Chapter 4
For Emily, I dragged myself toward Leon.
Two steps away from him, my strength gave out, and I stumbled.
He caught me in a flash, his hand landing on my waist, the heat from his palm searing through the thin fabric of my dress.
"Careful," he rasped, his grip on me controlled but trembling.
The digital countdown hit "four," slicing through the tension like a blade.
The comments erupted in a chorus of taunts, relishing our hesitation.
[Seriously? He's afraid to even hold her waist?]
[Is Mr. Lancaster impotent? Even the drug can't help him?]
[Girl, make a move! Jump into his arms!]
"Kiss me!" I bit out, pushing my face toward his.
Sweat ran down my brow, burning my eyes, but I refused to close them. I kept my gaze locked on his.
His eyes were still red, yet beneath the lust, there was a flicker of struggle I couldn't quite decipher.
His Adam's apple bobbed. He slowly lowered his head.
I could feel his breath, hot and ragged, against the top of my head, each exhale bringing a wave of raw, aggressive heat.
His lips were a cool, feather-light brush against mine. For a heartbeat, that sudden chill quenched the fever screaming in my blood.
Yet, that very softness was more devastating than violence. It stripped away my resolve more effectively than any brute force ever could.
My logic was screaming at me to push him away, but my body betrayed me with terrifying honesty. I found myself aching to crawl deeper into his arms, craving his hold, desperate for his coolness to drown out the fire consuming me from within.
The chat exploded.
[They finally kissed! Grab her chest!]
[Look at her face! She's loving it!]
[Mr. Lancaster, don't stop! Keep going!]
Just as I was about to lose myself completely, Leon whispered in my ear, his voice barely a breath.
"The locator is activated. Just hold on a little longer."
It hit me. He had hurt himself on purpose. It was the only way to activate the tracking chip implanted under his skin.
I snapped back to reality, my hand, which had been creeping toward his chest, snatching back as if I had been burned.
"That's it?" the synthetic voice sneered. "Ms. Foster, you're not trying hard enough. How about this: each of you takes off one piece of clothing. Or else, I'll give your little sister a taste of the 'good stuff,' too."
The threat was a bucket of ice water dumped over my head. I snapped my head up, yelling, "You wouldn't dare!"
"Try me."
The screen cut to Emily again. Someone was approaching her, preparing to force the drug on her.
"Emily!" I screamed, lunging for the screen, but Leon grabbed me.
"Don't lose it," he said, his voice hoarse but steady. "This is what they want. They want us to lose control."
"But Emily... she's..."
My voice broke. Seeing my sister trembling with fear on the screen was like having my heart ripped out of my chest.
Leon said nothing. He simply unbuttoned his suit jacket, shrugged it off, and tossed it to the side.
He was left in a crisp white shirt, the wound on his forearm still oozing blood, staining the cuff. He looked battered but defiant.
"Take it off," he said, his eyes meeting mine. "I promise, I won't touch you more than I have to."
I gritted my teeth, my fingers trembling as I undid the buttons on my own coat, revealing the thin slip dress underneath.
The moment my coat slid off my shoulders, a violent shudder ran through me. It wasn't the cold. It was the biting sting of shame.
The chat erupted in cheers, the filthy words lashing at me like whips.
Leon stepped closer and gently pulled me into his arms, his palm resting on my back, a simple contact that offered more comfort than heat.
He was burning up, his breathing labored and frantic. I became keenly aware of the transformation in his body, yet I knew with absolute certainty that he was straining to keep the beast at bay.
"I'm sorry," he whispered into my ear. "I'm sorry you have to go through this."
I leaned against him, tears finally falling, soaking the front of his shirt.
And then, he lowered his head and kissed me.
It wasn't like the gentle touch from before. This kiss was desperate, fueled by the drug and the agony of our situation. His mouth tasted of blood, but he was careful, his teeth grazing my lips without breaking the skin.
My body went rigid. My mind was screaming, but my body was on fire. I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him back.
We were two suppressed infernos, crashing together in a blaze that threatened to consume us both.
His hand slid down my back, and just as his fingers brushed the sensitive curve of my waist, he froze.
He shoved me away, gasping for breath. "I'm sorry... I lost control..."
I crumpled to the floor, the strap of my dress slipping from my shoulder, leaving me exposed.
Leon collapsed beside me, his shirt soaked with sweat. The wound on his arm had torn open again, fresh blood dripping onto the floor between us.
Our sweat mingled in the heated air.
The chat was still a frenzy of excitement and disappointment. But the synthetic voice was silent. They probably never expected us to stop.
A sudden clarity washed over me: dying in this place didn't matter, so long as the final piece of my pride remained unbroken. It was a price I was willing to pay.