The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

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Lila fell silent, her body still pressed against Damon’s. Her heart raced, her mind spiraling with confusion and anger. For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air.

Damon smirked, sensing her hesitation, his grip never loosening. He leaned closer, his lips grazing her ear as he spoke in a low, mocking tone. “What? No snappy comeback, Lila?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Because I’m not going to let you go until you’re satisfied with the fun you wanted.”

His hand moved slightly, sliding along her waist as he tightened his hold. Lila could feel the heat of his body against hers, the tension building between them like a live wire. It was suffocating.

Her mind screamed to break free, to escape this moment, but her body was locked in place, betraying her every instinct. He was right-she was trapped, both physically and emotionally, and the longer she stayed in his grip, the harder it was to hold onto her resolve.

Her breath caught in her throat, and for a split second, her anger faltered, replaced by a wave of something darker. Was he trying to break her down? Was he trying to control her, make her feel helpless?

The thought of it infuriated her.

She pulled back slightly, meeting his gaze with as much coldness as she could muster. “I’m not here for you, Damon. I told you that,” she said, her voice steady, despite the storm inside her. “I don’t need your version of fun.”

Damon’s smirk didn’t fade. Instead, it deepened, his eyes glinting with amusement. “You may not think so, but I know you. You’re just as tangled up in this as I am. You need this.”

Lila’s chest tightened. She was fighting a battle on two fronts-against Damon, who was trying to dominate her, and against herself, who was teetering dangerously close to surrender.

“No,” she said, more firmly now, trying to shake the unease creeping into her voice. “I’m not tangled up in anything with you.”

Damon’s fingers tightened on her waist, and he pulled her back into his lap, his body pressed fully against hers. She could feel every inch of him, the heat between them almost unbearable.

“You don’t have a choice, Lila,” Damon murmured, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “You never did. You’re mine, whether you like it or not. I’m not letting you go.”

Lila’s heart pounded in her chest. She wanted to fight. She wanted to tear herself away from him, to escape this suffocating, manipulative hold he had on her. But something about the way he spoke, the raw intensity in his eyes, made her question if she could.

Damon smirked, his eyes glinting with something dark as he reached for his glass of whiskey. Without a second thought, he gulped it down in one go, the amber liquid disappearing down his throat. He leaned back slightly, enjoying the burn, all the while keeping his gaze fixed on Lila.

Her irritation was palpable. She tried to push herself off him again, but Damon’s grip tightened around her waist, keeping her right where he wanted her. Lila’s patience was wearing thin.

11:28 Mon, May 4

Chapter 16

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“Go to Maddy,” she spat, her voice sharp with frustration. “I’m not interested in your version of fun.”

Damon’s smirk only deepened at her words. He set the empty glass down with a soft clink, his expression now one of amusement mixed with a touch of something else-something more dangerous.

“Oh, why bring Maddy up?” Damon asked, his voice low and taunting. He leaned forward, his lips curling into a grin. “Am I getting the jealous wife now?”

Lila’s heart skipped a beat at his words, the subtle jab hitting its mark. She felt the anger surge within her again, and her hands balled into fists at her sides.

“Jealous wife?” she repeated, her tone dripping with contempt. “You’re delusional if you think I’m jealous of her.”

Damon chuckled darkly, his eyes never leaving hers. “Oh, you can try to pretend all you want, Lila,” he said, his voice smooth, almost playful. “But I can see it in your eyes. You do care. You can’t help it.”

Damon’s smirk remained, as if he were savoring the moment. He leaned back slightly, his gaze never leaving Lila’s, watching her every move with dark amusement.

“How about this?” Damon’s voice was smooth, his words deliberate. “We’ll continue our marriage. You’ll be my lovely wife forever, and I…” He paused, letting the words hang in the air, like a binding promise. “I’ll be your dearest husband.”

Lila stared at him, incredulous. Her lips curled into a sneer. “You’re out of your mind,” she shot back, her voice dripping with disdain. “You think I’m just going to fall in line with whatever sick idea you have in that twisted head of yours?”

Damon didn’t even flinch at her words. Instead, his eyes gleamed, full of unspoken certainty. He was used to this. Used to her defiance.

“You’re already mine, Lila,” Damon said softly, his voice dripping with unyielding control. “Whether you like it or not, you’ve already signed that contract. You can’t escape it. You can’t escape me.”

Lila’s chest tightened in frustration. She was done with his games, but her throat felt dry, the anger in her simmering under the surface. She needed something to clear her head. Without thinking, she reached for the closest glass, grabbed it, and took a long sip, expecting it to be water.

The moment the liquid hit her tongue, she recoiled. It wasn’t water-it was whiskey. Strong, biting whiskey that burned as it slid down her throat.

Lila’s eyes widened, her face contorting in surprise as she set the glass down harder than she intended. Damon was watching her with that same predatory look, his gaze never leaving her.

“Mmm,” Damon said, his lips curling into a smirk. “How brave.”

Lila didn’t hesitate. She gulped down the rest of the whiskey in one go, her face flushed with a mixture of irritation and surprise. The warmth of the drink spread through her, but it didn’t stop her from shooting a defiant look at Damon.

“You think you’re my ideal man?” Lila shot back, her voice sharp and cutting. “Sorry to pop your bubble, but no. Not even close.”

11:28 Mon, May 4

Chapter 16

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Damon’s eyes flickered with something unreadable, but the sting of the whiskey lingered in Lila’s throat, making her regret the move. As the burn settled in, her face flushed even more-partly from the alcohol, and partly from the heat of the moment. She cursed inwardly, fighting the warmth spreading throughout her body.

“Damn it,” Lila thought to herself, her face growing redder by the second. “What kind of drink was that?”

Her mind was still racing, trying to recover from the unexpected sting, but the combination of the whiskey and Damon’s unwavering gaze made her feel both irritated and strangely vulnerable. She wasn’t going to let him see it, though.

11:28 Mon, May 4