Twenty Nine

One Question

smut warning

  By the time Rosie got home from her part-time job at the Muggle bookstore, she was eager to see Tom again. Two years they had been together, and for one and a half of those years, they had been living a somewhat normal life—a life of simple happiness.

  She checked the apartment's mailbox, flicking through their bills and other letters she'd sort out later when she stumbled across an envelope from Lillian Lestrange. Her and William's address was plastered on the back. William's parents had recently passed away, leaving their mansion to William and his new wife, Lily.

  A part of Rosie felt a twinge of jealousy. It wasn't their vast wealth she envied—she was more than content with the small apartment on the outskirts of London that she shared with Tom. It was the last name they shared, the understanding and bond between Lily and William, that Rosie longed for her and Tom to share.

  She tore open the letter, reading its contents as she unlocked the door to the apartment and set her bag on the table. Letting her hair fall out of its loose bun and over her shoulders, she chuckled at a few funny remarks Lily had made about William being so busy with everything Tom was making him do. Lily wished William could be home more, and Rosie shared the same concern about Tom.

  Rosie placed the letter on the kitchen counter before heading into their bedroom. She searched through her wardrobe and quickly picked out a simple black dress to change into before Tom got home from work. In the bathroom, she leaned over the sink to apply lipstick, touched up her eyelashes, and brushed her hair to remove any knots from the stress of the day.

  The door to the apartment suddenly clicked open, and Rosie barely had time to register Tom's arrival before he called out for her.

  "Rosie?" he called, placing his briefcase on the table next to her bag. He traced her footsteps, glancing at the letter from Lily on the counter, scanning it briefly before growing bored with her friend's words. He peered into their room and then into the ensuite, raising an eyebrow upon seeing her.

  "You're early," Rosie remarked, turning to face him.

  "Couldn't wait to get home," Tom replied, his eyes trailing over her. "You look beautiful."

  Rosie smiled, feeling a flush of warmth at his words. "Just trying to make myself presentable for you."

  Tom moved closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. "You always do," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

  Rosie leaned into him, savouring the moment of closeness. "How was work?"

  "Long and tedious, as always," he said with a sigh. "Those people are rather careless in the way they govern us." He held her close to him, the only real light in his life.

  Rosie smiled and touched his face, freshly shaved from the morning before. "You will be a much greater leader, darling. That, I am sure of." 

  Tom smirked, leaning down for their lips to meet, his ears warm and flustered at her term of endearment for him. It felt so good to have his favourite person in the world on his side no matter what.

  He pulled out slowly, trying to savour her taste. "We must be leaving soon. Would you be good and grab a fresh shirt for me, love?" he asked, his voice a low murmur.

  Rosie set down her hairbrush and walked away from his embrace, returning to the bathroom quickly with a dark shirt she had picked for him.

  "I'm going to put my shoes on," she said, trying to keep her voice steady as she handed him the shirt and left the room. She wanted to avoid the inevitable teasing if he caught her blushing at the sight of him changing.

  By the time Tom was dressed, Rosie had slipped into her heels. He held out his arm for her, which she took gladly.

  "Rosie—you don't have to come. Stay here and cook dinner. I won't be too long—a couple of hours at most. I know that sometimes you have certain issues with the work we do."

  Rosie looked at him, sadness in her eyes. It was true. She didn't agree with many of the things Tom did, but her love for him was the only reason she went with him. She knew that being a part of all aspects of his life was necessary to prevent a rift from forming between them.

  She held his hand tightly. "Don't worry about me. I will never love you any less, even if I don't agree with some things you decide to do."

  Tom shook his head, still amazed at how much Rosie had grown into her position by his side over the past few years—how she had become so obedient and accepting of his choices. He had offered her an out, but she wanted to stay with him always.

  "You really are perfect," he muttered, almost to himself, before looking forward and Apparating them both to Malfoy Manor.

  The manor loomed around them, its grandeur a stark contrast to their small apartment. Inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Dark curtains cascaded down the walls, though their position allowed the approaching moonlight to slip through the glass. 

  The room they stood in was eerie, illuminated by floating candles casting flickering shadows on the walls. The long meeting table was surrounded by men and women dressed in dark, somber attire, all of whom held significant importance to Tom and his mission. Rosie swallowed hard. Though she had grown up in similar settings, she had always been an insider, there by virtue of being Grindelwald's daughter. To these people, she appeared as nothing more than Tom's plaything. They looked at her with thinly veiled disgust and dislike, though they would never dare voice such thoughts in front of Tom if they valued their lives.

