Chapter 319

Nathaniel's hand shot out, one palm slamming against the dashboard while the other gripped Evelyn's headrest.

Before she could react, his lips crashed onto hers.

The first touch was deceptively gentle—so featherlight it startled Evelyn. Then the dam broke. His tongue invaded her mouth with desperate urgency.

Evelyn gasped against his lips, shoving at his chest. She barely managed one ragged breath before he claimed her mouth again, harder this time.

"Mr. Grayson, you—mmph!"

Her protest was swallowed by another bruising kiss.

"Stop—get off—"

His fingers tangled in her hair, holding her immobile. He drank from her lips like a man starved, determined to brand this moment into memory.

To Evelyn, this wasn't passion—it was punishment. Spots danced behind her eyelids as oxygen deprivation set in. One more second and she'd pass out.

Mercifully, Nathaniel released her just before that threshold.

"You bastard!" Evelyn wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, chest heaving.

Nathaniel caught her chin, tilting her face to admire his handiwork—her swollen, cherry-red lips. "Between us, darling, you're the bigger bastard here."

Evelyn knocked his hand away. "Explain how."

"Do I need to?" His thumb traced her jawline. Uncharacteristic bitterness darkened his usually composed gaze. "What kind of wife hands her husband to another woman? Even saints aren't that selfless. Tell me, Evelyn—doesn't abandoning me after playing with my feelings make you the villain here?"

'Playing with his feelings? Ridiculous!' The audacity made her blood boil. Though part of her understood—Nathaniel was a man, after all. Maybe one night had sparked unexpected attachment.

But that was just speculation. His true motives remained opaque.

"Listen carefully, Mr. Grayson. One night doesn't give you rights over me. That was an accident—nothing more. If you ever pull this again—"

"Or what?" He arched an eyebrow at her furious expression.

"I'll have you arrested for sexual assault."

Nathaniel threw back his head and laughed—a rich, mocking sound that abruptly cut off as he pinned her with a predatory stare. "Let me make something clear, Evelyn Whitmore. One time was never going to be enough."

Her nails bit into the leather seats. If not for fearing the drug's aftereffects would destroy him, she'd never have—

"The feeling's mutual. Frankly, you should be grateful I slept with you at all."

He leaned in until his breath ghosted over her earlobe. "What I meant was...I intend to have you many more times."

Evelyn recoiled. 'Disgusting pig!'

"All night long," he murmured, lips brushing her ear. "Until neither of us can move. How does that sound?"

Her stomach clenched. 'How many times does this man think—'

"Stop being vile." She turned her face away. Evelyn would never trust the sweet nothings of a man who'd recently proclaimed undying love to his ex.