him more.

"Oh, sweetheart, holding grudges won’t help you last longer in bed." She leaned in, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled him closer, her voice dripping with teasing confidence. "So... are we doing this or not?"

"No," he said firmly, trying to move away. But she pulled him back, causing him to crash down on her again.

"Fine," she murmured, "I will let you go this time. But next time, you better be ready, I won’t go easy." One hand slid down from his neck to his bulging manhood. She gripped it firmly, making him gasp and shut his eyes from the sting of it.

"Mmm, you are so hard for me. Makes me want to lock you up and keep you all to myself," she whispered, her sultry eyes deepening his arousal.

"See ya," she winked, then rolled him off her and walked away.

Still lying on the floor, Silas raised himself slightly, watching her leave. His erection pulsed harder just from the sight. He wanted her, there was no denying it, but something about it still felt wrong. It didn’t feel gentlemanly to sleep with someone he wasn’t committed to. Did he love her? No. That much he knew. But he wanted her, desperately. He wanted to claim her, to feel himself inside her, to feel like a man again.

Since his first relationship fell apart, he had shut himself off from love, kept his distance from women. But now, he was afraid. Afraid that he would give in the next time she came for him. Hell, if she hadn’t gotten mad that day, it probably would have happened already.

She was the forbidden fruit he couldn’t stop craving, and everything had escalated so damn fast he was still trying to make sense of it.

After a few minutes of calming himself, he left the cellar.

...

In another room, far from the rest, a tall, muscled man stood by the window, staring out at the ocean with a glass of wine in hand. It was Syres. The idea of teasing Patricia crossed his mind, but with her family and so many others around, he decided not to make things difficult for her. Not yet.

He planned to approach her whenever they gathered. Left to him, he cared little for people’s opinions and has always done what he wanted. But for some reason, Patricia had a way of taming that wild part of him. With her, he wanted to be different. He couldn’t say for sure if he was falling for her, but he admired her, the fire in her, the way she pushed through her struggles with boldness and grace.

She reminded him of someone else. Someone he could never afford to toy with.

"I brought you breakfast," a maid announced from behind him. He nodded, but something felt off. He turned to face her.

Speak of the devil.

"I thought that humiliation would have been enough to scare you off. Seems I was wrong," he said coolly, setting his glass down on the nearby table.

The maid froze, biting her lip in embarrassment. Altering her voice hadn’t fooled him, nothing ever did but the truth was, she just wanted to see him.

"It’s just... been so long since I saw you. I only wanted to look at you and make peace with it," she said, turning to face him fully. Her tone softened as she exhaled deeply, deciding to come clean. There was no point in pretending anymore.

"That’s what you said the last time," he snapped. "All I have to do is let Grandpa know you are here, and you will be on the first flight abroad."

"No, please, don’t tell Grandpa," she begged quickly. "I don’t want to be away from you again..." But even as she spoke, the words slipped out too easily.

Realizing what she had just admitted, she looked down and exhaled shakily. He was right. No matter how hard she tried, she would never get over him, not in this lifetime.

When she looked back up into his eyes, she expected coldness, the usual irritation. But it wasn’t there. For a fleeting moment, she felt hope. Then she reminded herself, he had made it clear, over and over again, that he didn’t see her as a woman.

"What if I wasn’t Roman’s sister? Would you see me differently...as a woman?" She asked, staring at him, desperate for an answer.

"No. It wouldn’t make a damn difference. I am just not attracted to you. Do I need to announce it to the whole world before you finally let go?" His words hit hard, each one slicing through her like glass. She already knew the answer, but some part of her was still obsessed with hearing it. Again and again.

"What if I force our marriage? Would you hate me then?" She asked, her voice trembling.

The room fell into silence. He stared at her, and the air between them thickened. After a long pause, Syres stepped forward, one step, just enough to close the space between them.

Then, without warning, he grabbed her by the waist. His hand moved to the edge of her shirt, tugging it suddenly and exposing her breasts.

She gasped, snatched the shirt back, and covered herself, her breath shaky, heart pounding against his chest.

"You see..." he whispered, leaning in close, "this is why we won’t work. Your innocence...your sweetness, it clashes with everything I am. I like my women wild, not pure. Sure, you can force the marriage but you will be my wife in name, there will be no affection from me."

A tear slid down her cheek as he pulled away and turned his back to her.

"Leave," he ordered, his voice flat.