My Vampire Beloved Husband
Chapter 43: Playing the Game

Chapter 43: Playing the Game

Rose was caught off guard by his heated lips on hers, feeling as if she were under a spell—a spell that made her want more. Shock was evident in her eyes, but soon, it was replaced by something else, something she couldn’t quite place, as she kissed him back.

The kiss was slow yet punishing, mind-blowing yet scolding. His lips moved with a purpose, a force that seemed to command her attention. Rose felt her breath catch in her chest, the way his mouth worked magic with hers making her realize something she hadn’t considered before. For him to be this good, it could only mean one thing: he had undoubtedly kissed countless women before. That thought ignited a spark of anger in her.

Her chest tightened, a mixture of disbelief and something darker taking root. She pulled back sharply, the taste of him still lingering on her lips as she tried to collect herself. Her heart hammered in her chest, the anger she felt blending with confusion. Before she knew it, his hands had moved to her waist, and a chill ran through her, as if someone had poured ice water on her skin. His touch was different now, almost possessive, sending an unsettling feeling deep inside her. She recoiled, suddenly aware of the power he wielded with that touch, and it made her feel small.

"Stop," she whispered, her voice breaking as she took a step back, her pulse racing.

She pulled away quickly, almost like a child who had just touched a hot pot. Her eyes reflected the shock and heat she felt, as though her senses were overwhelmed by the burning sensation. Her thoughts were a jumble—too fast to keep up with. She refused to meet his gaze, her lips trembling with the words she wanted to say but couldn’t bring herself to utter. She was sure of one thing now: this man was a full-time player, and she had been nothing more than a passing game to him.

The air between them was thick with tension, heavy and suffocating. As if nothing had happened earlier, Rose gathered her things and walked toward the table, her movements stiff. She grabbed her bag and moved toward the door, her mind racing with thoughts of escape, of putting distance between herself and him. But just as her hand touched the door handle, she felt a sudden force yank her back.

Rylan’s grip was firm, but not rough, as he pulled her toward him, his movements controlled yet powerful. She gasped, her breath catching in her throat as he carefully but forcefully pressed her back against the wall. His hand raised to tilt her chin, making her look at him. His eyes were intense, dark, and unreadable. There was something in them that unsettled her, something she couldn’t quite grasp, but it made her feel exposed.

"Where are you going?" His voice was low and tight, strained, as if he were holding something back. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, the vein in his neck visibly pulsing. She saw the confusion in his eyes, mixed with something else—something deeper, darker.

Rose was silent for a moment, her mind spinning with conflicting emotions. She locked eyes with him, refusing to back down this time. The anger inside her rose once more, stoking the fire of defiance that had been simmering under the surface. But her voice, when it came, was quieter than she had intended.

"I’m leaving," she said softly, trying to steady her shaking hands. "Besides, I’m not allowed here."

The words left her mouth before she could stop them. Her mind was trying to make sense of what had just happened, trying to justify her actions, but the underlying truth was simple: She wanted out.

Rylan froze, his brow furrowing in confusion. He couldn’t understand why she was acting this way. Just moments ago, she had been so defiant, so strong, insisting that she wouldn’t leave. What had changed? Had it been the kiss? Or was it something else entirely? She had kissed him back, but now she was pulling away. He hadn’t been subtle with his intentions earlier, but now, he found himself wondering why he was pushing her. Why was he still holding onto her like this, when it was clear that she wanted to leave?

His frustration boiled over, and he spoke again, his voice laced with annoyance. "I warned you earlier, but you chose to ignore me that why I....?"

Rose cut him off, her anger clear despite the softness in her voice. There was a bite to her words that cut through the tension like a knife.

"I’m leaving, and I don’t need you to tell me what to do," she said firmly.

Her words were sharp, carrying an underlying frustration that made Rylan pause. Something about her tone didn’t sit right with him. She wasn’t just angry about the kiss; there was more to it, something he couldn’t quite grasp. She hadn’t kissed him back because she liked it; she had done it out of defiance. The thought twisted in his chest, making his stomach churn.

