Reclaimed By My Ex-husband

Zachary stepped inside without waiting for an answer, the faint curl of his lip twisting into a sneer.

She shook her head quickly, but her mind spun.

He wasn't supposed to be here. He had left her at the mall. Why would he come looking for her now?

The door slammed shut with a sudden, echoing thud as his boot connected with it.

Riya flinched at the sound, her spine pressing back as his cold gaze pinned her. Each step he took toward her seemed deliberate, heavy, closing the distance until she felt trapped.

"I told you to be loyal to me," he growled, "that you can't be with another man. But you didn't listen to me. You planned to spend the night with a gigolo."

Before she could speak, his hand shot forward, fingers clamping around her throat. The pressure stole her breath as his face hardened into something almost unrecognizable. The murderous glint in his eyes shook her to the core.

Riya's lungs burned as she fought for air, her fingers digging into Zachary's wrists in a desperate attempt to pry them loose. Her mouth gaped open, pulling in nothing but panic as his grip closed tighter around her throat. The pounding in her head grew heavier, her vision dimming at the edges.

She thought this was it—he was going to end her right here.

"Am I not enough for you?" he thundered. "You are so hungry, you need another man? Seems like I've spoiled you too much—you don't value me."

She thrashed, twisting her head side to side, nails scraping against his skin. Her arms flailed weakly.

"I've been gentle with you," he snarled. "But I'll show you who the real boss is. You'll be punished for disobeying me."

With a violent shove, he sent her sprawling onto the bed. The mattress jolted beneath her as she landed, a startled cry ripping from her throat. Before she could push herself up, he was on her, his weight pressing her.

In one swift motion, he yanked the tie from around his neck, looping it around her wrists and cinching it tight above her head.

"Zachary, I—" She tried to speak, but he cut her off.

"No explanation can save you from the consequences."

His mouth crashed onto hers, the kiss harsh, almost bruising. His hand slid under her nightdress, his touch rough. With a single sharp tug, he tore her dress.

Riya gasped, her body jerking at the violent rip of fabric. The nightdress hung in jagged shreds, her skin stinging where his hands had been. She could already imagine the marks that might bloom there by morning.

"Zachary, can you be gentle?" she pleaded. "I have a shoot tomorrow."

"You slut," he snapped as his hand clamped around her throat.

Her eyes went wide, panic flashing in them.

"You are in no position to request anything," he hissed. "You dared to betray me. Now you face the consequences."

In one swift motion, he flipped her onto her stomach. Instinct took over. She scrambled forward, trying to crawl off the bed. But his hand closed around her ankle, yanking her back with brutal force.

"Please, Zachary—don't do this. Let me go," she blurted, desperation spilling through the words.

"Let you go?" His tone dripped with venom. "You were ready to throw yourself at that gigolo. I'm here now to satisfy you. Why run away?"

As he spoke, he undid the button of his trousers and pushed the zipper down. "I'll make this night unforgettable for you."

He roughly entered her from behind.

"Uh!" Riya cried out, the force of it knocking the breath from her. Panic surged through her, every instinct telling her to get away.

His grip on her waist was unyielding, anchoring her in place. "There's no escape," he said coldly. "I am your fate. You will do as I say."

His hold only tightened, his movements turning harsher, more punishing, as though determined to break her will.

Riya's first instinct was to get away, the fear tightening in her chest. But the longer she was trapped in his hold, the more her body betrayed her. Slowly, the sting of pain and the edge of fear shifted into something else. An unnerving rush of sensation seemed to awaken every nerve in her body.

Zachary's expression shifted when he sensed she was enjoying it, a slow, knowing smile curving his lips. "You little thing. I know you love this."

He caught a fistful of her hair, tugging her head back so her gaze had no choice but to meet his. There was no tenderness in his expression, only madness.

"Say you are mine," he demanded.

"Yes…" The rest of her words dissolved as a sudden, overwhelming rush swept through her, stealing her breath. She gasped out in bliss, her thoughts scattering completely.

But Zachary still didn't stop. His movements became more frenzied, spanking her harder. Heat spread across her skin, leaving it flushed and tender, each blow making her jolt and cry out, tears gathering in her eyes.

It hurt, yet the pull of sensation was impossible to ignore. She despised herself for letting him inflict pain and degrade her like this—and hated even more the fact that she craved the very pleasure he gave.

Her body trembled in waves as the climax hit her again, stronger than any she had felt before, leaving her breathless and overwhelmed.

When he finally finished, Riya lay sprawled across the rumpled bed, her limbs heavy. She couldn't have lifted her hand. Red marks stood out against her skin, each one a reminder of what had just happened.

Zachary stepped away from the bed, tugging his pants back into place. His gaze swept over her, lingering on the marks he had left on her body, and a slow, satisfied smile curved his mouth.

"If you do it again, I'll punish you harder," he warned.

She flicked her eyes toward him without moving her head.

Harder? If this wasn't hard, then what did he call it?

He set a strip of pills on the nightstand. "Don't forget to take it. I don't want you getting pregnant."

Her lips curled faintly. As if she'd want a child now, especially his.

He leaned over to untie her wrists and slid his tie free, straightening it in his hands.

"Since you breached the contract, you have to pay the price," he said, adjusting the knot at his collar.

That made her lift her head, dragging her aching body upright with effort. A wince crossed her face as she shifted on the mattress, her lower body sore. "What price?" she muttered. "You punished me already."

"That was for betraying me. But for breaching the contract, you still have to pay."