Chapter 452

Vivian Laurent lay powerless beneath Ethan Roscente's crushing weight.

His kiss was an unstoppable force, eroding her resistance with each searing touch.

The sheets had slipped away unnoticed, baring her porcelain skin to his hungry gaze.

Ethan's bare chest pressed against her, his growing arousal impossible to ignore.

"Mmph—" Vivian bit down hard on his lip.

The metallic tang of blood flooded their joined mouths.

Ethan recoiled with a hiss, only to receive a feeble slap across his cheek.

"Bastard!" Vivian trembled with fury.

Ethan merely chuckled, swiping his thumb across the blood at his lip.

"I'll always be here for you, Vivian."

"Don't call me that!" Her ears burned crimson. "We're practically strangers!"

One dark eyebrow arched. "After last night? I'd say we're intimately acquainted."

"You—!" Vivian's face flamed. "If you dare breathe a word of this—"

"Why wouldn't I?" Ethan closed the distance between them. "Unless you want people thinking I'm... inadequate."

"You are inadequate."

The air turned to ice.

Ethan's eyes darkened dangerously. "Clearly I didn't try hard enough last night."

His fingers locked around her wrist.

"Let go!" Panic laced Vivian's voice.

"I have a reputation to uphold." His breath scorched her neck. "Especially..."

He nipped at her earlobe. "...when my Vivian has such... misconceptions."

A violent shiver ran through her.

That absolute devil!