  Tom released Rosie's hand, guiding her with a firm hand on her back to the other side of the table where a seat was left open for him. As he approached, the subtle smile he usually wore around her faded into a look of cold, calculating malice. He noticed Capella Black, a woman a few years older than him and very loyal to his cause, sitting in the chair closest to him across from Ben. Tom stopped Rosie by gently holding her waist.

  "Move, Black. You know your place isn't there," he sneered. Rosie's heart pounded as the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Even though Tom hadn't spoken to her like that in years, he was absolutely terrifying when he wanted to be.

  Capella stared into Rosie's eyes, her black orbs boring into Rosie's grey ones. The act alone made Rosie feel unworthy to be there. Tom's followers were even worse than her father's. How had he managed to attract such dark, twisted people?

  Tom looked as though he was about to raise his wand when Capella finally stood up, the chair screeching against the hard wooden floor. She walked away to a free seat further down the table, her gaze never leaving Rosie's. Tom's expression softened as he looked at Rosie, holding out his hand to the seat Capella had just vacated.

  Rosie walked around the edge of the table and took her seat. Tom followed and pushed the chair in for her. All eyes were on her, watching like hawks, sensing she was their master's weakness and wanting to eliminate it. Rosie swallowed again and nodded at Tom as he sat down in his own chair, the deafening silence in the room thick like blood.

  "Grindelwald is defeated," Tom began darkly, his tone authoritative and intimidating as he assumed the mantle of the Dark Lord. The room fell silent, a few people nodding in acknowledgment, knowing better than to talk amongst themselves. Rosie watched him, her eyes never leaving his divinely sharp face.

  "This means the Elder Wand is now in the hands of Dumbledore himself, which presents a problem. There is no known way to obtain it from him. I am not a fool—Dumbledore's powers are the only ones in the world to match mine." His eyes flicked to Rosie's for a moment.

  Tom took a breath. "I believe Grindelwald might actually be the answer to retrieving the Elder Wand."

  Capella, emboldened by her earlier defiance, raised her voice. "Rosalie should go ask him, since she shares the same name. It would be fitting," she sneered, clearly trying to provoke Rosie. Rosie stared back at her, noticing Lily sitting next to William. Lily rolled her eyes at Capella's remark before smiling sweetly at Rosie.

  Rosie opened her mouth to protest, but Tom cut in sharply. "No, she won't be doing that."

  Capella's voice dripped with contempt. "She's not much good to us then, is she? A bastard traitor's daughter."

  A few of the men exchanged glances, particularly those who knew Rosie from Hogwarts and understood how much Tom valued her. They knew better than to show disrespect to her in Tom's presence.

  Tom's eyes flashed with anger. "Capella, stop speaking or it will be the last time you do," he threatened, his hand balling into a fist. Under the table, Rosalie gently took his hand, stroking his palm with her thumb, providing silent support. She knew he wouldn't want to appear weak, but she also knew he needed reassurance.

  Tom looked down for a moment, his expression softening as he wrapped his hand around hers without looking at her.

  "We will circle back to this another time- but there are more pressing matters that-"

  Tom continued to speak, and Rosalie's mind faded out of the meeting. she zoned out so far that she wasn't sure at what point she zoned back in to hear the finishing of the meeting, hushed mumbles of people beginning to get out and Apparate away. 

  How long was she away? One hour? Two? She looked down and felt her hand still being held by Tom. She looked up at him, who sat still, looking at her as only a few of the others remained. She could hear Malfoy in the background calling out for tom. 

  "Where did you go?" He asked, noticing how she had only just come back into reality. 

  She blinked at him, letting go of his hand under the table. Had he really held it for that entire time?

  "Nowhere- I was just thinking, sorry."

  He looked at her, wondering if she was telling the truth. He held back his queries and held onto her thigh under the table. 

  "Not a problem. I'm going to have a drink with Malfoy and Lestrange. Do you want to see Lily?" He asked, looking past her to where Lily stood with William and Abraxas, engaged in quiet conversation.

  Rosalie smiled and nodded, appreciating the chance to catch up with her friend. They both stood up, and as they walked towards the others, Tom's hand rested possessively on her waist, a subtle display of his claim.

