Undressed By His Arrogance

Her stomach fluttered.

Reese’s breath hitched. He stared.

He’d always wondered what they looked like.

It was obvious in the way his pupils darkened, in the way his jaw clenched, in the way his fingers twitched slightly.

Sylvia felt heat rush through her cheeks.

"Reese...I mean...sir?" she whispered.

His eyes flicked up to hers slowly, the hunger unmistakable.

"You’re making me forget how much discipline I’m supposed to have."

And God... she wanted him to forget. She wanted him undone—by her.

Reese had never had any use for love. To him, love was distracting, messy, irrational. A liability no man in his position could afford. And everything with his boss only proved him right: Winn, a brilliant man reduced into a storm of chaos because of one woman. Reese had observed it all, reinforcing his conclusion.

But passion?

Passion he understood.

And the woman currently entirely putty in his hands was passionate in a way that burned. Sylvia Kane — the elegant, privileged, stubborn princess — melted for him. It was almost poetic how quickly her arrogance crumbled the moment he took control. Almost tragic how sweetly she obeyed. Almost dangerous how much he wanted more.

So, he took her.

First with his fingers, bringing her to the brink of climax, watching her body arch beautifully. Her voice cracked as she begged, begged him, oh she begged him. Even if it was humiliating for her, she begged like she’d been born for it.

And every time she climbed toward that peak, every time she trembled and whispered his name with that raw, trembling need...

He snatched it away just like that.

Her disbelief had been delicious. Her frustration addictive. Her gasp—when he denied her again—had nearly undone him.

Then he slid his cock inside her, punishing her with his cock, hitting her in positions Sylvia didn’t know was possible and every time depriving her of that final climax until the very end.

She fell apart.

He held her together.

They shattered in a way that was messy, intense, and absolutely unforgettable.

And the entire time, a quiet, unwelcome voice in the back of his mind whispered: She fits. Perfectly.

He ignored it, of course. Sylvia Kane was a temporary indulgence.

But god, what an indulgence.

*****

Reese was able to make it to Orchard Estate early enough.

Reese scrubbed a hand over his face as he parked near the side entrance reserved for staff and personal security. "It had been quite the night" was an understatement. He could still feel hints of Sylvia on his skin, ghost-like traces that made him clench his jaw.

He stepped out of the car, straight-backed and composed, but internally?

He was about to face his boss — the brother of the woman he just fucked the living daylights out of in every way possible.

Fantastic.

He’d taken her in ways that made him almost ashamed of how deeply he’d wanted her. And yet, there it was — burned into his mind, seared into his hands.

He knew it wouldn’t happen again.

It couldn’t.

He would bury last night and leave it there.

But the memory...

Lord...

She was perfect for the role.

He cleaned Winn’s Maybach as he waited for Winn to exit the house, wiping down the glossy black surface.

He stepped back just as the front door opened.

Winn paused at the sight of him.

"Reese, I made it clear I didn’t need you today."

"It’s one of those days when it’s safer not to listen to you, sir."

A muscle ticked in Winn’s jaw. "I’m guessing you spoke with Sylvia?"

"Yes, sir." Reese admitted, bracing himself.

Winn raised a brow. "You fucking her?"

Reese kept his face blank. "I’d rather not answer that, sir."

Then Winn scoffed, humorless. "Well, you better watch closely to see if she has a knife to your back."

"Noted, sir." Reese swallowed the hundred emotions he refused to show. "Where are we going?"

Winn didn’t slow down. "To see Tom Kane."

"Understood, sir."

*****

Tom Kane was driving down the lane that led away from Kane Estate, the early sunlight catching on his silver hair. His fingers tapped the steering wheel in a rhythm.

His radio hummed softly with jazz music.

Then Winn’s Maybach shot out from a side path, cutting across the road. Tom slammed his brakes, tires screeching against the pavement, the sudden jolt ripping the calm atmosphere apart.

He exhaled slowly.

"Well... it’s show time. Time to put up a stunning performance." he murmured to himself.

He stepped out of the vehicle.

