The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride novel Chapter 2002

Cicely's eyelids fluttered twice, betraying her effort to seem indifferent. "Or what?"

Seth's gaze drifted to her lips, "I think I made a mistake."

Cicely furrowed her brows in confusion.

"I shouldn't have just thought about keeping you like some naive doll, hidden away. You need to see the harsh realities of the world to understand the dangers that exist."

Cicely was no fool; she could see through some people and situations better than they could ever imagine. She always maintained a sense of vigilance, aware of potential threats at any given moment. "There's no need, I'm well aware."

"Are you?"d2

As he spoke, Cicely suddenly gasped, her eyes darting towards Seth in a slight panic. His hand had stealthily slipped under the covers, his intentions crystal clear. She instinctively recoiled.

"You not gonna let me touch you?"

"You are you serious?"

She was convinced he wouldn't really sleep with her now.

"Isn't your idea of 'impropriety' a bit naive?"

Cicely bit her lip, her beautiful eyes filled with timidness, "I've heard it hurts, and I'm afraid of the pain."

"So you're planning to spend your life just letting me look and touch?"

Cicely's eyes darted about, and before she could utter a word, Seth leaned in closer, his presence enveloping her. "Don’t you want to have kids? Just looking and touching won't make that happen."

Her grip on the covers relaxed slightly, and the tension in her body eased. Seth's lips curled into a satisfied smirk.

"Seth." Cicely suddenly spoke up, "You're raping me, aren't you?"

Seth's expression darkened instantly, "You're saying what?"

Cicely repeated, "Raping."

"Cicely." The hand under the covers suddenly grasped her leg, his voice deep and icy, "What do you think the purpose of that marriage certificate you're holding is?"

"To legally live together."

"That includes legally having sex with you."

Seth's words were ground out through clenched teeth, each syllable as if chewed up and spit out. His frankness was unexpected, almost shocking, but it was precisely this rawness that made it all the more enticing.

Cicely had likely angered him; his words hit her like a physical force, stealing her breath away. Before, she might not have thought much about it, but the topic that just irked him was a sensitive one, and she felt a surge of nervousness.

Cicely was fresh from a bath, her skin soft and scented.

"Why?" he asked as he pulled her into his embrace.

Cicely wrapped her arms around his shoulders, shaking her head, "I don't know. Do you know how much I love you?"

"How much?" Seth inquired.

Cicely tilted her head, giving the same answer, "I don't know."

Seth looked up at her, "You don't know why you love me, and you don't know how much?"

She nodded, "Yeah. I don't know. If I did, maybe one day I could avoid loving you so much."

Seth paused for a moment, "Even if you knew, it's too late."

He pressed her back down into the bedding.

One of the reasons they didn't live together and he refrained from getting physically close to her was because of her young age. He also considered the possibility that she might regret and want to exit the marriage at any time, but he had never truly hoped for such a day.

As he struggled internally, he gave her enough time. Now, her words suddenly reminded him that he couldn't allow it. She might not love him as much as she did now, and she might truly disappear from his life.

He wouldn't permit such a thought, not even for a second. So he decided he wouldn't leave her that option anymore.