Chapter 680

Nathaniel's desperate kisses rained down on Harrison's face, his lips tangling in her silken hair as his hands roamed possessively.

"Stop fighting me. Your body betrays you—trembling with need even as you protest," Nathaniel growled against her skin.

"I'm not!" Harrison gasped, her voice breaking.

"Surrender to me," he commanded, tearing her blouse open with one sharp motion. His iron grip pinned her delicate wrists to the mattress as he claimed her with ruthless determination.

Harrison's brows furrowed in defiance. With a sharp intake of breath, she sank her teeth into Nathaniel's shoulder with all her strength.

The bastard deserved it.

A hiss escaped Nathaniel's lips as white-hot pain radiated through his body. Yet the sting only fueled his desire, sending electric pleasure coursing through his veins.

Tears spilled from Harrison's eyes. How had she ended up in Nathaniel's arms again? Her heart screamed resistance, but her traitorous body arched toward his touch.

Nathaniel's lips brushed her damp cheeks, tasting salt. "Why the tears?" he murmured, cradling her face with unexpected gentleness.

Through her blurred vision, Harrison glared up at him. "You're despicable!"

His mouth curved into a wicked smile. "I know. Now stop crying."

Fury ignited in Harrison's chest. "I'm married to Oliver! I'm his wife! How dare you—"

The mention of Oliver's name ignited a wildfire in Nathaniel's gaze. "Does your precious husband know how responsive you are in my arms? Three years of marriage, yet he's never claimed you. Let me do what he couldn't—I've fantasized about this every damn night."

The raw confession hung between them.

Harrison bit down harder, her sharp teeth breaking skin. Blood bloomed beneath her lips as Nathaniel gritted his teeth, his eyes darkening to crimson. He crushed his mouth against hers in a punishing kiss.

"You have no idea how much I've craved you," he rasped against her lips. "Countless nights spent aching for you. Dozens of women thrown at me—none of them mattered. One glance from you, and I'm undone."

His fingers intertwined with hers, locking them together in an unbreakable hold.

"Knowing you belonged to Oliver these past years—that you lived where I couldn't reach you—drove me mad with jealousy. But fate's irony—he never even touched you."

Nathaniel's voice dropped to a primal growl. "Tonight, Harrison, you're mine."

Three years of restraint shattered as he finally claimed what he'd longed for. He would brand her with his touch, mark her as his once more.

Harrison could only gasp as waves of pleasure overwhelmed her, her final broken words lost between ragged breaths: "You're... insufferable..."

Dawn's pale light filtered through the curtains as Harrison stirred, every muscle protesting. She felt thoroughly ravaged—her body no longer her own. Only concern for Charlotte and Victoria's safety kept her from sinking back into the pillows.

She shifted slightly and found herself cocooned in Nathaniel's embrace, his arms locked around her even in sleep.

Her gaze traced the angry red scratches marring his chest and back—her handiwork from last night's passionate battle. The memory of his relentless possession made her cheeks burn.

She hadn't scratched him nearly hard enough. The bastard still deserved her wrath.