Bound by Desire

Ava’s POV

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring out the window as my thoughts spiraled into different directions. My hands were clenched in my lap, my nails digging into my palms hard enough to draw blood.

I wouldn’t cry. I refuse to cry. Why should I? He meant nothing to me.

Orion didn’t deserve my tears.

I would get my divorce. And I would make him regret ever thinking he could break me.

I looked around the room, it had my things and his, perfectly arranged. I noticed the subtle renovation on my way up and how lovely the decorations were.

It should have made me happy. Excited even. But knowing Orion, I could only wonder what the heck is going on in his goddamn mind this time. Why did he move our things here? Why are we still sharing the same bed?

Could it be that they had changed their tactics? Maybe he intends to strangle me while I sleep and pass it off like I died in my sleep. Who knows?

To hell with him anyway, I won’t be spending the night here. I looked outside and it was getting dark. I brought out a small bag and started packing a few essentials as quickly as I could.

I zipped up my bag and set it down with a thud beside me. My breath was shallow, my movements tense as I ran through everything I’d packed. It didn’t matter if I forgot anything—I just had to leave.

The door creaked open.

I froze, the sound of heavy footsteps echoing through the room like a thunderclap.

Orion.

I turned slowly to see him standing in the doorway. He was calm, infuriatingly calm, but the moment I met his gaze, a burning rage ignited within me. The sight of him—him—after everything, made my blood boil. The image of him and Chloe, entwined and pressed together flashed behind my eyes.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he asked, his voice low, cautious.

I glared at him, my tone sharp enough to slice through glass. “What does it look like I’m doing?” I snapped. “I’m leaving, Orion. I’m not going to wait around for you and your mistress to strangle me in my sleep.”

His face tightened, and I swore I saw something like pain flicker in his eyes, but I shoved the thought aside.

“Leave?” he repeated, his voice rough with disbelief. “Why would you think I’d ever hurt you? I would never—”

I laughed bitterly, cutting him off. “Never? That’s all you’ve done since the day this marriage was proposed, Orion.”

He sighed heavily, his frustration obvious as he ran a hand through his hair, his eyes screaming a thousand emotions I couldn’t—and didn’t want to—understand.

“Ava, please. Just… listen to me,” he breathed out, taking a step closer. “What you saw earlier in the room—it was a mistake. Okay? It won’t happen again. I just… I had a moment of weakness. I...I thought it was you!"

“I don’t care. It’s not my business anyway,” I hissed, my words laced with venom. I grabbed my bag and moved past him, the sight of him only fanning the flames of my fury. But before I could step out of the door, Orion grabbed my wrist and spun me around, drawing me into him so fast my breast collided with his hard body.

“Let me go!” I yelled, thrashing against his hold. My pulse raced, my anger boiling over. “I don’t want to breathe the same air as you! If I could help it, I wouldn’t!”

“Never,” he growled, his voice low and final. “You think I’m going to let you run straight into the arms of Mason? Never.”

His words hit me like a slap, and my struggles grew more violent. “Let me go!” I screamed. “What is wrong with you?!”

But he didn’t let go. He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to an eerie calm that made my skin crawl. “You can scream all you want, Ava. There’s no one else in the west wing to hear you. I locked the stairs.”

I froze. My breath hitched in my throat.

My mind screamed ‘Is this it? Is this how he plans to kill me?’

Before I could react, Orion’s grip loosened just enough for me to make a break for the door. I took three steps—only three—before his arms were around me again. A shocked cry escaped me as he lifted me off my feet and carried me back to the bed.

“Stop it! Let me go, Orion!” I screamed, my voice frantic as I kicked and thrashed, but he was too strong. With shocking ease, he dropped me onto the bed and tied my hands to the frame before I could fight back.

“Orion!” I screamed, yanking at the restraints. “You can’t do this! Let me go!”

But he didn’t listen. His eyes were dark, filled with something I couldn’t understand—frustration? Desire? I didn’t care. I just wanted to get away. My dress slipped down as I struggled, exposing the edge of my bra. I froze when I saw where his gaze had traveled, lingering on my breasts. His eyes darkened further, the shift in his expression making me shiver.

“Stop looking at me like that!” I spat, trying to turn to cover myself, but before I could, he reached down and tore the front of my dress open with a harsh rip. My breath hitched as cool air touched my bare skin, my nipples betraying me as they hardened under his intense gaze.

I bit my lip, trying to fight the heat rising through me. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.

His hands were gentle as he reached for me, but his touch burned my skin. Then his mouth was on me. My body arched instinctively as his lips closed around my breast, his tongue swirling over the sensitive peak as though he was savoring me.

A surge of disgust hit me. ‘How many times had he done this with Chloe?’

“Stop it!” I kicked out, bucking against him, but it was useless. Orion’s eyes met mine, dark and glazed, his intensity sending shivers down my spine.

“Ava,” he whispered softly, his voice almost pleading. “Just let me.”

“No.”

I shook my head, struggling harder, but my body betrayed me. My breath caught as he pinned my legs apart, tying them down as well. My mind screamed at me to fight, to keep struggling, but my body… my body shivered, and this time, it wasn’t from anger or fear.

Orion looked up at me again, his expression torn with something I didn’t want to name. “Ava…” he whispered, lowering his mouth to mine. I turned my head, but he didn’t stop. His lips captured mine, soft and warm, and a wave of heat spread through my legs.

I wanted to fight. I really did. But his mouth worked magic, drawing out reactions I couldn’t control. My body trembled, arching toward him despite myself.

He broke the kiss to look at me, his voice dark and husky. “Do you want me, Ava?”

“No,” I said stubbornly, but my body tingled traitorously.

He smirked, the look on his face making me want to slap him. “So you wouldn’t mind if I stopped?” he teased, his fingers trailing down to my soaked core. I gasped, biting my lip to hold back a sound.

“Say it,” he whispered in a low growl.

“Don’t stop,” I heard myself say, my voice raspy and weak.

His smirk softened into something more—satisfied, maybe. He stood, pulling off his trousers in one swift motion. My eyes widened as I took in the sight of him—hard, ready—and I gasped in shock.

“You’re mine,” he said firmly in a voice clouded with desire.

When he drove into me, the sudden stretch made me cry out, my body arching to meet his. It was as though something inside me shattered, unlocking a flood of sensations I didn’t know I was capable of feeling. We moved together, harder and faster, my tied hands straining as I desperately wanted to pull him closer. My head spun, every nerve in my body alive with pleasure.

When we came, I felt warmth spread through me, wrapping around me like a cocoon.

As I lay there panting, my wrists still bound and my body trembling, the room settled into silence. My mind was a mess, but strangely… There was no regret.

Maybe now, I could finally leave him satisfied.