Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Zayden and the woman broke apart, their lips finally separating.
Kenji’s hand shot out, grabbing Scarlette’s arm and yanking her aside.
The sudden movement sent her stumbling against his chest.
“Did you hear something?” Zayden’s puzzled voice drifted toward them. Scarlette heard footsteps approaching, and her fingers twisted into Kenji’s collar, anchoring him in place with desperate strength.
Soon, Zayden spotted Scarlette.
“Scarlette?” The color drained from Zayden’s face as he hastily pushed away the woman clinging to his side.
“What brings you here?” Had Scarlette seen everything just now?
Still pressed against Kenji’s chest, Scarlette turned her head with glacial disdain.
“Since when does the pet question its master’s whereabouts? Know your place.”
Zayden’s features twisted with bitterness. He opened his mouth to spin another lie, but the sight of her pressed against another man ignited his jealousy.
“Who is he?”
Scarlette’s lips curved into a cruel smile-she’d been waiting for this moment.
“My new entertainment. You’re replaced, and he’ll be taking over your position.”
“Scarlette, have you lost your damn mind?” Kenji’s voice cut through the tension.
A dangerous cocktail of hatred swirled in Scarlette’s chest-loathing for Zayden’s betrayal and Kenji’s razor-sharp mockery. Her eyes fixed on Kenji’s perfectly sculpted lips, and a primal urge seized her. Without a second thought, she rose on her tiptoes and sank her teeth into his lower lip.
The sensation jolted through Kenji like lightning, his hands flying to her head to wrench her away. But his resistance only fueled her fury-she bit harder, sending waves of pain pulsing through his temples.
Her defiance sparked something wild. The more Kenji fought, the more ferocious she became, transforming the bite into a savage kiss.
The metallic tang of blood mingled with the softness of Scarlette’s lips, her untamed assault awakening something dark within Kenji. His eyes clouded with dangerous intent as he seized control, fingers gripping her neck as he forced her lips apart with a punishing kiss of his own.
Kenji had never known the touch of a kiss, nor had he ever entertained such thoughts-until his own savagery surprised him. The irony wasn’t lost on him. His first kiss was with a woman he utterly despised. Raw physical attraction, he discovered, had little need for love. The metallic tang of blood on their lips and Scarlette’s desperate, frightened whimpers ignited something primal within him.
At the precipice of losing himself, Kenji wrenched away from her, his chest heaving as he took in her disheveled state.
Scarlette, gasping for air, came to her senses. Her tear-stained eyes flashed with fury as she lunged to strike him, but Kenji’s reflexes were quicker. He caught her wrist mid-swing, his grip firm and unyielding.
“How dare you kiss me like that?” Scarlette’s voice quivered with rage.
“Using your tongue… You’re absolutely revolting, Kenji!” The brutality of his kiss had left her breathless and terrified. What a shameless jerk!
“Revolting?” His voice cut like ice.
“Weren’t you the one who sank your teeth into my lower lip first?”
“I can kiss you, but you can’t kiss me back? That’s beyond despicable!” Scarlette exclaimed.
A shadow fell across Kenji’s features. Born into a powerful and influential family, submission from others came naturally to him. Yet, here she stood, having played him for a fool and now playing the victim. Reason abandoned Kenji as rage took hold. He hauled Scarlette toward the elevator, his voice low and menacing.
“You’ll learn exactly what I’m capable of.”
Understanding dawned in her eyes as Scarlette spat, “Kenji, lay a finger on me today, and I’ll have my father destroy everything your family has built!”
A contemptuous smirk was Kenji’s only response.
Too proud to struggle, Scarlette allowed herself to be led, maintaining an air of indifference. In Warrington, her status as Caden’s daughter made her untouchable. So what if Banta was under the Reed family’s control? Surely, Kenji wouldn’t dare provoke Caden’s wrath, would he? Yet, her threats seemed to roll off him like water.
When she found herself pinned beneath him, searing pain coursing through her body as he entered her, regret came too late. Kenji showed no trace of fear. As reality crashed down around her, Scarlette’s terrified cry was silenced by Kenji’s hand.
Their gazes locked, and through her tear-blurred vision, she saw mixed emotions in his eyes-a toxic mixture of lust, coldness, and utter revulsion. Her sounds of-
Distress fueled Kenji’s contempt. Shaking with fury, Scarlette’s muffled voice swore his death.
Crimson bled through the whites of Kenji’s eyes as he let out a glacial laugh.
“Want to kill me? Focus on surviving the night ahead.”