He wasn’t sure what it was, but he could feel the anger emanating from her in waves. His mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation, but it only deepened his frustration. Why was she acting this way? Why did she feel the need to push him away, when all he wanted was... He didn’t even know what he wanted anymore.

Both of Rylan’s hands rested against the wall, blocking her escape. The proximity between them was overwhelming, and he couldn’t stop himself from feeling like he was losing control. His breath was shallow, his voice tight, laced not with anger but with raw frustration. How could this woman, this girl, who seemed so determined to fight him at every turn, make him lose his mind like this? He’d never been the kind of man to lose control, yet every time she was near, he found himself teetering on the edge of something he couldn’t understand.

"If it’s about the kiss..." His voice trailed off, frustration dripping from every word.

But Rose was having none of it. She didn’t want to hear his excuses, his justifications.

"I said stop bringing that up," she cut in harshly, her voice bitter with resentment. "If you want to kiss someone so badly, why don’t you just go to a club? I’m sure you’ve done it with countless women already."

The word "player" slipped from her mouth so quietly that it was almost as if she was saying it to herself. But Rylan caught it. His body tensed at the jab, his jaw tightening involuntarily. He stared at her, his mind buzzing with the sting of her words.

Rose took a small, almost imperceptible step back as she pressed herself against the wall. Rylan’s body was only a breath away, his chest rising and falling with every breath he took. Her expression was unreadable, but there was something in her eyes that made Rylan hesitate. For the first time in a long time, he wasn’t sure what to do.

"If you’ll excuse me," Rose muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, as she tried to walk past him again.

But before she could move, Rylan’s hands shot out, grasping her wrists with surprising force. He stopped her in her tracks, holding her in place.

Her eyes met his, unwavering, challenging him. "Why do you want me here?" she demanded, her voice tinged with both anger and frustration. "I want to leave. Is that not what you wanted all this time? Give me one good reason why you don’t want me to go."

Rylan stood still, his mind spinning. He didn’t have an answer. What was the reason? Why was he still holding her back? He couldn’t answer his own question. What was it about her that made him feel this way? He hadn’t felt this confused in a long time, and it infuriated him.

"Please, be a gentleman and let me leave in peace," she added, her voice softer now, but still firm, as if trying to steady herself.

Rylan opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. He was silent, his mind struggling to catch up with his emotions. What the hell was he doing?

"Why are you leaving now?" he managed to ask, his voice cutting through the tension between them.

Rose’s anger flared, her voice sharp as she shot back. "Why do you want me to stay now?" Her words dripped with malice, every syllable loaded with bitterness. "Or are you just horny?"

The words hit Rylan like a slap to the face. For a long moment, he was speechless, caught off guard by her bluntness. His chest tightened, and his mind reeled, trying to make sense of what she had just said. What was he really trying to do here? What did he want from her? He didn’t have an answer.

Rylan’s gaze turned cold, the atmosphere between them suddenly chilling. Rose felt a cold shiver run down her spine. For the first time in what felt like forever, she was... scared.

"I only kissed you to shut you up," he said, his voice laced with contempt. "You talk too much. Your loudness is unladylike. Besides, if a man is horny and you’re around..." He paused, his eyes locking onto hers, as though measuring the weight of his words. Then he continued, his voice dropping, almost venomous. "Your appearance alone could turn someone off."

His body stilled after he spoke, and for a fleeting moment, he wanted to step back, to reconsider what he had just said. But he couldn’t. He wouldn’t. He refused to admit that there was a part of him that was attracted to her, the reason he was acting so out of character. He didn’t mean any of the cruel words he had just thrown at her—except maybe the one about her being unladylike—but even that thought stirred something inside him. What was this feeling? What was happening to him?

But it wasn’t the frustration that kept him rooted to the spot. No, it was the pain in her eyes. That lingering truth, no matter how painful, hung in the air between them. He wanted to speak, to take back the cruel words, but before he could open his mouth, Rose spoke.

Her voice was shaky, but her words were firm. "I only listen to men with big d*cks, not small ones."

With that, she stormed out, leaving Rylan standing there in stunned silence. For a moment, all he could do was stare at the door, his chest tightening, his mind reeling. Who the hell was this woman?