A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 349

Elissa didn’t flinch, didn’t struggle, and she certainly didn’t respond.

She was motionless, a puppet in his arms, letting him do as he pleased. No matter what Rowan did, there wasn’t the faintest spark in her eyes, not even a flicker of emotion.

A storm raged in Rowan’s chest. He grabbed the back of her head, kissing her with a desperate, almost frenzied hunger.

Their mingled breaths filled the air with a feverish tension.

His other hand wandered up her leg, slipping beneath her dress, tracing every inch of bare skin with reckless abandon.

“Don’t!”

At last, Elissa shrank back, eyes glistening with tears.

But Rowan didn’t pull away, didn’t show the tenderness he used to. Instead, he let out a cold laugh. “Don’t want to? Did you forget the contract we signed? Or is it that you’re saving yourself for Frank now?”

He’d convinced himself he’d given her space—enough time, enough room to breathe.

He knew that leaving her before had left a scar, one she’d never really let heal. So he’d forced himself to be patient, never pushing to define their relationship, never pressing her to truly belong to him.

He’d thought there was plenty of time left for them, that he’d spend his whole life making it up to her. But now, out of nowhere, she wanted to break free.

This time, he wasn’t the one walking away.

She was.

Elissa gave a thin, careless smile, her voice so calm it sounded almost numb. “So if I sleep with you now, does that mean our agreement is void?”

It was as if she just wanted to draw a sharp line between them.

Her words stung Rowan like a slap; his temples throbbed with anger. “You’re that desperate to cut me out of your life? Is that what you want?”

“Well? Are you going to do it or not?” Elissa looked at him steadily. “If not, I’m going home.”

When she moved to leave, Rowan’s self-control snapped. In a blur, he scooped her up and carried her to the master bedroom, pinning her beneath him. His eyes burned crimson, and each word came out through clenched teeth. “Elissa, you’re the one forcing this.”

The pain curled her toes, twisted her pretty face with agony.

Rowan’s jaw was clenched so hard it looked painful. When he felt resistance, he hesitated for a split second—then dismissed it, telling himself he must’ve imagined it.

Seeing her beneath him, suffering in silence, refusing to beg, made it feel like she was enduring a punishment rather than sharing something sacred.

His frustration only grew. He gripped her slim waist and held her tighter, determined to break through her silence.

The longer it went on, the more distant Elissa became, her mind drifting further and further away—until, suddenly, Rowan collapsed onto her, holding her so tight it was as if he wanted to fuse her into his bones.

Somewhere in the haze, she heard his ragged breathing.

It was over.

Finally, it was over.

Rowan realized for the first time how different it was—making love to the woman he loved, compared to the hollow pleasure of being alone. The gulf between the two was immeasurable.