The room was quite, save from the steady rhythm of Lina's breathing.
She sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers clenching the silk sheets beneath her.
She felt empty. Lost.
Ethan had broken her world apart, piece by piece, until there was nothing left to hold on to.
No one was coming for her. That's what Ethan kept telling her.
And a part of her was starting to believe him.
Ethan watched her in silence.
He could see the war inside her the last remnants of resistance fading, weakening.
He knew she wasn't ready to admit it yet.
But he could feel it.
She needed him now.
Even if she didn't understand it yet.
"Lina," he murmured, stepping towards her.
She flinched. But she didn't move away.
His lips curled into a slow, satisfied smirk.
"You're cold." He whispered, kneeling in front of her. "Let me warm you."
She didn't answer.
Ethan reached for her hand. She tensed but didn't pull away.
"Let me love you, Lina." He said, pressing a soft kiss against her palm.
Her breath hitched.
She hated how gentle he could be.
How his touch sent shivers down her spine.
How her body wanted more.
"You don't have to fight anymore," Ethan whispered. "I'll take care of you."
Lina vision blurred.
She had fought for so long. Resisted, pushed, screamed, and cried.
But it had changed nothing. Ethan was still here. Still holding her, still whispering that she belonged to him.
And maybe just maybe she did.
Ethan reached up, his fingers tracing the edge of her lips.
Lina's entire body locked up.
He leaned in, his lips a breath away from hers.
"You want me to kiss you, don't you?" he murmured.
Her heart slammed against her ribs. Her mind screamed no.
But her body leaned in. she barely realized she was doing it until she felt his breath against her lips. And then-
She closed the distance herself.
Her lips met his softly at first hesitant, unsure.
But the second she did. Ethan growled softly and depend the kiss.
His hands slid into her hair, tilting her head back, controlling the pace, and taking everything she gave him.
Lina melted. For the first time, she wasn't fighting. For the first time, she wanted this.
Ethan pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers.
"You're mine now." He whimpered.
Lina didn't argue. Because this time she wasn't so sure she wanted to.
Ethan pulled her onto his lap, holding her close. She didn't struggle instead; she let herself sink into his warmth. His lips brushed against her forehead.
"I love you, Lina," he said. Lina's eyes filled with tears. She wanted to tell him he was lying. She wanted to tell him she hated him. But instead, she whispered, "I don't know what I feel anymore."
Ethan caught her tears instead of letting them fall. He drank each one and said, "Please don't cry, my love. You'll see soon that you mean everything to me, and it hurts me to see you sad."
And this time Lina didn't resist when he kissed her again.