  William and Malfoy peeled away, drawing Tom into a discussion about a rare bottle of scotch William had acquired. Rosalie watched Tom's eyes light up at the mention of the vintage, a glimpse of his old charm shining through. She couldn't help but smile as he walked away, turning her attention to Lily.

  She quickly pulled her friend into a tight hug, squealing in her ear before stepping back. "It's been too long! The last time I saw you was at the wedding!" She playfully pushed Lily's shoulder, leading her down the hallways into a quieter room of the Malfoy manor.

  Rosalie jumped onto a long sofa while Lily scoured the shelves for a bottle of wine. She grabbed a red Malbec, popping the cork and reaching for glasses that undoubtedly belonged to Malfoy's mother.

  "Hope they don't mind," Lily shrugged, pouring a glass for Rosalie and handing it over before setting the bottle down without pouring one for herself.

  "Capella," Rosalie began, her voice low and frustrated as she took a sip. "She's in love with Tom. I can see it in her eyes. She hates me for being with him. It's vexing." She whined.

  Lillian nodded sympathetically. "I've noticed. It's obvious to everyone but Tom, it seems." She eyed the wine longingly but refrained from pouring herself a glass.

  Rosalie sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I hate it. And I hate the end goal. What Tom is aiming for... it terrifies me sometimes. I spent the entirety of that meeting zoning out. I can't listen to all this talk of torture and killing just for him to get what he wants."

  They shared a moment of silent understanding, the weight of their partners' ambitions pressing down on them. Lillian's eyes softened with concern as she asked, "Do you think you can change his mind? Make his plans less... harsh?"

  Rosalie shook her head slowly. "It's unlikely. Tom is so determined, so set on his path. I've tried talking to him, but there's no point. All I can do is support him and try not to think about it. I love him too much."

  Lily's face filled with guilt as she placed her handbag on the cushion next to her, taking Rosalie's hand. "I know. I'm sorry too."

  Rosalie gave her a comforting smile. "Thank you. It helps to talk about it."

  Lily took a deep breath before speaking again. "I have something to tell you..." She looked down, hesitating. "I'm pregnant."

  Rosalie's eyes widened in surprise and delight. "No way!" She yelled, a smile spreading across her face.

  Lily nodded happily. Rosalie jumped up from the couch and grabbed Lily tightly, spinning her around as she giggled. "Does William know?"

  "I haven't told him yet," Lily admitted, her smile widening.

  "Oh Merlin!" Rosalie exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over. "So that's why you weren't drinking!" She motioned to the wine, understanding dawning on her.

  Lily nodded. "Exactly. On that note, I'm going to ask an elf for some juice or something. I'll only be a minute."

  "Of course," Rosalie replied, still beaming as she made her way back to the couch. She moved Lily's handbag out of the way, noticing it had fallen onto the cushion where she sat. As Lily turned the corner out of the room, Rosalie adjusted her seat, realising she had sat on something.

  Rosalie looked down at the stack of letters, recognising the familiar seal she had seen earlier. She picked up one of the letters and began reading, her eyes widening as she comprehended the contents. They were addressed to Dumbledore, detailing everything about their recent meetings, including Tom's plans and their movements.

  Her heart pounded as she dropped the letter back onto the couch. The betrayal was clear—William and Lily were spying on Tom and relaying information to the Ministry and Dumbledore. A shiver ran down her spine as she grappled with the realisation.

  Lily returned with a glass of juice, her cheerful demeanour fading as she saw Rosalie's expression.

  "What's wrong?" She asked, immediately putting her cup onto the desk behind her, she walked forward to get a better glimpse at what Rosie had been looking at, and her face fell further.

  Rosalie looked up at her friend, not sure if she had the right to feel hurt when Tom had been the one to drag her and William down into the darkness with them- but it was still betrayal nonetheless.

  "Rose, please, let me explain. We're trying to find a way out, to keep our families safe. Even you don't agree with Tom's methods—"

  "But I'm not trying to... destroy his life! Dumbledore will kill him!" Rosalie stood up, her heart racing at the thought of what could happen if Lily continued with these messages. Panic surged through her veins as she tried to comprehend the betrayal.

  "Is William in on it too?" Rosie demanded, looking Lily straight in the eyes. Lily hesitated, her face a mask of fear. She took a step back, unable to meet Rosalie's gaze.

