She Was Never Just a Pretty Face novel Chapter 70

The car ride back was completely silent.

The only sound was the faint hum of the dashboard.

Occasionally, while stopped at a red light, Luther would say a few words, but Hilda never responded. She just sat quietly, holding little Annie. When Luther reached up to adjust the rearview mirror, his gaze lingered on her profile, watching her for a long time.

It was nearly noon by the time they pulled up to the apartment.

Once parked, Luther unbuckled his seatbelt, stepped out, and opened the rear door. "I'll carry her."

Hilda pressed her lips together and didn't object.

They stepped into the elevator, one after the other.

Annie slept soundly through it all, completely undisturbed.

Luther took off the little girl's shoes and coat, tucked her into her small bed, and slipped a plush rabbit into her arms. He stood up and looked at Hilda. "Unpack your things. I'll make a call and have some food sent up."

Hilda walked back to the master bedroom.

Her luggage had been brought over from the villa. It wasn't much, just her daily essentials, but she still needed to sort through it. She crouched on the floor, pulling items out one by one. As she worked, a crushing wave of sadness washed over her. It wasn't a sharp agony, but a dull, lingering ache, like a blunt knife slowly sawing at her heart.

Luther called Lori, instructing her to order lunch and have it delivered.

After hanging up, he walked into the master bedroom. Hilda was still crouched on the floor, unpacking. She had taken off her coat, leaving it draped over the armchair, and was wearing only a light blush-pink sweater dress. It hugged her soft, slender curves beautifully. Her dark hair was tied in a loose, low bun, exposing a breathtakingly delicate stretch of pale neck.

He watched her in silence for half a minute.

Then, he quietly pulled the walk-in closet door shut.

He reached out and firmly grasped her wrist.

Hilda fell back into his chest, pressed tightly against him. Separated by only the thin fabric of his dress shirt, she could feel the burning heat radiating from his body. From his neck to his face, his skin was flushed with a primal, predatory desire, the veins pulsing visibly. It was a rugged, dangerous kind of sexy.

Guessing his intentions, she tried to pull away.

—But he wasn't going to let her.

But she did not want to sleep with him right now.

Her eyes rimmed red, shining with a stubborn defiance. Yet, it was exactly that defiance that drove Luther's need to conquer her into overdrive. He had taken a massive psychological hit today, and he needed a total, absolute release. He needed to claim her completely. He wouldn't let her run, and he wouldn't let her detach. His hand locked around her narrow waist, dragging her flush against his body.

During the struggle, Hilda's hair fell loose, sweeping across both their necks. The sensation only fueled the fire in his chest, turning his hunger into an unbearable urgency.

When he kissed her again, it was devastatingly tender.

His lips lingered over hers.

His dark eyes never left her face.

Eventually, Hilda couldn't help but cry. Even so, the man ruthlessly picked her up and laid her down on the large bed in the bedroom.

He kept his eyes locked onto hers as he reached up and slowly unbuttoned his shirt.

And then, he claimed her.