Winn stepped out of the Maybach.

Tom opened his arms. "What’s the meaning of this?"

Winn swished his suit jacket back. The fury propelling him had no grace, just raw, explosive intent. He closed the distance between them and, without a word, without even a breath of hesitation—

His fist connected with Tom’s jaw. Tom’s head snapped to the side, the sunlight flashing across the spatter of blood that flew from his lip.

Tom staggered just half a step. Before his balance had fully returned, Winn’s second punch landed on the opposite side of his jaw, the impact so brutal Tom’s hand actually flew up instinctively to shield himself.

"My sister!!!" Winn roared. "You used my sister against me?!!! You fucking asshole!!!"

Tom straightened slowly. He cracked his neck to one side with a chilling calmness. Then the other. He wiped the blood off his mouth with the back of his hand, looking more inconvenienced than injured.

"Let me guess," Tom drawled. "She sold you the story that made me the bad guy?"

"She didn’t need to sell me nothing. You... you manipulated me for money. It doesn’t shock me. I expected it. But to use your own daughter—your blood—in such a way...?"

"Fucking hell yes!!! I did it for the money."

Reese blinked. Even for Tom Kane, that admission was brazen.

Tom took a step closer, jabbing a finger at Winn’s chest. "What else would you have me do? You’re a businessman, Winn. A damn good one. Do you have any idea how many lines you’ve crossed just to get ahead?"

"You married a woman you barely knew! For money! Winn. So don’t stand there and act all high and mighty."

How dare Tom weaponize it? How dare he twist Winn’s own sins to justify his betrayal?

But Tom wasn’t done. The bastard never stopped when there was still flesh to tear.

"So yes—YES—I used Sylvia. I used everything I could. Because in this family? That’s how I survive."

"You’re justifying your madness?" Winn asked. He couldn’t believe he was hearing this. Couldn’t believe this man—this pathetic man—could stand there and try to wrap cruelty in the guise of righteousness.

"I loved your mother in the beginning, but no one told you that. Every step of the way, every single member of the Orchard family made me feel like scum. Because I was nothing. Just an adopted son. The one picked up from the streets by the Kanes and pitied. Your grandfather called me ’the charity case with a dick.’ That was my name in that house."

Winn’s nostrils flared. "I am not going to stand here and listen to your lies! I just—"

"You will listen to me!!!" Tom roared. "You will!! Because no one ever did!" He jabbed a finger at Winn’s chest, his hand shaking with resentment, exhaustion, and a lifetime of inferiority. "Your mother cheated on me and yet I stayed! I fucking stayed!! Yes, for the money!!! Because I wanted to get back at your grandfather. I was never enough for him. Never enough for his precious princess. I wanted it all. I wanted everything he had. Hate me, Winn, it doesn’t change the fact that you would have done exactly what I have done!"

"You think I’m like you?" he asked, stepping closer, invading Tom’s space until their breaths collided. "I’m not you. I could never be you. But I want you to know something. I am coming after every single person that hurt Ivy."

His smile—God, his smile—was wicked. A predator’s promise. A lover’s vow. A king declaring war.

"And if you were one of them..." He tilted his head, letting the silence stretch, letting the fear bloom in Tom’s eyes.

"I am going to enjoy killing you, Dad."

He said it calmly.

"I had nothing to do with that. But did you ask your sister?" Tom said.

"She has no reason to hurt Ivy," Winn spat, jaw set. "Sylvia doesn’t have that kind of cruelty in her. Not even in her worst moment."

Tom raised a brow, scoffing. "Really? Same way she didn’t have any reason to kill Diane?"

"What...what are you talking about? Diane died in an accident."

Tom exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Your sister came to me. She needed help getting Joey back. I promised her I would. She is my daughter after all. I’d do anything for her. But she couldn’t wait for my way." He tapped his temple. "She had someone tamper with the brakes of Diane’s car. She needed to talk to someone after what she did, so she came to me. Needed to get it off her chest." He shrugged. "I am not an angel, Winn, but none of us are. I just want my family back. I want you, Sylvia, your mother..."