Built His Empire Then Watched It Burn When He Cheated novel Chapter 568

Anneliese's eyes were squeezed shut, but her fingers pressed over Jonathan's mouth with surprising accuracy. For a heartbeat, she allowed herself a fleeting victory—he wasn't saying anything that could humiliate her further.

And then—heat. His lips pressed against her palm, brushing over her fingers. Before she could pull away, a slow, deliberate part of his mouth captured her fingertip, leaving a fire where her skin met his.

She jerked back, her heart hammering and mind spiraling. She forced her eyes open, wide and glimmering with alarm, tugging at her hand. "No, stop! Let go!"

Jonathan's hold on her wrist tightened, his gaze unwavering as he studied her flustered expression. "It's just a kiss. Why are you making it a big deal?"

Her cheeks flamed crimson. Blinking back embarrassment, she stomped on his calf in protest. "I am not overreacting!"

He barely even registered her weak little kicks, as if they were nothing more than a gentle breeze. "Not overreacting? Maybe you're just nervous," he murmured, closing the space between them and pressing her gently but firmly against the door.

Anneliese refused to look around, only meeting his gaze with a mix of embarrassment and irritation. "Stop it," she hissed, voice sharp but trembling.

He dipped his head, trailing another feather-light kiss along her curled fingers. "Really… you don't miss me at all, baby?" Every word dripped with huskiness. His eyes, raw with desire, scanned her like a predator closing in.

Every glance, every move radiated a dangerous hunger. Tonight, he wasn't holding back—he intended to claim her fully, to bind her so completely that even if she wanted to resist, there'd be no escaping this marriage.

Her breath hitched, the pressure building in her throat until it tasted like the beginning of tears. "I don't have it in me tonight," she murmured, voice thin and shaky. "Please… just let me breathe. Don't corner me like this."

Those wavering eyes—wet, unsure, pleading—pulled a sigh straight from Jonathan's chest, quiet but heavy. Frustration and tenderness mixed in a helpless knot. Without a word, he bent down, lifting her effortlessly.

The mattress met her back before she even caught her balance. A shadow followed—warm, solid, inescapable—his body lowering over hers like a closing door.

Startled, she tried every instinctive escape at once: palms pushing, knees bracing, feet looking for leverage. But his leg slid between hers, anchoring her hips, and his hands found her wrists, weaving their fingers together before pinning them above her head.

In one breath, all motion left her. She squeezed her eyes shut, heart hammering with fear and helplessness. She waited for the shove, the grab, the overpowering momentum she feared was coming.

However, there wasn't even a breath of movement from him. Her lashes twitched like nervous wings. She dared to peel her eyes open, only a sliver, and instead of some predatory advance—she met a face frozen in self-control.

Jonathan hovered above her like a statue carved out of tension, not desire. His eyes were dark, but the darkness came from holding himself back, not the urge to pounce. When her confusion finally registered, his voice scraped across the space between them. "Relax. I'm not going to do anything to you."

He didn't budge. Not even a pretend attempt. "I'm fine like this." Her head whipped back around on instinct. Her stare said Are you insane? without needing words.

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