One Night Mistake… Now I Carry the Mafia Heir

Chapter 55: 55/The Forbidden Touch

Chapter 55

Alexander’s Point of View

I lay down beside her, and I could feel her labored breathing against my curved back. I couldn’t restrain my desire to protect her, so I slowly extended my arm and wrapped it around her slender waist, pulling her trembling body to press against my chest. I wanted to envelop her with my entire being, far away from everything that had happened downstairs.

Suddenly, she jolted as if I had touched glowing embers. She turned toward me with eyes sparking with rage, her entire body shaking violently like a trapped bird. "What are you doing?" she screamed in a sharp voice.

I fixed my gaze on her eyes, trying to maintain my composure despite the storm brewing inside me. "I am holding you," I said in a low voice.

She clutched the covers to her chest with trembling hands, exhaling in annoyance as she pushed against my chest with her small hands. "Who gave you permission to do that?"

"I am your husband, Stephanie, and this is our bed," I said in a calm tone, trying to absorb her obvious anger. "Where else do you want me to go?"

She looked at me with eyes burning with defiance, her chest heaving with rapid breaths. "We agreed that this marriage is just paper, Alex!" she said sharply. "Your presence in the room is one thing, but touching me is something else entirely. Don’t think your care from a moment ago will erase what you’ve done."

Her features were tense; every cell in her body expressed her absolute rejection of my presence, especially due to the misunderstanding involving Valentina. I tried to move closer, but she retreated as if my touch caused her physical pain. "I’m forbidden from touching you?" I asked, trying to process the situation.

"Exactly," she replied coldly, pointing her index finger at me, her hand trembling slightly from the intensity of her emotion. "Now, get out of this bed."

My eyes widened in shock. I felt a stillness course through my body from the impact of her request. "What?" I asked, my voice not devoid of shock.

Her features didn’t soften; instead, they grew harsher as she moved to the very edge of the bed, as if drawing an invisible boundary between us. "Get up from here. I don’t want you sleeping next to me... we will never share this bed, Alexander."

I remained in place for seconds, looking at her in disbelief, trying to read her features which showed nothing but bitter determination. Had things truly reached this point between us? "Where will I sleep?" I asked, my voice choked with frustration.

She gestured with her head toward the corner of the room without looking at me. "On the sofa," she said coldly.

My shoulders stiffened, and I felt a bitterness in my throat. "Seriously, Steph? On the sofa?" I asked, trying to confirm she meant what she said.

She sprang to her feet, her body as tense as a violin string about to snap. "If you don’t go, I will," she said in a final tone.

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to control my nerves, then exhaled slowly as I pulled the covers back and stood up with a heavy body, realizing that any argument now would only widen the gap between us. "I’ll go," I said curtly, heading toward the sofa.

I got out of bed with a rigid body, dragging my pillow behind me like I was dragging my disappointment. I walked toward the sofa with heavy steps, feeling a tightness in my chest as I looked at that bed large enough for two elephants yet she wouldn’t leave me a single spot.

Before I lay down, I turned to her and found her following my movements with wary eyes.

"Are you comfortable now?" I asked with a mixture of irony and pain.

"Very," she replied with cutting coldness.

I exhaled in annoyance and lay down on the hard sofa, which showed no mercy to my height. "Steph," I called out softly in the silence of the room.

"Yes," her whisper came back, barely audible.

"Are you alright now?" I asked, my eyes fixed on the ceiling. "I mean... are you breathing more easily?"

"Yes," she answered quietly.

"If you feel anything or if anything hurts you... tell me," I added in a commanding yet tender tone.

"Fine," she said briefly.

I sank into thought, staring into the void. How would I convince her that I never harbored any feelings for her sister? My memory drifted back six years... to that suffocating office.

Valentina had walked in, her brown hair flowing and her brown eyes wide. "Hello, Professor Thorne," she said flirtatiously.

"Hello," I said stolidly, not raising my eyes from my papers. "How can I help you?"

"I wanted to ask you something," she said.

"Yes, go ahead," I replied briefly.

Suddenly, I heard the click of the key turning in the door. I raised my head sharply. "What are you doing?" I asked in condemnation.

She didn’t answer. Instead, she approached boldly and placed her hands on my desk, leaning her body toward me. "I like you very much... are you seeing anyone?"

I leaned back in my chair, interlacing my fingers coldly, despite my shock at her insolence as a student. "I will consider myself as having not heard that. Leave my office."

She didn’t budge. I caught a glint of defiance in her eyes. "Mmm... hard to get. Do I have to follow another method?"

In a sudden movement, she began unbuttoning her shirt quickly until her chest was completely exposed. I remained in my place, my body as solid as marble; not even an eyelid flickered. "Do you like what you see?" she asked arrogantly.

"No," I said in an icy tone.

Her features changed instantly. "Admit it! I know you like it!" she screamed sharply.

"I told you no," I answered in a voice that was both calm and terrifying. "Now, close your shirt and get out."

She slammed her hand on the desk so hard the pens rattled. "I won’t leave!" she shouted, then leaned over me, trying to snatch a kiss.

I raised a single hand as an impenetrable barrier, stopping her movement completely. I stood to my full height. "I will give you one chance," I said sternly. "Either you leave this room, or I take you to the administration in this state."

I pointed to her exposed chest. "Close your shirt. Now!"

She suddenly grabbed my hand and placed it on her body. I pulled it away instantly as if I had touched burning coals. "I’m taking you to the administration now!"

Only then did panic seize her. Her hands began to tremble as she clumsily re-buttoned her shirt. "I’m leaving."

After she left, I sat trying to regain my balance, but my thoughts weren’t on Valentina. They were on that gentle girl, Stephanie, who had turned my world upside down with her quiet presence. I remembered just two days ago... how I had lost control and slapped her backside when I found her drawing me. I felt a heat course through my body just at the memory; I had wanted more than that. I had wanted to breathe in her scent and kiss her until she lost consciousness in my arms, but I had restrained my beast and let her go.

The sound of a soft moan from the bed brought me back to reality. I stood up from the sofa in the blink of an eye and headed toward her. She was deep in sleep, her red hair scattered like threads of fiery silk over the pillow, her features as peaceful as an angel’s.

I leaned over her slowly, gently pulling the cover to blanket her small body.

Then, I whispered directly in front of her face with a voice full of promise:

"I will protect you, Stephanie... always."

[Shawnnie I want to thank you for your wonderful support and your beautiful gift. Thank you so much. Rockst3ady thank you for your golden ticket.

I will publish another bonus Chapter to thank you for your wonderful support. I love you. ]