The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 188

Claire looked up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

She held her ground. Biting her red lip, she stubbornly began to undo the buttons of her blouse while holding his gaze.

One, two, three...

Completely unbuttoned, the fabric slid off her shoulders and pooled at her feet.

She stood before him in nothing but a sheer camisole, her long, bare legs exposed to the crisp chill of the room.

"Claire, that's enough," Miles ordered roughly, his Adam's apple bobbing sharply.

But she refused to stop.

She grabbed his large hand and guided it firmly to her waist, forcing him to hold her.

The scalding touch of her soft skin made him try to pull away, but she anchored him in place.

His voice turned raspy, every dark urge in him screaming to squeeze tight enough to leave a mark.

To make her cry, to make her hurt just as much as he did.

Her gaze drifted lower, settling on the undeniable evidence of his desire.

"Miles, you're lying. You clearly still want me."

His body temperature spiked, the agonizing heat an inescapable reminder of his own weakness. It sickened him how effortlessly she could bend him to her will.

"Any man would react to a woman stripping naked in front of him."

Miles's eyes were devastatingly cold, emphasizing every vicious word.

"It's just basic biology, Claire. Don't flatter yourself."

Those ruthless words brought her to a dead halt.

A wave of crushing humiliation washed over her.

She had laid herself entirely bare for him, yet he remained stubbornly unbothered, refusing to believe her.

Would he really feel this way with any other woman?

She felt utterly cheap.

Claire bent down, silently gathering her discarded clothes and pulling them back on, piece by piece.

Moving with agonizing slowness, she finally finished dressing. She kept her head bowed as she turned toward the door.

"Goodnight."

The moment the word left her lips, an iron grip latched onto her wrist.

The world tilted wildly as he spun her around and pinned her against the mattress.

Miles hovered above her, his face inches from hers. He was breathing heavily, a fine sheen of sweat coating his forehead.

Startled, Claire clutched the sheets in a panic.

"You want me to take you?"

The vulgar question left his mouth completely devoid of shame.

Avoiding his intense stare, she gave a microscopic nod.

Immediately, she felt the rigid tension seize his muscles.

He caught her jaw, forcing her to look at him as a mocking sneer tugged at his lips.

"Unfortunately for you, Claire, I don't just sleep around."

Her heart plummeted, the light draining from her eyes.

Miles's fingertips trailed down her jawline, mapping the curve of her throat before pressing lightly against her sternum.

"We can do this. But tomorrow morning, we're going to the Marriage Bureau."

"Mhm..." she hummed, wincing at how painfully hoarse her voice sounded.

Last night had been wild. Grabbing her phone, she saw it was already 10 A.M. She quickly replied to a few frantic texts, particularly one from Susan, assuring her mother she was fine.

Miles tossed a fresh set of clothes onto the mattress. "Get up and get dressed."

Claire groaned, every muscle protesting as a deep ache settled in her core.

Seeing her hesitate, his tone instantly hardened with a cold warning. "Don't tell me you're backing out."

Annoyed by his assumption, she pushed herself up. The blanket slipped down, revealing the deep red and purple marks scattered across her luminous skin—undeniable proof of his relentless release.

"Miles, you're an absolute brute."

His gaze darkened with predatory heat. "Are you trying to turn me on again?"

Her voice came out soft and impossibly spoiled. "I'm not. Get over here and dress me."

He hesitated for a second before giving in. Approaching the bed, he gently slipped the newly delivered garments over her bruised frame.

His touches were tender, but staring at the heavy marks he had branded into her skin only fueled the possessive fire burning in his eyes.

He really had lost all control last night.

Fully dressed, Claire washed up and stepped out of the bathroom. "I need to head home first."

Catching the lethal suspicion flashing across his face, she quickly elaborated.

"Aren't we going to the Marriage Bureau? I don't have my ID or residency booklet with me."

"Besides, I don't even know how to break the news to my mom. She keeps the documents locked away, so I'm going to have to steal them."

Miles leaned against the doorframe, letting out a humorless laugh.

"Claire, am I some dirty secret you have to keep hidden?"