  "Is he!?" Rosie repeated, her voice rising in desperation.

  "Yes. Yes, of course he is," Lily admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Rosie looked at the wall, her mind spinning. She held her hand to her mouth and closed her eyes, struggling to process the situation. What was she meant to do? Betray her best friend or betray the love of her life?

  "Tom will kill him. He will kill you as well—you know that, right?" Rosalie's voice was barely steady as she voiced the terrifying truth.

  Lily looked at her, eyes wide with fear. "Not if you don't tell him."

  Rosalie shook her head, her body trembling. "You cannot ask me to do that."

  Years of friendship hung in the balance as Lily asked her to betray the one person she loved most in this world for the sake of Lily and William, for the sake of their future child.

  "Shit," Rosalie muttered, unable to look Lily in the eyes.

  Rosalie's mind raced, the gravity of the situation pressing down on her. She looked at Lily, her voice trembling with confusion and hurt. "Are you betraying Tom to save us all, or just to save yourselves?"

  Lily's eyes filled with tears. "Both. We're scared, Rosie. This isn't what we signed up for."

  Rosie cocked her head, disagreeing with her friend for the first time in a while. She knew exactly what she was signing up for when she decided to get involved with William and with Tom.

  Rosalie took a deep breath, her heart torn. She reached out, pulling Lily into a tight embrace. "I understand, Lily. But I need time to think. I need to figure out what to do."

  Lily nodded, her tears soaking into Rosalie's shoulder. "Just promise me you won't tell Tom yet. Give us a chance to explain—we can make this right. Don't let my baby grow up without a father, Rosie."

  Rosalie nodded slowly, swallowing, the weight of the secret pressing down on her. "I promise. But this changes everything. You cannot keep doing whatever you are doing—I don't want to know who you're both sending this information to, but you have to stop before he finds out."

  She felt her own heart crack at her betrayal, the sense of loyalty to Tom warring with her love for her friend.

  Lily nodded sadly, watching Rosie. "How did you get him to change his mind?" Rosie asked, her voice filled with remorse. Lily reached out and hugged Rosalie tightly, feeling the weight of her own actions.

  A few moments passed in silence, and Rosalie realised that her friend would never have an answer for that. 

  "I won't tell Tom," Rosalie said, her voice firm. "But William needs to get out and away before Tom finds out, because he eventually will—and he will kill William just as he killed Coriolanus and his entire family."

  Lily's face crumpled as she nodded. "I know," she whispered.

  The two women sat in silence, the enormity of their situation pressing down on them. The shadows in the room seemed to close in, the candlelight flickering as if reflecting the turmoil in their hearts. Rosalie knew she was standing on a precipice, one misstep away from losing everything she held dear. The path ahead was unclear, but one thing was certain: nothing would ever be the same.

---

1 YEAR AGO

  Rosalie's footsteps echoed softly in the dimly lit corridor as she made her way towards Tom's office at the Ministry. She had decided to surprise him, hoping to steal a few moments together amidst the chaos of his work. She approached the door slowly, eager to see him as she saw how tired he was this morning when he had left for work. 

  Her long, dark blue dress clung to her upper body and cascaded gracefully down her legs, flowing slightly behind her as she made her way closer to Tom's office in the department of magical artefacts. 

  Rosie reached for the door handle, pulling it at first carefully, then more frantically when it refused to open. She reached for her wand, attempting to unlock it with a spell. When even that didn't work, she knew Tom didn't want to be disturbed by anyone.

  She took a step back and looked around where the space of the room would be. She swallowed her breath and gripped her wand again, knowing that if he had placed a barrier around it, there was only one way she could get directly to him, a way that only she could use.

  Rosie closed her eyes and quickly enveloped the smell of burning as she apparated into the room, or more specifically to Tom.

  The sudden sound of painful screams filled her ears as she appeared behind her love. Tom turned around quickly, releasing the man from his pain as he quickly ceased the spell. His eyes widened looking down on her, not too busy wondering what the hell she was doing here to notice just how beautiful she looked today.

  Rosalie's breath caught in her throat, and she swore she might vomit when she saw the rest of the bodies, three of them, piled in the corner. 

  "What are you doing here? How did you get in?" He asked quickly, walking towards her and grabbing her hand rather desperately in an attempt to apologise for what she had just seen. Ben stood in the corner, flicking through a notebook he had gotten off of Mr Rosier.

