[James's POV]
A loud noise pierced through my ears.
My head felt like it was about to explode.
"Shit."
This wasn't my room.
It was a hotel.
And worse—there was a naked woman in my arms.
I looked down. Her long black hair was spread over the pillow.
Her bare back had a perfect curve.
Then a terrifying thought hit me.
I was still inside her.
Tight. Warm.
Memories from last night came flooding back.
Her shaky breathing.
Her soft cries asking me to stop.
The red stain under her body.
And me—completely out of control again and again.
Click, click—
Flashes went off. Blinding white light filled the room.
I snapped my head up.
My brain cleared instantly.
There were reporters at the door.
A whole crowd of them, pointing their cameras at the bed.
I grabbed the blanket and pulled it over the woman, covering her from head to toe.
"Get the hell out!"
"Every one of you, get out now!"
I meant it. I could've killed someone.
Someone walked in slowly.
It was Alistair Black.
He had a disgusting smile on his face.
He clapped his hands.
The reporters stopped taking pictures.
"That's enough for today. Good job, everyone," he said.
I got it.
He had planned all of this.
My brain instantly pictured his daughter, Lilith Black.
Pretty. Arrogant. Fake.
Everyone knew she slept around.
People even called her a "high-end toilet" behind her back.
At that charity gala, she tried to throw herself at me.
I told her in front of everyone—
"My wife will be clean. A virgin. You? Not even close."
She was shaking with anger. I felt so satisfied.
But now? I was the fool.
Last night, there was blood on the sheet.
Her body had been tight. Her reaction was so raw and scared.
That wasn't a woman like Lilith.
I stared at the reporters.
I didn't raise my voice, but they heard me loud and clear.
"Delete the pictures. If one word of this gets out, none of you will live to see it tomorrow."
They turned pale.
One by one, they left.
Alistair gave them the signal.
Before walking out, he even "kindly" shut the door.
Outside, I heard him say,
"Don't worry. You'll get the money I promised."
Finally, silence.
I looked down at the girl beside me.
She was still asleep.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly.
Part of her face was buried in the pillow.
Her skin was shockingly fair.
I could still feel myself inside her.
The heat. The tightness.
It was clearer now than it had been all night.
I slowly pulled out.
A stream of warm liquid dripped out between us.
I frowned.
I looked behind her ear.
There it was—a red rose birthmark.
I remembered it.
Last night, I kissed that spot again and again.
She had cried and begged me not to.
But I didn't stop.
She was different.
Not just because it was her first time.
It was her scent.
The way she moved.
The way, she resisted but didn't fight.
It was addictive.
I picked up my pants and walked out.
Alistair was sitting on the couch, drinking coffee.
"You're up. Want some?"
I ignored him.
I walked over, lit a cigarette, and took a hard drag.
"What do you want?"
"What do I want?" He smiled like a fox.
"You know what I want. You've always known."
"Lilith likes you. A marriage between our families helps both sides."
I scoffed.
"So you drug me, throw your daughter into my bed, and call in the press?"
He shrugged.
"It doesn't matter how it happened. What matters is the result."
He looked pleased with himself.
"The whole city's waiting for an answer. An explanation for what happened last night."
I leaned back. My mind was a mess.
But one thing was clear.
That girl in bed—
She wasn't Lilith.
Lilith doesn't cry.
She doesn't get scared.
She doesn't tremble when touched.
And she sure as hell isn't a virgin.
Last night, I broke through a barrier.
She was tight. Unused.
And for the first time, I didn't feel disgusted when touching a woman.
I only felt hungry for more.
She wasn't Lilith.
But whoever she was—
I wasn't letting her go.
I looked at Alistair.
"I want all the photos and negatives."
"Of course," he said, grinning wider.
"As long as you agree to marry Lilith."
I didn't reply.
I stared at him.
Ash from my cigarette fell onto his expensive carpet.
After a while, I stubbed out the cigarette.
"Fine. I'll marry her."
Alistair lit up.
"Great! Go get some rest. You must have been tired after last night. I'll take Lilith home once she wakes up."
I stood up and called my driver.
But inside, I was burning.
Sure, I'd marry her.
But I would make sure he paid for using me.
Alistair Black had no idea what kind of enemy he had just made.
This wasn't over.