ONE NIGHT STAND WITH HOT DUKE-Chapter 76: What you and I like

The question hung in the air.

Demian didn’t answer.

Valerie let out a slow breath, as if she had to pull each word from deep within her chest.

"You told me to stay silent," she continued. "You told me to keep my distance from Ivanka. You told me not to be bold, not to react, not to show anything."

She met Demian’s eyes, no hesitation left in her gaze.

"And now you say I don’t know anything when you’re the one who made sure I was never told."

Her voice didn’t rise. She wasn’t accusing. And that was precisely what made her words cut deeper.

Demian took a step closer.

"You’re by my side," he said. "That should be enough."

Valerie gave a faint smile, a weary one.

"Enough for you," she murmured. "Not for me."

Demian fell silent again.

For a moment, he looked as if he were about to say something perhaps a defense, perhaps an order but the words never came.

Valerie straightened, pushing slightly against the door behind her, creating a bit of space between them a breath of air.

"I’m not pretending to understand your feelings," she said softly but firmly. "I’m only reacting to what you’ve shown me."

She looked at Demian one last time before turning her gaze away.

"And what you’ve shown me all this time... is not something that makes me feel safe enough to smile."

Demian’s stare was sharp and full of demand. Without a word, he pulled Valerie into his arms, shoving her back against the wall like the whole world belonged to him.

His lips crashed down onto her neck, kissing and biting hard enough to leave bright red marks. Valerie stayed still, letting it happen, but her eyes darted up at Demian clearly frustrated, not frightened.

"Don’t just stand there, Val. You know this is what I want," Demian growled, his hand gripping her waist tightly, making her breath catch. Valerie let out a quiet sigh, swallowing her anger.

In her head, Valerie cursed, ’Damn it, always has to get his way...’ But she kept her lips sealed, not wanting to make things worse.

Demian only got rougher. He grabbed one of Valerie’s legs and hooked it around his hip, forcing their bodies even closer. "You’re only good when you’re put in your place controlled and conquered."

Valerie turned her head with a sulky pout. "Just get it over with. I’m tired of standing like this," she muttered, her tone flat and half-hearted, but never crossing the line.

A smirk curled on Demian’s lips, pleased by her weary tone. He tore Valerie’s dress aside with no hesitation, exposing her half-naked body to his hungry gaze. "Don’t pretend you don’t like it. Your body’s telling me something else."

Valerie just rolled her eyes in exasperation and embarrassment, but stayed quiet, letting Demian do whatever he wanted. Her body responded, even if her mind was cursing him out.

Without warning, Demian thrust himself inside her, rough and relentless. Valerie bit her lip, fighting back the moan threatening to escape, exhaling sharply instead.

Inside, she was swearing at Demian over and over, but her mouth barely trembled.

Demian kept going, his breath hot against her ear. "You’re all mine tonight. Don’t even think about talking back to me, Val."

Valerie half-closed her eyes, trying to hold everything in anger, humiliation, unwanted pleasure all tangled together.

’Asshole, always thinks he’s right,’ she fumed inwardly. But her body stayed obedient under Demian’s ever more demanding touch.

But Demian wasn’t finished. With his grip still iron-strong on her wrist, he yanked Valerie away from the wall, dragging her across the room.

She tried to keep her balance in awkward, stumbling steps, biting down her irritation as Demian all but threw her onto the plush sofa.

He loomed over her, eyes dark with hunger. "Don’t even think about moving," he snapped, his voice low and commanding.

Valerie rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, "As if I could go anywhere with you glued to me like this." Still, she stayed where he put her, letting Demian push her back into the cushions, legs spread as wide as he wanted.

Demian tore off whatever fabric still clung to her body, leaving her completely exposed beneath him.

His hands were everywhere rough, greedy, and insistent kneading her breasts, squeezing her thighs, not caring in the slightest for her comfort. Valerie clenched her jaw, suppressing a snarl.

’Why does he always do whatever he wants? Jerk,’ she thought, but her body responded helplessly to his every touch.

He slid between her legs without hesitation, driving into her with the same brutal intensity as before.

The sofa rocked beneath them, Demian’s pace unrelenting, his grip bruising on Valerie’s hips. Her head lolled back against the armrest, a reluctant moan escaping her lips despite her best efforts to stay silent.

Demian bent low, his breath hot and heavy at her ear. "That’s right. Take it. You belong here, under me," he growled.

Valerie squeezed her eyes shut, letting out a shaky sigh. ’As if I have a choice... Always about him, never about me,’ she fumed inwardly.

But she didn’t push him away or protest she let him use her as he pleased, body pliant, mind caught between anger and an involuntary, burning pleasure.

He fucked her hard, over and over, filling the room with the sound of skin slapping and ragged breaths. For Demian, it was a display of dominance; for Valerie, a frustrating surrender her body betraying every ounce of resentment simmering inside.

At first, Valerie just lay there, biting back curses, passive and seething, letting Demian do whatever he wanted.

But something snapped inside her a surge of heat and defiance twisted up with her arousal. Her eyes suddenly blazed, and a wicked grin curved her lips.

Without warning, she grabbed Demian by the hair and yanked his head back, mashing her lips to his in a savage kiss.

"Is this all you’ve got, Demian? I thought you were supposed to be rough," she hissed, her breath hot against his ear.

Demian’s eyes lit up, thrilled by her sudden ferocity. "There you are... I knew you had it in you," he growled, delighted.

Valerie flipped onto her knees on the sofa, arching her back and jerking Demian’s hips closer. Her nails raked down his back and chest, leaving streaks of red across his skin.

"Come on, show me you can handle me! Don’t wimp out now,"