In The Wrong

This man was insane.

Lina had come to this conclusion much earlier, but his behavior solidified her decision. She gawked at him, the contract, and then, back at him. He rested his chin upon a propped-up arm, smirking at her confused expression.

"No."

Lina stood up from her chair, watching his arrogant expression drop.

"No?" Kaden sharply repeated.

"No."

Lina shook her head, taking steps back. "Hell to fuck no."

Kaden narrowed his eyes. "Don't be petty."

"You rejected me the same day you proposed to me," Lina hissed, slamming her hands upon his desk.

This man was going to be the death of her. The amount of times her heart raced in his presence, whether by his touch, words, or actions, she had lost count.

"You were vulnerable and high in your emotions. It'd be a decision you'd regret," Kaden slowly said, like speaking to a child.

"I didn't want to take advantage of you," Kaden stated.

"Yet, you tried to take advantage of my virginity," Lina retorted.

Kaden paused. "I was offering you a way out."

Lina stared. "You just wanted to screw me with no strings attached, angered because my first time in our first life wasn't with you!"

In the blink of an eye, he was in front of her.

Lina jumped back, but it was too late. He had crossed the desk and was stalking towards her. His face turned dark like storm clouds, a warning glare on his expression.

"Careful, dear dove," Kaden growled.

Lina jutted her chin in the air. She was right. And they both knew it.

"What are you going to do?" Lina asked. "Hit me?"

Kaden let out a soft laugh. "There are many things a man can do to a woman that's worse than hitting them."

Lina faltered, staggering back.

"Such as edging you until you're in tears and begging me for mercy," Kaden growled, advancing until she was caught against the back of the couch.

Lina tried to run, but he thrust his arms out, caging her in. She looked away, revealing her long slender neck to him, so inviting he was enticed to take a bite.

Kaden leaned in close until her soft breasts brushed against his firm chest. His abdomen tightened, a tent growing at their proximity. Fuck. She smelled so good, her scent mixed with his after being in his bed.

"Don't test me, dear dove of mine," Kaden grunted, his fingers digging into the leather couch. She was trembling now, aware of the consequences of her own actions.

"I'd never be abusive towards you, just cruel." Kaden stroked the back of his finger upon her neck, feeling the quickening of her pulse. Her breathing grew heavy, his gaze flickering to her parted lips. Rosy pink, begging him for a taste.

Lina's attention lingered on him, shifting to his mouth before darting to his heated gaze.

"That is much worse," Lina whispered, feeling like her skin was on fire, and he had only grazed her neck. She wanted his hands everywhere, roaming her thighs, his thumbs teasing close to her garden, and fulfilling his threat towards her.

"Perhaps." Kaden wrapped his thumb upon the side of her neck, his fingers spreading across her throat. One clench, one push, and she'd drop dead in his arms.

Human life was so fragile. Her eyes fluttered and she glanced towards the floor, resembling a white crane bowing its head.

"Now, be a good girl and sign the contract. You'll be mine one way or another," Kaden stated, pulling his hand away from her neck.

Instantly, Lina shivered from the lack of warmth. She raised her eyes and glared, realizing she had fallen straight into his trap.

"What happened to not taking advantage of me in my most vulnerable state?" Lina barked.

"Are you in your most vulnerable state and high on your emotions right now? Are you unable to think straight because you've been so blinded by your anger?" Kaden demanded, pressing her into the couch again.

Lina softly gasped when she felt something hard pressing into her stomach. She held her breath because he smelled so damn good she could barely think. His scent was like the grass after it rained with a mix of sunlight in the forest. There was something so refreshing, yet enticing about his heated scent.

"No," Lina admitted.

"Then marry me," Kaden deadpanned.

"No."

"You'd prefer to marry Everett Leclare?"

Lina's head shot up.

"You're still an open book," Kaden mused, his lips twitching. She could hide secrets from the world, but never from him. He was her world. He always had been. And he'd made sure she remembered that well.

"Your thoughts are written on your forehead," Kaden stated, staring into her large eyes, where each speck of black could be seen.

Her eyes were like the night sky, twinkling with hope. It held the depth of the universe and he wished to explore it. Wished to pull back the folds of her secrets, until she was raw and naked before him with nothing to hide and nothing to lie.

"Marry me instead." Kaden stroked the side of her face, his fingers curling around her hair.

Lina trembled. Her lips parted. She leaned into his gentle caress. She was touch starved. Or perhaps, was just seeking someone to love her when her parents didn't know how to.

"I want a fake marriage," Lina blurted out.

Kaden paused. His grip tightened in her hair, tugging it back and dipping her face with it. His eyes flashed with displeasure. What did she just say?

Lina stared into his fiery gaze, unrelentingly stubborn, even when he had her hair clenched in his hand.

"Why?" Kaden demanded.

"Just until this entire ordeal blows over," Lina breathed out.

"No."

"Yes."

"No." Kaden snarled. He had never lost his temper like this. Never lost his cool. Never lost his mind. But whenever she was involved, he couldn't think straight. Couldn't function like a normal human.

"Kaden—"

"It's Kade," Kaden snapped.

Lina froze, her eyes widening before they watered. She opened and closed her mouth. Just the sound of his name was painful for her. She rubbed a spot upon her chest, but he grabbed her wrist and pulled it away.

"Does it hurt hearing my name? Does it hurt to face the music of your actions? Good, feel the pain. Writhe with regret over what you've done to your kingdom and me," Kaden seethed, his voice deathly low.

"It's not my fault!" Lina shouted. "I am not the one who started the war! I am not the one who waged their kingdom for the sake of a damn woman!"

Kaden let out a soft laugh.

Lina was terrified. She'd prefer for him to yell and throw things. His calm and controlled fury startled her. What was he going to do? Was he going to murder someone? Was he going to burn this house down? A man composed in the face of a storm was not one to be trusted.

"So it's my fault," Kaden stated. "Fine."

It was all Lina wanted to hear, after all these years. But now that the words came out of his mouth, she wished to close her ears. She wished she hadn't heard it. With the disappointment in his voice, the pleasure in his eyes, she knew both of them were in the wrong.