HIS DOE HIS DAMNATION (by Vivienne) novel Chapter 5

Meadow’s POV:

My breath stuttered. “What?” I started pulling my hand away again but he had a firm grip on my wrist, so I couldn’t move.

I wasn’t even sure I wanted to.

“Don’t.” His voice was low. “I want to feel you.”

I swallowed, eyes dropping to where my palm rested against his chest. He felt warm, his muscles tensing under my touch as he let out a sharp breath.

He let go of my wrist. And any normal person would immediately snatch their hand away and run for their lives.

But I never said I was normal. My mind was hazy, and it kept screaming at me, telling me that this man was dangerous, but I didn’t listen.

Because right now, at this point—I liked the thought of danger.

“Why are you doing this?” I found myself asking, my voice barely above a whisper. “You say you know everything about your employees, but no boss would be that crazy to memorize every single face their employees have come in contact with.”

When he didn’t respond, I continued. “Somehow, you know that I have a sister, and you know that Tyler was with her. How?”

He didn’t speak. Didn’t even move.

So I kept going.

My fingers moved slowly, tracing small, unsure circles on his chest. I was pushing my luck, but I didn’t care.

The alcohol in my system softened everything. My fear, my self-control, my restraint.

I caught the edge of a tattoo peeking out from under the left collar of his shirt. Black ink, sharp lines that were connected—maybe—to the tattoo on his wrist that I’d caught a glimpse of earlier.

I wanted to see it.

God, I wanted to know it.

Every brush of my fingers over Alaric’s chest made his eyes darken, his muscles tense. Like he was trying so hard not to touch me back.

He wanted me.

No, not just that—he looked at me like he wanted to own me.

“Is that really what you want to know, Meadow?”

My eyes fluttered at the way he said my name. Soft, but with an edge. Commanding, sort of. I had a feeling that if he told me to sit my ass down, I would without hesitation.

My mouth went dry and I swallowed, deciding to answer honestly. “No,” I whispered, shaking my head.

Because truly, I didn’t want to know. I had no idea why, but somewhere in the middle of all this chaos, I’d realized something.

I wanted him too.

Not because he was beautiful. Not because he was rich. Not even because he was Tyler’s boss.

But because for the first time in my life, someone was paying attention.

Not to Juniper.

To me.

Pathetic. I know.

I pulled my hand away, heaving a sigh. “I don’t know why I’m being like this. I don’t even know you.”

His gaze locked on mine. “But you want to.”

I hated how right he was.

I shrugged. “I’m not in the right state of mind right now, Alaric.” I let out a bitter laugh, feeling my emotions overwhelm me as my eyes welled up with tears. “I was played.”

I didn’t know why I was telling him, but I couldn’t stop talking.

“Tyler, my sister… they played me for years and I hadn’t even realized it. I was so stupid. I thought…I thought he loved me.”

It took everything in me not to cry in front of this stranger, but the moment he pulled me into his chest, I froze.

“Don’t hold back,” his voice was deep and raspy as he spoke into my hair. “Let it out.”

I didn’t mean too. Sure as hell didn’t want to.

But I broke.

One second, I was blinking back the tears, and the next, I was crying into his chest, fists clutching the fabric of his shirt, body trembling like I’d finally been given permission to fall apart.

Alaric’s hand slid up and down my spine in slow circles. Comforting me.

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