  She couldn't keep her eyes off of the dead bodies, lifeless and twisted in unnatural positions, their eyes staring directly into her soul. The worst part of it all was that she knew who those people were.

  "Is that Mr Rosier?" She asked quietly, dropping her hand away from Tom's, looking past him to the man he had just previously been torturing. Tom looked over his shoulder, his jaw tense.

  Rosalie blinked again, her eyes darting back to the other bodies. "Is that Coriolanus's mother? His grandparents?" She asked, already knowing the answer for herself, trying to keep everything in her stomach at the acrid smell of burnt flesh mingling into the air.

  "They're all followers of Grindelwald just as he was." He said simply, trying his best to find her support in this.

  She closed her eyes and leant herself back against his desk, hands gripping down on the wood. "So that means they deserve to die? 

  Tom's face was a mask of cold determination, his eyes devoid of any mercy. He turned slightly back to her, walking up to her small form and holding onto her waist to prevent her from moving.

  "They don't deserve to live anyway," he said, his voice chillingly calm, looking down into her eyes with a sickening sweetness that she hated and loved.

  Rosalie's blood ran cold. She had known about Tom's ruthless methods, but seeing it firsthand was a different matter entirely. She stumbled back, her stomach churning, unable to tear her eyes away from the gruesome scene. Panic surged through her, and she turned, fleeing the room in a desperate attempt to escape the horror.

  Tom turned to catch Ben's attention motioning to Mr Rosier. "Take over," he ordered, his voice firm.

  Ben nodded, stepping forward to continue the torture without hesitation. Tom hurried after Rosalie, his heart pounding with a different kind of fear. He found her just outside the room, leaning against the wall, her face pale and her breathing shallow.

  "Rosie," he called softly, reaching out to her.

  She flinched at his touch but didn't pull away. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "I told you to stay home today," he murmured into her hair, his voice a mixture of frustration and concern.

  Rosalie's body trembled against his, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. The image of the tortured family was seared into her mind, and she couldn't shake the feeling of horror and revulsion.

  "I wanted to see you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I didn't know... I didn't know it would be like this."

  Tom's grip tightened around her, his own heart heavy with conflicting emotions. He loved Rosalie deeply, but he also believed in his mission with an unwavering conviction. "It's necessary, Rosie. For us to succeed, for our future. They were traitors, and they had to pay."

  Rosalie pulled back slightly, looking up into his eyes. "But at what cost, Tom? What kind of future are we building if it's built on so much blood and pain?"

  Tom cupped her face in his hands, his gaze intense. "A future where we are in control, where we don't have to live in fear. I do this for us, for you."

  "You are everything to me. I intend to give you the world."

  She searched his eyes, seeing both the man she loved and the darkness that consumed him.

---

PRESENT DAY

  The restaurant was abuzz with the gentle hum of conversations and the clinking of glasses. Tom and Rosalie sat at a secluded table, their laughter mingling with the ambient sounds. Candles flickered between them, casting a warm glow that softened the sharpness of Tom's features and highlighted Rosalie's radiant smile.

  She loved when he was like this, sitting here, all human-like. It made her forget all the horrible things he had done with the justification being it was all for her. As much as Tom made it a priority to make himself superior to muggles, here he was, sat in a muggle restaurant with her.

  He didn't mind it though, he knew she had always wanted to come here. Her commute to work passed this restaurant everyday, and every time he decided to walk with her to her silly little muggle job, she would always peer in, trying to get a glimpse of it.

  Anything to make Rosie happy.

  "Do you remember how we met?" Tom's voice was smooth, his eyes locked onto hers.

  Rosalie laughed, a sound like a melody that made Tom's heart flutter. "How could I forget? I hated you, you were so intense, so sure of yourself. I thought you had figured me out the first moment you saw me."

  "I have trouble doing that now, love." He took his glass of whiskey and sipped at it, he only ever drunk on rare and special occasions, and today was one of those days.

  Rosie took his hand on the table, caressing her small fingers across the back of his hand as she looked into his eyes. Tom tried to keep his eyes off of her cleavage as she leant over ever so slightly.

  Tom grinned, a rare sight that made Rosalie's heart skip a beat. "And yet, here we are. I'm glad you changed your mind." He said, trying to get his mind off of all the things he wanted to do to her once they were alone, how he wanted to leave bruises all over her neck for all his followers to see at his next meeting.

