Mated to the Mad Lord-Chapter 56: One Kiss

Violet stayed silent even after stepping into the room, lingering close to the door like a shadow. Her wary eyes tracked Cain as he moved toward the topmost drawer in the shelf near his work table, his movements deliberate and precise.

She didn’t need him to beckon her; she was already watching. But when he turned, holding two familiar blue vials in his hand, his gesture inviting her closer, her heart stuttered.

He wasn’t going to hurt her—at least, not now. And yet, the racing in her chest wouldn’t stop, her pulse pounding so loudly she thought he might hear it. She took cautious steps forward, her legs heavy with apprehension as his gaze locked onto her, more intense than it had ever been. That gaze alone made her want to shrink back to the safety of the door.

Still, she moved closer, her hands instinctively reaching as he stretched out the vials. She grabbed them hastily, swallowing their contents with hurried gulps. Relief washed over her as the wounds on her back and arms began to mend, the pain ebbing away until not even the faintest trace of the whipping remained.

"Thank you, Lord Cain," Violet said with a deep bow, her voice tight with both gratitude and nervousness. She stepped back, intending to put as much distance between them as possible, but his voice stopped her in her tracks.

"The fact that I stepped in to save you will make Ravon hate you more," Cain said, his tone neutral but carrying an unmistakable weight.

Violet dipped her head in acknowledgment. "I’ll do my best to stay away from him," she replied quickly.

Cain’s lips curled into a faint, almost humorless smile. He shook his head as he leaned away from the table, taking a measured step toward her. "I mean, there’s no way any of them will believe that you’re not special to me."

The words hung in the air, and Violet’s head snapped up, confusion and wariness flashing across her face. Her heart thumped hard, each beat a warning drum in her chest. She opened her mouth to refute the implication, her voice rising in urgency.

"I’m your personal servant! I’m not special to—"

But she couldn’t finish. Cain took another deliberate step forward, his stride longer this time, closing the gap until he stood mere inches away.

Violet froze, instinctively leaning back, but she had nowhere to retreat as his arms wrapped around her, holding her in place.

"I don’t care that you’re male," Cain said, his hand shooting up to grasp her face firmly, forcing her to look into his piercing gaze.

His voice dropped lower, rougher, as though the words were clawing their way out of him. "I want to—"

Whatever he was about to say, Violet wasn’t going to let him finish. "I like the way you look, Lord Cain, but I would never touch a man!" she interrupted loudly, jerking her face away and looking resolutely at the wall. Her cheeks burned, heat spreading across her skin as her body stiffened in his hold.

She tried to will her limbs to move, to break free from his grip, but her strength was no match for his.

"I’m your servant," she blurted out, her voice rising. "There can be nothing—"

Cain interrupted her just as quickly. "I’m your Lord, am I not?"

The commanding tone in his voice sent a jolt through her, and she turned her face back to him instinctively, meeting his unwavering gaze.

"You can kill me, and I’ll die. Force me, and I’ll just quit," she said firmly, her tone steady despite the erratic thudding of her heart. She wanted to make it clear: being a servant didn’t mean she was a slave.

A sly smile began to creep across Cain’s face, his expression equal parts cool and calculating. His hand slid to her back, his fingers tracing a deliberate path up her spine. The touch sent an electric jolt through her, her entire body going rigid as her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red.

"Or," Cain said, his voice dropping to a dangerous murmur, "I could crush Nathan’s toes first. Then his eyes. Maybe..." He let the sentence hang in the air, the unspoken threat more chilling than the words themselves.

Violet’s breath hitched, and her stomach churned.

"...there’s a lot of things to crush before I’m done," he finished, his tone calm but laced with menace.

Her heart sank at the realization. He was willing to do anything to get what he wanted, and she had no illusions about how far he would go.

"Moreover," he added, his gaze unwavering, "I think I deserve a reward for keeping him alive."

His arms tightened around her, the unspoken message clear—she wasn’t going anywhere.

Violet knew exactly what he wanted, and it made her stomach twist into knots. Yet, the thought of Nathan suffering—of Cain making good on his threat—left her feeling trapped.

For several seconds, Cain said nothing, his golden-brown eyes locked on hers as if daring her to defy him. Then, with a slight shrug, he released her.

"I’ve never forced anyone to sleep with me before," he said coolly, turning and walking toward the door. But as he reached for the handle, Violet caught a glimpse of something in his eyes—a glint of cruelty that sent a shiver down her spine.

She couldn’t let him leave. Not if it meant Nathan’s survival hung in the balance.

Before she could second-guess herself, she dashed forward, her trembling hands grabbing the sleeve of his shirt just as he was about to pull open the door.

Cain’s head jerked back, his gaze landing on her in surprise. Violet’s face flushed with heat as she raised herself onto her tiptoes, gripping his shirt tightly to pull him down toward her.

His golden-brown eyes bore into hers, his arms wrapping back around her waist almost instinctively. He waited, his expression unreadable, as though daring her to take the next step.

Her hands trembled as she swallowed hard, shutting her eyes tightly before leaning in. The moment her lips met his, her mind went blank, jarred by the softness of the kiss.

Her heart hammered in her chest, her hands clutching his shirt as though it were the only thing keeping her grounded.

She pulled away slightly, her lips barely an inch from his, but he moved before she could retreat further. Cain’s lips pressed firmly against hers, pulling her closer.

The intensity of the kiss stole her breath, the warmth of his body, the press of his lips, the scent of him—all of it overwhelming her senses. Her mind screamed at her to stop, but her body betrayed her, melting into his embrace.

Her heart raced faster, each beat pounding a chaotic rhythm in her ears. For a moment, she was lost—lost in a sensation she hadn’t prepared for, one she didn’t know how to fight.