The mansion was silent, save for the faint rustle of the curtains in the night breeze. Seraphina sat in her bridal chamber, heart still racing from the corridors, from the weight of Kael's gaze, from the unspoken heat lingering in the air. She tried to steady her breathing, reminding herself that this was her life now—married to the Devil's son, trapped in a game she didn't fully understand.
But just as her pulse began to slow, the door opened.
Kael stepped inside, silent as a shadow, closing the distance with careful precision. His eyes, dark and unreadable, pinned her in place.
"You're thinking too much," he said softly, a teasing edge to his voice. "Stop analyzing. Just… feel."
Seraphina's body reacted before her mind could. The heat between them was undeniable. Every inch of him radiated control, power, and a magnetic danger she couldn't resist.
He closed the distance, the faint scent of cedar and smoke wrapping around her, intoxicating and overwhelming. One hand brushed her cheek lightly—gentle, almost reverent, yet carrying an undeniable claim.
"You know," he murmured, "you could fight me all you want… but you're already mine."
Her breath caught. "I… I am not yours."
"Not yet," he whispered, lips hovering near hers, "but desire doesn't wait for permission."
Her cheeks flushed. Every nerve in her body tingled with a thrilling, forbidden anticipation. The risk, the fear, and the undeniable attraction intertwined, leaving her dizzy with longing.
Kael's hands moved slowly, deliberately, tracing the lines of her shoulders, her waist, his touch teasing, testing, igniting a fire she hadn't expected. Her own hands trembled as they hovered near him, unsure whether to push him away—or pull him closer.
"You feel it too," he said, his voice low, a growl of both warning and pleasure. "Don't lie to me."
Seraphina's breath hitched, unable to deny the truth. Every nerve screamed, every instinct betrayed her. She felt desire, heat, and a dangerous, thrilling excitement she had never known.
Kael leaned in closer, just a fraction from her lips. The air between them was electric, charged with forbidden temptation. For one long moment, time stood still, every heartbeat loud, every thought drowned by anticipation.
Then he paused, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "Patience," he whispered, his warm breath ghosting over her skin. "We have all night. And yet, this… this is only the beginning."
Seraphina's knees weakened. She knew she should step back, fight, resist—but desire was already winning. She realized, with a mixture of fear and excitement, that in Kael's presence, restraint was both impossible—and intoxicating.
The shadows of the chamber wrapped around them like a velvet shroud, hiding their secrets from the world. Yet in the darkness, desire burned brighter than any candle, igniting a dangerous, delicious fire that neither could—or wanted—to escape.