Chapter 67: I Want To Possess You

Natalie gulped, pulling her hand away from Justin’s hold and quickly averting her gaze.

Puzzled and feeling her heart race, she stood up abruptly. "Thank you... I’m fine now. You can leave."

But Justin didn’t move. Instead, he asked, "What excuse did you give to Mr. Ford for my absence tonight?"

"I didn’t have to. Grandpa didn’t come home tonight either," she replied, trying not to meet his gaze.

"You’re alone?" His voice held a note of surprise as he stood up, his eyes now focused intently on her.

She turned to face him, raising an eyebrow. "Do you see anyone else around me?"

"Good. So you took my warning from previous night seriously," Justin replied, his tone calm yet loaded with meaning.

Natalie’s irritation flared. "What do you mean? Do you think I brought random men home but because of your warning I didn’t bring any?"

Justin’s expression didn’t change as he countered, "Who was the one to claim last night about having been with many men?"

Her anger spiked as she glared angrily into his calm eyes. "Listen, Justin Harper, this is my home, and I can bring I want into it. You don’t have the right to control my life, not even if I decided to bring someone home and take them to my bed..."

"You dare?" Justin’s gaze turned icy as he took a menacing step toward Natalie, forcing her to step back instinctively. She stumbled against the center table behind her, but before she could lose her balance, Justin’s arm swiftly wrapped around her waist, pulling her firmly into him.

Her body collided with his, and she grasped at his shirt to steady herself. The sudden proximity sent a wave of heat through her, and she was about to step back, but his strong arm kept her in place, locking her against him.

She knitted her brows, "You..."

"Dare repeat what you said just now?" his dark gaze full of danger, his tone laces with warning, his hold around her tightening, as if anymore force and she would wince in pain.

She felt a shiver ran through her spine under his intense gaze, her breath hitched, her heart almost stopped beating, making her nervous like she never felt before. She had come across many dangerous men, but this one looked like a devil himself. Every bit of his existence felt powerful and stronger than she had ever come across.

She could barely think, her hands still resting awkwardly on his chest as she whispered, feeling helpless against him, "Why are you acting like this?"

"I’m not sure either," he murmured, his deep, husky voice sending ripples through her already frayed nerves. His gaze never left her face, intense and unyielding. "All I know is that I want to control you, dominate you... even possess you, Natalie."

’What is he talking about?’ Her unstable heart felt like it would jump out of her chest any moment if this man continued this way, and at this hour of the night.

She shook her head, "Mr Harper," she changed the way of calling him, trying to create distance but...

"Justin," he corrected her, and released her from his hold, realizing things were going the wrong way that he might regret. Clearly knowing, he should not be this way with Natalie, but it was impossible to stop himself, making him forget all his reasons.

Natalie exhaled slowly, trying to regain her composure. "It’s late. You should head back and rest."

"You are right. It’s late, I shall sleep early," he said and walked towards the bedroom.

Natalie blinked in confusion.

She quickly followed after him. "Grandpa’s not home, so you don’t have to stay. We don’t have to pretend anymore."

"Driving back to the hotel at this hour is indeed troublesome," he entered the bedroom, "and why should I trouble myself when I had spent quite a good amount of money to have a comfortable sleeping arrangement here itself?"

Natalie’s eyes widened as realization struck.

She hurried after him, standing in front of him to block his way to the bed.

"Mr. Harp—"

"Justin," he corrected her again, not missing a beat.

"Fine, Justin’s expression remained impassive as he replied, "I don’t mind. But if an untouched maiden, find it uncomfortable, you’re free to sleep somewhere else."

"Last night I told you I am no untouched maiden. I..." she swallowed her words back as she saw his gaze turning dark once more at what she was going to say. "Never mind."

With a smirk, he lightly tapped her forehead with his forefinger, gently nudging her aside, and made his way to the bed.

Natalie turned to glare at him as he settled himself comfortably, covering himself with the blanket. "This is room and bed," she stated, trying to assert some control over the situation.

"I disagree with the latter part," he replied coolly, clearly unbothered. "I paid for this bed, so technically it’s mine." He then pulled the blanket up, looking at her lazily. "Turn off the lights when you leave."

Natalie clenched her fists, seething internally.

With a burst of defiance, she marched to her side of the bed and slid under the blanket, making sure to keep a good distance between them. Her back was turned to him, but she wasn’t finished.

With a sharp tug, she pulled the entire blanket away from Justin’s side, leaving him uncovered.

Justin didn’t react outwardly, but without opening his eyes, he calmly pulled the blanket back over himself.

Natalie frowned, her annoyance deepening.

she thought, and pulled the blanket again, rolling herself up in it like a cocoon so that Justin wouldn’t be able to tug it away again.

’Such a child!’ Justin scoffed inwardly, enjoying this small fight with her.

He gave the blanket another pull, but this time it didn’t budge. Smirking to himself, he used more force, and before Natalie could react, she found herself rolling toward him, cocooned in the blanket and unable to move.

"You..." she glared up at him, tangled in the fabric, utterly frustrated.

Justin finally turned toward her, their faces just inches apart. "You keep this up, and we might end up sleeping like this."

His face was so close, that she could feel his warm minty breath fanning against her cheek. Flustered, she tried to move back but even her hands were restricted inside the blanket cocoon.

Justine sat up in bed, freed her from the wrapped blanket, and he watched her quickly moving to her side of the bed, feeling all embarrassed.

"Good night," he said before she ended up pulling out another stunt and making it difficult for him to sleep.

Natalie, still blushing from the closeness, immediately closed her eyes and turned her back to him again, silently fuming but too flustered to continue the blanket war.

Justin chuckled softly and lay in the bed as he covered both of them in that blanket. This time, Natalie didn’t try to pull it, but preferred to sleep like a log.