  "Eyes up here, Tommy." She joked, seeing him glimpse at her.

  "What? You're mine aren't you? Surely I'm allowed to admire my own possessions? Though I'd prefer if you weren't wearing something so provocative, now I have to obligate anyone who dares look at you in that sort of way- I've already cast three spells tonight-"

  "Oh stop it." She said, clearly thinking he was joking. Quite the opposite, he had, in fact, removed the memory of Rosalie in her dress that night from several men.

  "I enjoy knowing you are for my eyes only."

  Rosalie's eyes softened. She knew Tom had created more than two Horcrux by now, but tonight, she wanted to believe in the man she loved, the man who, in her eyes, had changed—if only a little.

  Though sometimes she wondered how much of his soul was left in his body. Was that how it worked? Was he now less Tom than when she had first met him?

  Soon after they had finished their drinks, Tom settled the bill and they walked outside. The cool night air was a welcome contrast to the warmth of the restaurant. Hand in hand, they strolled through the dimly lit streets of London, the soft drizzle turning the city into a shimmering mosaic of lights and reflections.

  "Do you still think about the night we first slept together?" Tom mused, glancing at her with a mischievous glint in his eye.

  Rosalie smirked. "Yes, occasionally, for more than one reason."

  "And do you still think about our future, like you did that night?"

  Rosalie nodded, leaning her head against his shoulder. "You are my future, Tom. When I think about it, all I can see is you."

  As they walked, Rosalie's thoughts wandered to Lily and William's betrayal. A knot of guilt tightened in her stomach. Whatever side she chose, someone would get hurt. Perhaps she could convince Tom to let William go, let both him and Lily leave this life and never think of it again if she told him what they had done. Would he be so merciful?

  "I'm proud of you, for changing, even if just a little bit." Her voice softened, the love she felt for him evident. "I still don't agree with everything you do sometimes, but I love you, and I know you've grown to accept love."

  Tom stopped walking and turned to face her. His eyes bore into hers, filled with a mix of intensity and something softer, almost like vulnerability. Rosalie held him, her hands cradling his face, feeling the rain gently patter down on them.

  Under the dim glow of the streetlights, with the rain softly showering around them, Tom took a deep breath. "Rosie," he began, his voice uncharacteristically hesitant. "Do you know what I'd do for you?"

  She looked at him with love. "Yes. I do know."

  "Marry me then." He swallowed, rain falling on his face gently as he reached into his pocket, presenting her with a beautiful, undoubtedly expensive black and gold ring. His other hand reached for her face as he looked down at her, his eyes searching hers.

  "Get rid of Grindelwald's name and become Rosalie Riddle," he said, the name already sounding far more tasteful on his tongue.

  Rosalie froze, her mind blanking as she tried to comprehend the words Tom had just spoken to her. She looked into his eyes, seeing the surprising nervous wreck he was.

  "Tom, are you serious?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  He nodded, his gaze unwavering. "I've never been more serious about anything in my life."

  A smile spread across Rosalie's face, tears mingling with the rain on her cheeks. "Yes, Tom. Yes, I'll marry you."

  Tom grinned the widest she had ever seen, pulling her face greedily to meet his, stealing her lips in a kiss that sealed the promise he had made. She was his forever, bound to him by name for life. He gripped onto her body with a longing even more powerful than usual; he needed her, every part of her. He wanted to own her, and he wanted her to want to be owned.

  She kissed him back, eager to taste him and those sweet words. The rain mingled with their tears, making the moment feel even more surreal. Tom picked her up by the waist, breaking their kiss, spinning her around as she laughed. The world around them faded away as he dropped her back down onto him in a tight embrace, her arms burning the feeling of love right into his skin through the suit he wore.

  Now, Tom was impatient, practically dragging Rosalie up the stairs to their apartment by her hand until they reached their room, the desire for each other igniting with each step. Inside their room, they shed their wet clothes, their passion consuming them as Tom gripped the back of Rosalie's head, taking control as he kissed her like he meant it.

  She was pushed back onto their bed a second later, her bare body squirming under Tom's intense gaze. No matter how many times he had seen her, he couldn't get enough. She looked up at him, his dark gaze devouring her, and she knew she would hurt in the morning when she heard him begin to unbuckle his belt.

