She pressed her hands against his chest, attempting to push him away, but her resistance only fueled his intensity. His grip tightened, drawing her closer, and the kiss deepened. Realizing her efforts were futile, she surrendered, though her heart rebelled against her body's treacherous longing. It had been so long, too long, since she had felt his lips upon hers, and the memory of that sensation came rushing back.
Quinn's left arm circled her waist, pulling her tightly against him, while his other hand cradled the back of her neck, eliminating any distance between them. His lips moved with a possessive fervor, claiming her completely. As his hand slid downward, tracing a deliberate path to her breast, he fondled it softly, drawing an involuntary moan from Belle's lips.
She hated herself for it, how easily her resolve melted in the heat of his touch. Oh, how she had missed his warmth, his scent, the taste of him. Abandoning her restraint, she wrapped her arms around his waist and tilted her head, granting him fuller access to her lips. A wicked smirk tugged at his mouth as he deepened their embrace.
When he finally released her lips, his mouth trailed down her neck, leaving a fiery path in its wake. He kissed and sucked at the sensitive skin, making her toes curl with pleasure. Belle's hands found their way into his hair, and she whispered, her voice trembling with both delight and desperation, "Qu...Quinn."
Just as she thought he would carry her further into temptation, his teeth sank into her neck, a sharp bite that startled her. His hand then moved to her throat, gripping it just firmly enough to remind her of his dominance, though not enough to hurt her.
"Now, tell me, Belle," he taunted, his voice dripping with triumph, "who longer feels anything for whom?" His smirk only widened as realization dawned on her, he had done this purely to make a point.
In that instant, all the pleasure she had felt turned to disgust. She loathed herself for giving in so easily and wished desperately to undo the last few minutes.
"You bast…" she began, her voice shaking with fury, but he silenced her again with another forceful kiss. This time, however, Belle bit down on his lower lip, drawing blood. He pulled back with a sharp hiss, cursing under his breath as he wiped at the crimson stain.
"I swear I will stab you if you touch me again, you beast!" She shouted, tears streaming down her face. She hated herself for always falling into his traps. How could she have been so blind to his manipulations once more?
Quinn chuckled darkly, licking the blood from his lip seductively. "No, you won't, Belle. Stop pretending you can hate me. Divorce or no divorce, you will always be mine. You have no one to stand for you, no mother to shield you. All you have is me. So let go of this delusion of freedom, you will never truly escape me."
Belle scoffed, glaring at him through her tears. "You think I have no one else? You are the one who's delusional." Her words carried a venom that piqued his curiosity.
"What do you mean by…" His question was interrupted by the creak of the door. Both turned toward the sound, Quinn's brow furrowing in irritation until he saw Sophia standing there.
"I was worried and wanted to check on you," Sophia said softly, stepping into the room.
"I am fine," Quinn replied, walking over to her and wrapping an arm around her waist, a gesture Belle did not miss. How ironic, she thought bitterly.
Feigning concern, Sophia turned to Belle. "Are you all right?"
Belle rolled her eyes, her expression making it clear how unwelcome the question was. "I don't need your concern," she snapped before climbing into bed and pulling the duvet over herself, shutting out the world.
"You shall remain confined to this room until the papers are placed in your hands tomorrow afternoon," Quinn declared with an air of finality. "I trust you will not disobey me, for it would give me enough reason to withhold the divorce papers." His words hung in the air, but Belle had no strength left to argue. She chose instead to ignore him, hoping he would soon take his leave with his companion.
Quinn, fully aware of how desperately she longed for those papers, refused to grant her the freedom she craved. His selfish desire to keep her by his side outweighed any consideration for her well-being. Yet, he hesitated, knowing all too well that if he denied her the papers, she might once again resort to desperate measures, as she had done before. As much as he despised her, he could not bear the thought of her death, at least, not yet, not without ensuring she suffered as he had.
He had hoped she would prove to be different from his biological mother, yet in the end, she was no better, if not worse. If she were not his mate, the struggle to resist his own desires would not have been so fierce. Still, the temptation was overwhelming, and he could not quell the urge to touch her. His concern for her whereabouts, despite her harsh words, gnawed at him, and the strong, unfamiliar scent of another man on her made him seethe. Who had she been with? She hadn't even waited to secure the divorce papers before betraying him. A deceitful liar!
With that thought, both he and Sophia departed, leaving Belle to weep in solitude.
...
The following day, life in the mansion continued as usual. No one seemed overly concerned by Belle's absence from breakfast, though some curiosity lingered. Still, no one truly cared, as it was well known that her divorce from the Duke was inevitable.
Belle sat motionless, her gaze fixed upon the window, grounded in her confinement. Though she longed to leave, Quinn had locked the door, leaving her powerless and alone in the room. Her only hope was that Mia had returned safely to the mansion and was not suffering under Quinn's or his mother's cruelty.
The afternoon wore on, and Quinn had yet to appear. Belle, on the verge of breaking down, was startled when the door creaked open. Her heart leaped as she saw the one man she had been awaiting.
With excitement, she rushed toward him, stopping just a few steps away, eager to claim the divorce papers.
"I have never seen you so joyful. I suppose you can't wait to run off with your secret lover?" Quinn remarked with a sneer, but Belle, well accustomed to his manipulations, stayed silent. If he thought she would act rashly now, when her freedom was so close, he was greatly mistaken.
"So calm now, are we?" He mocked, clearly relishing in her apparent submission.
"First, I need you to sign this document. We wouldn't want you to make a scene about ruining my marriage afterward," he continued, handing her the paper.
Belle skimmed through it, unable to suppress a scoff as she read. Without wasting another moment, she signed the document and handed it back to him, her hand outstretched for the divorce papers.
"You will never be free of me, Mi amor," he threatened as he placed the papers into her hand.