Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

How could the man he used to be ever say such things? Ever since they met again, he seemed... different.

He was still as domineering and forceful as before, but now there was something else- something unfamiliar- woven into his demeanor.

Warmth.

Could a man like him even comprehend the meaning of that word? Lost in thought, Irene blinked as Nick lifted a spoon of porridge to her lips. The familiar aroma lingered in the air, stirring a memory she thought she had buried long ago. Did he still remember her preferences? "Open your mouth." His tone was cold, but if she focused, she could catch a faint trace. of something softer underneath.

"Mr. Coleman, people's tastes change. It's been two years, and I-" Before she could finish, Nick ate the porridge himself and leaned forward, his face suddenly too close for comfort.

"What are you-" His lips captured hers in a swift, commanding motion. The warmth of his breath intertwined with the taste of the porridge, stirring something deep inside her.

Damn it. Did he still think she was the woman who let him have his way without question? A chill flickered in Irene's eyes as she shoved him back, her anger simmering beneath the surface.

Nick didn't seem to care. His gaze was calm, almost teasing, as if her resistance amused him.

"I know you didn't have breakfast," he said simply, his voice low and deliberate. "If you won't eat, I'll feed you- one bite at a time. You know I don't bluff." Her cheeks burned with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. His audacity still had the power to disarm her, even now.

The sunlight streaming through the car window landed on his face, softening the sharp edges of his features. For a fleeting moment, he looked almost approachable, even warm. But Irene knew better-he was a man carved from ice, and the warmth was a facade.

Her heartbeat betrayed her, quickening against her will. Damn him-smiling like that. Who was he trying to seduce? If it had been before, she would have laughed and leaned into him without hesitation. She would have let her guard down, drawn in by his charm. But now...

Silently, Irene took the food container from his hands. "Since you're so insistent, do I even have a choice?" Hearing her address him as "Mr. Coleman" again, Nick's gaze darkened. He hated the distance implied in her words, the invisible wall she had built between them.

"Don't callthat," he said sharply.

"Why not? Everyone else calls you Mr. Coleman. What should I call you, then?" Irene's lips curved into a sly smile, her tone light and teasing.

Nick narrowed his eyes. He could see through her act-the carefree, playful mask she wore to keep him from getting too close. He had hurt her too deeply, and this was her shield.

"You know what I want to hear," he said, his voice softer now, almost pleading.

Irene swallowed the porridge, then leaned in close. Her breath brushed against his ear, warm and deliberate. "Does Mr. Coleman wantto call you Nick instead?" Her voice was a teasing purr, but the sound of his non her lips stirred something in him. No matter how cold or mocking her tone, it still hit him like a blade to the heart.

"Don't play games with me, Irene," he warned, though his voice lacked its usual edge. She leaned back, her expression unreadable. On the surface, she appeared confident- charming and untouchable, the woman who now ran her own bar and flirted with strangers as if it were second nature. But Nick knew better.

Since leaving him, she hadn't been with anyone else.

He had been her first-and her only.

Even after their separation, even after the pain he had caused her, she couldn't bring herself to let another man touch her. She had tried to move on, but every time, he had been there-watching, waiting, interfering.

Not that it mattered. Deep down, she knew she wouldn't have gone through with it anyway. Her heart had been his for far too long, and even though she hated him for it, she couldn't let go.

"As if the women around you aren't enough, Mr. Coleman," Irene said suddenly, breaking the silence. She turned her attention back to the food, focusing on each bite as though it might calm the storm inside her.

Nick's jaw tightened. "Irene, since you left, I haven't touched another woman." His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotion. Irene didn't respond. She didn't trust herself to.

Instead, she kept eating, pretending his confession didn't matter. Whether he was telling the truth or not, it was irrelevant. Their thad passed.

The car fell into an uneasy silence. Though they sat side by side, it felt as though an unbridgeable canyon stretched between them.

As the plaza cinto view, Irene's thoughts shifted. She smiled faintly at the thought of Aurora, the young woman she had helped mentor. Aurora had started her own company, creating perfumes from scratch, and Irene couldn't wait to stock up on her products. If you're loving the book, nel5sis where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! For a brief moment, she forgot about the man beside her.

Nick noticed the change in her expression. Even though he knew her smile had nothing to do with him, it still softened something in his chest.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a lipstick-the shade she used to love the most. "Your lipstick's faded," he said quietly.

Irene frowned, pulling out a compact mirror to check. He was right. Between eating and well, him-her lipstick had smeared. She reached into her bag to reapply it. Before she could, Nick caught her wrist. "Let me," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, pulling back slightly. "You've never done this before. Did you practice on someone else?" The thought of him holding another woman's face, of him gently applying lipstick to lips that weren't hers, made her chest tighten. She scolded herself silently-why did it even matter? "For you, I can learn anything," Nick said simply.

The car stopped, and before Irene could respond, he stepped out and walked to her side, opening the door for her.

Irene hesitated, her thoughts still stuck on the image of him with m another woman Without a word, she stepped out of the car and brushed past him, heading toward the plaza without looking back. mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1