New Novel
Chapter 19/No More Running

Chapter 19: 19/No More Running

Chapter 19

Stephanie’s Point of View

The blood froze in my veins when his hands clamped onto my face and his eyes snapped open. Panic seized me; had he discovered I was trying to steal a kiss? He gave me no time to think. With a swift, sudden movement, he flipped me onto the bed and hovered over me, pinning my body with his massive frame though he skillfully held his weight back so as not to hurt me.

He leaned down and kissed me. It wasn’t a normal kiss; it was an explosion of suppressed emotions. I felt his hot lips devouring mine with hunger. He began to suck my tongue with a passion that made my body shudder beneath him, then moved to bite my lower lip with a tenderness that was painful and arousing all at once. I couldn’t resist.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, buried my fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck, and pulled him closer. The sound of our frantic breathing filled the room, and I couldn’t stop. I felt as if I were melting into his heat until a loud knock on the door shattered our silence.

We pulled apart suddenly, gasping for air, our chests heaving violently. The maid’s voice echoed from behind the wood: "Breakfast is ready."

"Fine," Cedric replied in a husky, strained voice.

He looked at me with eyes shimmering with desire while still positioned over me, whispering near my lips, "Where were we?"

I tried to gather my scattered wits and said weakly, "I have to get up... I’m hungry."

He searched my face for a moment, then said, "Alright."

He moved away, and I felt a sudden chill the moment his body disconnected from mine. Even though I wanted him desperately, even though every cell in my body was screaming for him to return, my mind began to wake up. I had to remember who he was; he is a mafia man... a killer. I cannot fall in love with him I can’t! And his brother was my ex-boyfriend. This relationship is doomed to fail; it can never work.

I got up and went into the bathroom quickly, as if fleeing from his influence. I splashed my face with cold water and looked into the mirror, lost. "You have to find a solution, Stephanie... you can’t stay here forever." I placed my hand on my stomach, feeling the presence of my two children inside; their existence only made things more complicated. Cedric will never let me leave. What do I do, Oh God? What will I do?

I showered and came out to find that Cedric had left the room. I dressed and dried my hair carefully, then stepped out. I ran into him as he was emerging from the room opposite mine, and I realized then that it was his private bedroom.

He gave me a scrutinizing look. "Are you feeling better now?"

"Yes, I’m doing better," I replied quietly.

He gestured toward the stairs. "Let’s go down for breakfast."

We descended the stairs together and sat at the large table. Before the food was served, Cedric turned to the maid and said in a firm, non-negotiable tone, "I don’t want chicken entering this house again."

The maid bowed her head and replied obediently, "Yes, sir... as you command."

-----------------------------

Cedric’s Point of View

I sat watching her eat her breakfast quietly. She looked delicate and fragile after last night, stirring a strange desire in me to protect and pamper her in a way I had never known. I said in a calm tone, fixing my gaze on her, "Stephanie... shall we go out for dinner this evening?"

She stopped eating and looked at me with questioning eyes. "You and me?"

"Yes," I answered decisively.

After a moment of hesitation, she said, "Fine... no problem."

I smiled, feeling an internal satisfaction wash over me. I reached across the table and took her hand, squeezing it gently. "I’ll send a dress for you to wear tonight."

But she pulled her hand away quickly, as if my touch burned her, and said, "There’s no need. There are many dresses in my closet."

I narrowed my eyes, observing her gentle resistance. "I want tonight to be special."

She tilted her head slightly and asked in a low voice, "Is this a date?"

"It’s dinner," I answered evasively, though my heart was planning something a million times deeper than just dinner.

"Fine," she said succinctly.

I stood up from the table and straightened my suit jacket, feeling a strange energy coursing through my body. "I’m going out now; I’ll be back later." She nodded without looking at me, and I left the house and got into my car.

The goal was clear in my mind.

I headed to the most luxurious dress shop in the city. As soon as I entered, the saleswoman rushed to greet me with a practiced smile: "Welcome, sir... how can I help you?"

"I want to take a look at the dresses," I said with cold authority.

"Of course, sir."

She began showing me a collection of luxury gowns, but none of them appealed to me; they all looked dull and unworthy of Stephanie’s wild beauty. Suddenly, I spotted it a long red dress, the color of volcanic lava, completely off-the-shoulder and backless. I imagined it on her body, imagined the feel of her white skin under that red fabric, and my desire ignited instantly.

"I want this one," I said firmly, pointing to it.

"Very well, sir."

"Put it in a box and wrap it with a ribbon. Do you have cards? I want to write something."

"Yes, sir, we do."

I took the pen and wrote a few words on the card, then handed it to the woman and said, "You know the address."

She bowed respectfully. "Of course, Mr. Volkov."

I walked out of the shop with confident strides, a smile never leaving my face. I took a deep breath of air and said to myself defiantly, "Today, Stephanie, I will make you surrender to me... no more running!"