  She lifted her hips, begging for him to push himself inside her so she could soon feel the pleasure of relief. But no, he took his time, pulling his pants to the floor as he leaned over her, his fingers tracing lightly over her wet folds, smiling as he heard her gasp at the slightest touch. He kissed her lips gently.

  "You want me to fuck you that badly, do you?" he asked, seeking her confirmation. He wanted to hear her beg for him, to hear her say that she was his forever to use and to love.

  "Yes," she said, stifling back a moan as he slowly entered two fingers into her, feeling the wetness dripping around them.

  Tom chuckled. "What do you say then, darling?" he teased, moving in and out with his fingers ever so slowly, careful to barely touch her sensitive spot. She thrust her hips up, begging for more. He used his free hand to push her hips back down.

  "Nuh-uh. You're going to let me fuck you the way I want. Got that?" he asked, though it wasn't really a question. Rosalie bore into his eyes, nodding slowly. He rewarded her with more movement, and she tried to stop herself from moving to give herself more.

  His movement gradually became faster, giving Rosalie more and more as she felt the knot in her stomach slowly build up with each small groan and each whimper for more of him. Tom simply smirked at her, sucking down her neck and onto her tits as he moved his fingers deeper inside of her. She moved a hand up to block her moans, but he grabbed it back and pushed it to the bed.

  "No. I want to hear every sound you make, love," he demanded, removing his fingers as his mouth got lower on her body. He kissed down each of her thighs and circled back, teasing his kisses on either side of her inner thigh, leaving her bare of touch and pulsing for more.

  "Tom, please. Please," she begged mindlessly as he still refused to touch her at her core.

  "You're going to have to speak up, darling." He kissed her thigh again, gripping his hand onto her, a little eager himself to taste her wet pussy.

  "Please touch me there. Do anything to me you want; I just need to feel you," she begged pathetically, just the way he liked it.

  He didn't waste a minute to move his mouth onto her pussy, his tongue moving around her, lapping up her juices as he played with her clit. Rosie let out the most horrifically pleasing moan to Tom's ears, only encouraging him to work faster. Even only after a few moments, the complex feeling made her want to cum. She held herself back, afraid of overstimulation.

  Tom began to work slower as he noticed her beginning to twitch, dipping his tongue into her as he leaned out and took a breath. Rosalie looked down at him, a dark glint in his eyes as she reached down to put a hand in his hair. He went back down to work, much faster this time as Rosalie gripped onto the roots of his hair, mumbling to herself as she quickly felt herself becoming undone.

  "Fuck, Tom," she groaned helplessly, her legs contorting, one around his back to keep him held in, the other hung aimlessly across the bed. She felt herself losing her vision, her head tilting back as she moaned out for Tom, feeling the orgasm slowly washing over her.

  Tom tasted her sweetness and kept going, feeling the slight shake of her body as she reached her end, but he only moved faster, grazing his teeth over her clit to make her convulse from the pleasure.

  He grabbed around her thighs, digging into her further without breath as she felt the overstimulation get to her. She screamed out for him, begging him, but she wasn't sure what for.

  "Tom! Please!" She felt her throat become raw as he ravaged her as though he hadn't eaten in days. He loved the look of her trying to decide if what she was feeling was pain or pleasure, but her mind was too far gone for her to string together one cohesive thought.

  Tom tasted everything he was given, suddenly pulling out for a breath as Rosalie finally fell backward, breathing so heavily she thought she was going to run out of air. Tom slowly crept up to her, biting at her neck, sucking at it, wanting to leave bruises and marks all over what was his. He was obsessed with her—her scent, taste, feel, smell. The way she was looking at him right now with nothing but desire drove him crazy and made his cock throb for her.

  "You taste so good, darling. Couldn't help myself," he chuckled, finally reaching her mouth to kiss her, the taste of her pussy still on his tongue as he dominated her mouth, gripping lightly down onto her neck as he teased the tip of his cock against her entrance.

  Rosie shivered again, feeling the lingering sense of her overstimulation reeking through her body. Tom knew what she was feeling, but he was feeling it as well.

  "You're such a fucking tease, lying there with that body. So beautiful," he moaned as he refrained from pounding himself into her there and then. He kissed her neck before leaning out from her, seeing the slight glint of sweat from the intensity of her last orgasm, the pleasure of it still distinct on her features. She looked up at him with affection, reaching for his hips, begging him to align himself up with her again.