Scarlette’s tears subsided as realization crept in-the vulnerability in her crying repulsed her. She bit down hard on her lip, refusing to let weakness show.
Kenji’s inexperience betrayed him as he claimed her lips with clumsy urgency.
“Relax!” The command came sharp and harsh, pearls of sweat dotting his brow as his hand struck her with brutal force. Agony consumed Scarlette until consciousness threatened to slip away, her voice barely a breath in the darkness.
“You…”
Like a predator toying with its prey, his fingers encircled her throat with deceptive gentleness, humanity draining from his touch.
“What’s that? Are you begging me to stop?”
Her eyes met his, blazing with defiance and bitter mockery. She yearned to tear into him, to shred that face to ribbons. But her body lay conquered beneath his weight, even the smallest movement beyond her grasp. Physical resistance proved futile.
This outcome wasn’t entirely his doing-she’d played a dangerous game and lost… No, she refused to accept defeat. This bastard wouldn’t have the satisfaction of victory.
Drawing a shuddering breath, Scarlette’s bloodless lips quivered as she forced out his name between gasps, “Kenji… Kenji…”
Kenji’s gaze softened momentarily at her slurred, pain-laden words.
“Are you frightened?”
To his surprise, Scarlette enunciated each word with deliberate precision, “Frightened? No… I merely wanted to inform you that your technique is abysmal.”
The words left Kenji stunned.
Noting his shifted expression, a flicker of triumph crossed Scarlette’s face as she curved her lips into a weak smile.
“This is your first time, isn’t it? Don’t worry… I understand.”
Each phrase struck Kenji like a physical blow. A dark laugh escaped him as rage consumed his features, his fingers digging into her delicate waist.
“Let’s see just how much you understand.”
In one fluid motion, he slammed her against the wall.
Her world spun into darkness as she fought for breath, her nails digging crescent marks into his arms as she clung to consciousness.
“And now?” His smile held arctic malice.
“If it’s too much, beg. Perhaps I’ll show mercy.”
Scarlette drew ragged breaths. Though her body trembled violently, torn between agony and resistance, her voice carried steel.
“Is that all? I can barely feel a thing.”
Kenji was left speechless.
Scarlette’s stubbornness came back to haunt her. She spent the worst night of her eighteen years curled up in bed, each moment dragging painfully.
Once Kenji finally calmed down, the reality of everything began to sink in. His gaze landed on the faint bloodstain on the sheets, and it hit him like a cold splash of water. He had slept with Scarlette the same day their engagement fell apart-in a room above a bar. It was crazy, completely unexpected.
Kenji’s eyes shifted to Scarlette, who lay there like a ragdoll, her face buried in the pillow. Something dark flickered in his eyes as he reached out, brushing her damp hair aside.
But as soon as his fingers touched her, Scarlette flinched, her whole body tensing.
Kenji frowned, swallowing hard. Was she really that worn out? He had only gone through one round.
Scarlette gripped the sheets tightly, shooting him a defiant glare.
“What? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for me and want more. Think it through, Kenji. Getting obsessed with me is a bad idea, you jerk.”
Kenji stared at her, speechless. Whatever softness he had felt vanished. Without warning, he scooped her up. Scarlette’s tired eyes snapped open, instantly wary. No way. He wouldn’t actually go for another round, would he? Please, no.
Noticing her stiffening, Kenji gave her a flat look.
“Relax. I’m not interested in a second round. I’m taking you to the bath.”
Scarlette narrowed her eyes, her whole body tense with defiance. No way was she going to let him take care of her. What a phony! “No…”
she muttered under her breath.
In just a few long strides, Kenji was in the bathroom. He glanced down at her when he heard her weak protest.
“Huh? Fine, do it yourself,” he said, pretending to set her down on the floor.
Scarlette panicked, her lower body feeling useless, and instinctively clung to his arm.
“No. I meant don’t use water that’s too hot,” she blurted out.
Kenji let out a sharp laugh, clearly just messing with her. The anger had faded, and what was done was done. There was no point in leaving her alone. Still, everything about tonight was a first for him.
Gently, Kenji placed her in the bathtub and, doing his best to figure things out, began washing her the way he thought he should.
Scarlette, already feeling awkward, was about ready to snap at Kenji’s clumsy handling.
“Are you insane? Do you think my legs are made of steel? Why not just twist them into a pretzel while you’re at it?”
Kenji stayed calm, responding dryly, “I could actually do that.”
Scarlette narrowed her eyes.