His Possessive Claim — Sinful Nights with Him.

Seraphina

I slipped into Jax's apartment using the spare key he had given me months ago. My heart was fluttering with a mix of nervous excitement and hope. Today marked my twenty-first birthday. I had planned every single detail for weeks. After he took my virginity last month, the experience had been painful and left me crying in his arms. Tonight I was determined to make it right for both of us.

Under my white silk blouse and flowing skirt, I wore delicate black lace lingerie that hugged my curves perfectly. The fabric felt sensual against my skin.

As I stepped further inside, soft breathy moans reached my ears from the living room. They sounded low and intimate. I smiled to myself. Perhaps he was watching something to build anticipation for our night together. I moved closer on quiet tiptoes.

"Jax? Baby, it is me. I am here now. Did you forget to wish me a happy birthday?" I called out gently.

The moans grew louder and more intense. They mixed with the unmistakable sound of skin slapping against skin and heavy breathing. A strange unease settled in my stomach. I pushed the living room door open fully.

The sight before me stopped me cold.

Jax was thrusting hard into a woman on the couch. He gripped her hips tightly and drove into her from behind with powerful strokes. 

Her back arched deeply as her body jolted forward with each impact. His balls slapped against her with wet rhythmic sounds. Sweat glistened across his back and shoulders.

For a long moment I could not move or speak. Shock rooted me in place. The air felt thick with the scent of sex and betrayal.

Then the woman threw her head back in ecstasy. Her long hair swung aside and revealed her face. It was Mara. The same girl Jax had introduced as his cousin several months earlier.

Betrayal crashed over me like a wave. Everything inside my chest shattered at once.

"Jax?" My voice came out as a broken whisper at first. Then it rose. "Jax! What the hell is this?"

They didn't stop immediately. He slammed into her one final time with a deep groan before pulling out. The wet sound of separation turned my stomach. His cock stood hard and glistening in the light.

Mara glanced over her shoulder. Her face was flushed with pleasure and her lips were swollen. Instead of shame, she looked merely irritated at the interruption.

"Seraphina," Jax panted. He made no real effort to cover himself. "You are early."

Early. On my birthday. The words cut deep.

I had arrived full of hope wearing this special lingerie beneath my clothes. Now here he was buried inside another woman. And not just any woman. Mara.

She sat up slowly without bothering to cover her naked body. A smirk played across her face. "So this is the famous ice queen girlfriend? Wow, Jax. You were not exaggerating. No wonder you keep running back to me. She probably just lies there like a dead fish the whole time."

Jax let out a low chuckle. He wiped sweat from his forehead and stepped into his boxers with lazy movements. "Don't be so dramatic, Seraphina. Mara has been there for me when you could not handle a real man. You always complained that it hurt too much. You were always so cold and closed off. What exactly did you expect from me?"

The humiliation burned through me hotter than the heartbreak. My throat tightened painfully and tears stung at the corners of my eyes. I had trusted him completely. He had been my first everything. I had overlooked the late night texts and the way Mara always lingered too close. I had believed his excuses.

Mara laughed softly and ran a possessive hand down his chest. "Happy birthday, ice girl. If you want some real tips, you should watch and learn how a real woman takes it properly."

Their combined laughter echoed in my ears. It sounded cruel and united against me. Anger flared inside the pain but shame quickly drowned it out. I felt small and foolish standing there in my birthday outfit. The lace that was supposed to make me feel sexy now felt ridiculous and desperate against my skin.

I turned away quickly and stormed out of the apartment. I slammed the door behind me so hard that the walls seemed to rattle. In the hallway I leaned against the cool surface and gasped through quiet sobs. Tears spilled freely down my cheeks now. My heart felt broken into sharp pieces that stabbed with every breath.

How had I been so blind? All the signs had been there. The way she laughed at his jokes. The brushes of her hand against him. The excuses he gave whenever I expressed doubt.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out with shaking fingers.

It was a message from Mom. "Seraphina, come straight to the new mansion. It is your birthday and the perfect night for the housewarming party. Love you so much. Don't be late."

I wiped my face roughly and made my way to my car. I drove through the city streets on autopilot. The bright lights blurred together through my fresh tears. The ache in my chest felt heavy and constant. Part of me wanted to curl up somewhere and disappear. Another part pushed me forward toward the only family I had left.

—

The mansion appeared at the end of a long elegant driveway. It looked like something from a dream with its grand architecture and warm glowing windows. Luxury cars lined the entrance. 

This was my mother's new life with her billionaire fiancé. They had spared no expense for this home opening event.

"Seraphina!" Mom called out when she spotted me near the grand staircase. She rushed over and pulled me into a warm tight hug. Her diamonds sparkled brightly under the crystal chandeliers. 

Her familiar perfume wrapped around me like a comforting blanket. "Happy birthday, darling. You made it a bit early but that is perfect. The party is already in full swing. You look a little flushed though. Go freshen up first. Your room is the third door on the left upstairs. Take a shower and change into something nice. We will introduce you to everyone properly once you are ready."

"Okay, Mom," I whispered. I forced a small smile onto my face. She did not seem to notice the redness around my eyes or the way my shoulders remained slumped with exhaustion.

I climbed the wide staircase. My legs felt heavy with the weight of the evening so far. 

The upstairs hallway was busy with guests but I found the correct door. I slipped inside and closed it softly behind me. The room was spacious and beautifully decorated. Steam already seeped out from beneath the bathroom door.

 I needed to wash away the memory of Jax and Mara's cruelty. 

I walked to the bathroom and pushed the door open without thinking.

Thick warm steam rolled out immediately and enveloped me completely. It caused my breath to catch in my throat. Through the mist I saw him. The tall, muscular silhouette stood under the cascading water,  his broad back facing me as droplets traced down his powerful frame.