  He obliged, feeling his cock up and down her wet and needy folds. He liked the fact that she knew who she belonged to and welcomed him anytime he let himself into her pants.

  Tom felt his hand down Rosalie's stomach, around her hips and her waist like his own personal toy as he slowly dipped the tip in her, unable to tease any longer. Rosie gasped, still, after all this time, surprised by his size as he began to enter her.

  He started to tease her, only letting a bit of himself in before pulling out. He listened to Rosalie's irritated moans as he toyed with her.

  Tom held his hand on her stomach again, looking deep into Rosalie's eyes as he pushed himself in again, a little further this time.

  "I want to fill you tonight. I want to see you pregnant with my child. My little wife—everyone would see you're taken. Ring, last name, baby in your stomach. Tied to me in every way."

  He knew she would never be able to leave.

  Tom pounded into her as deep as he could go, causing a scream to rip from Rosalie's mouth, already wide open and wide-eyed from what Tom said he wanted. He was taking this breeding kink to the next level, but she was too far gone to care.

  He fell back onto her, and she gripped around his chest, pulling him close as he thrust deep, penetrating strides into her. He groaned as he felt her grip around him.

  "That's it, love. I can feel you begging for me to fuck you deeper. You want it, don't you?" Tom laughed at the putty she was in his hands. He lifted her legs higher, spreading them as far as they could go so he could hit as far as possible.

  Rosie felt her fingers weave through Tom's hair. She clamped down on his cock, and he was right—her body was begging for him to stay inside, to fill her with everything he had. She couldn't explain it, but suddenly she wanted to give Tom everything, despite the danger. She wanted this with him.

  Tom smirked when he felt Rosie wrap her legs around him and trap him into her. He leaned down and met her lips. She ached for him, her limbs wrapped around him as he thrust in over and over. She felt him slowly lose his speed; she could tell he was close.

  Rosalie gripped at his hair, pushing herself into him further with low and seductive moans into his ear. Tom grabbed her body and fucked her harder, desperate to hear more of her voice. She felt her whole body shake at the pleasure, her next orgasm washing over her as soon as he angled himself up, hitting right where she needed him.

"Oh, Tom, I—"

  "Shh. I know, darling. Come on me." He said, pulling her head back as she shut her eyes and felt her body push itself over the edge for the second time. As he continued to pound relentlessly, Tom shut her moans up by connecting his mouth with hers, feeling the vibrations of her pleasure inside him as she got even wetter and clamped down on him.

  Tom groaned in her ear, feeling just how tight she had become as she orgasmed. Her pussy gripped at him, and Tom couldn't hold out. He felt his cock twitch inside her walls, and he thrust once more deep inside her and held himself there, feeling his release spilling into her. Rosie gasped one last time as he slowly began to move out of her. But to his surprise, she used her legs to push him back in.

  "Fuck—Rosie," he said, feeling the overstimulation for himself as she cock-warmed him, his seed threatening to spill out of her if he did move.

  "Stay there." She breathed tightly.

  He leaned back over her and kissed her neck, staying inside her as he whispered, "You're such a good girl, taking every last drop like I said."

  Rosie leaned up and kissed him, confusion, love, and trust in her eyes. Tom looked down at her and could see that. Something had changed, and Rosalie finally trusted him enough to have exactly what he wanted.

  After a moment, he slowly pulled out, watching as drops fell out of her. He pushed them back in with his fingers, wanting every last drop to stay where it belonged.

  He looked down at Rosalie with affectionate eyes, touching her cheek with his other hand. He ran his thumb over her mouth.

  "You're not taking that stupid potion tomorrow, got it?" 

A/N

SO, I feel like I have to clarify something about the story. Despite everything that just happened, Rosalie is not going to get pregnant (right now). I don't really like pregnancy tropes unless they're right at the end and part of a happy ending, and this book is far from over. Let's just say that. Tom doesn't really care about having kids; he likes the idea that Rosalie wouldn't be able to leave him if they had one together. He's a toxic guy. My book probably paints him too kindly, to be honest. He does love Rosalie, but he also wants to own her. He wants everyone to know she belongs to him. I want to make that clear.

By the way, in the next few chapters, shit is gonna go DOWN!!!! I don't know how else to put it without spoilers, but let's just say that Lily and William shouldn't have betrayed Tom...

Love you all, see you next week!

PS: wtf this chapter is 7k words