Chapter 30
Jonas’s gaze sented on Natalie’s neck, where the faint marks of his kisses and love bites had completely eclipsed the bruises left earlier by that drunken attacker.
The sight was oddly satisfying to Jonas. It was like erasing something thy and replacing it with his own imprint. Still, he knew Natalie would be mortified if she noticed.
The thought of her turning beet red, embarrassed and too shy to voice her anger, made the corners of his lips ng upward in amusement.
Natalie, however, was anything but amused. She could feel Jonas’s eyes lingering on her neck, his grin far too pleased for her comfort. It sent a shiver crawling up her spine.
She instinctively lowered her head, trying to catch a glimpse of what had him so captivated, but of course, she couldn’t see a thing.
Just as she began inching toward the rearview mirror for a better look, Jonas slid the cigarette between his fingers back to his lips and tilted his chin toward her. Turn around,” he ordered casually.
Natalie hesitated. Her lips parted slightly, words on the verge of spilling out, but she swallowed them down. Though she had no idea what he was up to, she obediently tamed her back to him
Before she could even process what was happening, something soft and cool landed over her head. The white scarf slid down, its sheer shine brushing her skin as it draped over her neck.
The intricate lace trim was coarse against her freshly kissed skin, the contrast of textures creating a faint prickle that sent tiny shivers dancing down her spine.
Natalie instinctively shifted, the sensation too strange to ignore. Her slight movement was immediately countered by Jonas’s firm, calloused hand pressing against her shoulder and the curve of her neck, holding her still.
“Stop squirming,” he chided, his tone playful despite the sharpness of his words. “If it looks messy, don’t come crying to me later
His voice was laced with a mischievous delight, and his thumb idly brushed against the nape of her neck, sending an unexpected jolt of heat racing through her.
Jonas, meanwhile, was fully engrossed in his task. “How hard could tying a bow be? he thought, his confidence brimming. The dismantled and reassembled weapons in record time. This should be child’s play!
But reality wasn’t cooperating. The small, delicate bow he envisioned in his head was refusing to take shape, and the limp, lackluster knot in his hands bore no resemblance to the crisp elegance he was aiming for.
A flicker of irritation crossed his face, though he managed to suppress it Tilting his head for a better angle, he clenched the cigarette between his teeth, shifting it to one side as he studied his handiwork with a furrowed brow.
He rugged at the drooping bow, which resembled a pair of floppy rabbit ears. Left, right, and then left again–his rough handling nearly frayed the delicate fabric, but after a few more pulls and adjustments, it finally looked passable.
Satisfied Jonas stepped back to admire his work. Before Natalie could even glance at her reflection, his arm snaked around her slender waist, pulling her firmly into his embrace. With one fluid motion, he half–dragged, half–guided her forward, his strength leaving no room for protest.
A wicked smirk played on his lips as he raised a brow. “Tied you up so you won’t wander off, he quipped, his voice brimming with mockery.
Natalie struggled to keep up with his pace, practically swept along by his domineering stride. His words hit her like a cold splash of water…
She instinctively reached up to rub the scarf encircling her neck, her wide eyes betraying a flicker of helplessness. Does he seriously think I’m some kind of pet?
Her teeth habitually nipped at her lower lip, the slight sting a sharp reminder of his earlier roughness. As she lowered her gaze, her thoughts turned heavy. We’ve never defined what this is between us. Right now, my life lungs entirely on his whim.
y, and my position isn’t even close to that of a mistress. Maybe maybe he really does see me as nothing more than a pet
‘He suspects I’ma
ma spy,
The thought stung, a mixture of indignation and frustration bubbling up inside her. But when weighed against the fragility of her situation–where survival depended on staying in his good graces–those emotions felt pitifully insignificant.
With a slow exhale, Natalie steadied her emotions, forcing herself to see the brighter side. “At least he’s devilishly handsome. And compared to being tied up and mistreated during the kidnapping, this is a paradise:
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Dreamg–Bead Romance…
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Chapter 30
naolation lifed her spirits alle
She couldn’t help but think wryly. Just treat this as a short fling Once we reach the Northern District, I’ll run as far away as I can, and I’ll never look
Everything that happened in Nocrudor will be nothing more than a bad dream
stretch of concrete
As they passed the final check point, the uneven makeshift gravel road gave way to a smooth, expansive
calie’s gaze swept across the scene before her. The building ahead was clearly the most prominent structure
structure in the area.
At the forefront stood a four–story building, sprawling across what appeared to be a few thousand square yards. Scattered nearby were a handful of smaller villas, and farther in the distance, an industrial–looking facility loomed.
Its dull gray menor wasn’t exactly inviting, but as Natalie stared at it, a peculiar thought flickered in her mind.
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