After that outburst, Arianne took a step forward and pushed open the window. “Go, smoke as much as you like. We’re in a hurry to die anyway, aren’t we?!”
Mark stole a sidelong glance at her and stopped the half-burnt cigarette. Those were words of concern and care, yet she had to mask it with thorns and stings. They were not separated because they no longer loved each other; they still very much did and were actually forced to be separated for a while.
After she finished packing up her things, Arianne laid on the bed, ready to sleep. She knew that Mark would never allow her to have Smore live in a hotel, but she also could not possibly leave the child here while she stayed in one, either. In other words, she must stay in the Tremont Estate. But she could stop sleeping with Mark in the same room after their divorce was officiated tomorrow by moving into the guest room.
The one thing that bothered Arianne the most was how likely it was for Mark to deliberately drag on the process of getting her a new home. It was exactly the sort of thing he would do, after all. He could literally delay what he promised with all sorts of excuses…
It was then that she felt her body cocooned by an embrace. She struggled against him for a while, demanding, “What are you doing?”
Mark buried his head into her neck. “This is our last time before… you know, our divorce. You sure you want to squander it by not commemorating it?”
Arianne’s heart beat wildly against her chest. “Nope, didn’t plan for that. On that note, you’re the only one who could think of sex at the cusp of a divorce. Tomorrow, I’m moving to the guest room,” she replied. “You better get this whole accommodation thing done pretty damn quick, because I’m not very patient about it. Also, while I still live in the Tremont Estate, don’t you dare lay a finger on me!”
Mark said nothing. Instead, he rolled over and locked her beneath his body. He lowered his head and forced a passionate kiss on her scarlet lips.
Arianne’s first instinct was to push him away, but his scent quickly engulfed her, draining her of all the strength to resist him. She looked away, dodging his kiss, and gruntled, “You stink of cigarettes…”
He tried kissing her again, as he would brook none of her resistance. There was even more force and dominance in it, as though he was pressing a burning brand on her and searing his mark on her.
Arianne frowned, but she closed her eyes instinctively. The truth was that she never really hated the smell of cigarettes on him because by and large, he just smelled like himself—all around her was the native, original scent of him. Before her thinking mind could catch herself, Arianne had begun responding to him passively.
It was all the fuel Mark needed. His hands worked into a frenzy as they pulled away and undressed her. It was only through moments like these that Mark could convince himself that she was not leaving him.
It was unbridled, maddening. His hunger and yearning shocked and even terrified Arianne a little, although he also made her chest thump and her heart blue. Rhythms washed over her in waves, and before she knew it, they conjoined with the chaotic, untangled, messy feelings that were in her head.
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