Julian’s words pierce through me with a fierceness I can’t overlook. His tone is meant to provoke—to awaken something I’ve buried deep inside me that’s beginning to stir.
He knows exactly what he’s doing, and if I didn’t know him so well, I’d be angry.
Him ripping the contract in half feels dismissive—like he knows he can manipulate me before casting me to the side.
But there’s a flickering heat in his eyes that tells me there’s more here than dominance or control. He’s not just testing me—he’s watching me.Gauging me.
This intensity between us is built on years of familiarity—formative years spent by his side and learning his quirks. Yet, as I watch his jaw tighten and his eyes darken, it’s clear I don’t know him at all. A glimmer of realization hits me, sharp and sudden. My pulse races under his gaze, and I can feel every cell in my body attuned not just to Sophie, but to Julian. To bothof them. I’d spent so long thinking I knew who I was, what I wanted, but this? This is something I never imagined.
The moment is broken when I flick my gaze to Sophie. Running my fingers along the curve of her jaw, I use the softness of her skin to ground myself. Her warmth keeps me steady, but Julian’s presence lingers just behind it, chaotic and electric.
Maybe it’s Julian’s confidence. The way he sits there, completely sure of himself, daring me to rise to the occasion. Or perhaps it’s the unspoken permission in his words:
Show her what you’re here for.
Saying that revealed something intimate about him, a crack in the armor that allows me insight into their marriage.
It’s intimate, what we’re all doing, and I’m grateful for the chance to be a part of it. This isn’t about scratching an itch or exploring boundaries—it’s deeper, more consuming. Something that has been hiding in me all along, waiting for the right catalyst, waiting for the perfect moment.
Seventeen years.
Seventeen years of tension, of trying not to think about the man before me despite trying not to, of pushing these feelings down. Now, the ache in my chest feels impossible to ignore. I’m on the edge of a precipice, staring down into a version of myself I don’t know.
As I shift my attention back to Sophie, I let my thumb brush across her cheek, feeling the weight of their eyes on me.
I don’t know what this is becoming, but I know there’s no going back.
“Don’t be afraid to use your safe word,” I tell her, my voice a low purr. I’d read their contract and know that she prefers the traffic light system—green for good, yellow for pause and discuss, red for stop.
She nods, her throat bobbing as she brings a hand to my chest. “I know. I trust you.”
You shouldn’t.
The two words reverberate through my mind as I take in her shiny flaxen hair, her porcelain skin, the tiny freckles on the bridge of her nose, and the way her blue eyes are so bright and wide, it makes me want to call this whole thing off.
I know she’s experienced—I know she’s not completely naive.
But there’s something innocent about Sophie—something I’m so hesitant to corrupt.
The weight of responsibility bears down on me—not just dominance, but the fragility of the trust they’ve placed in my hands. I can feel Julian’s gaze pinning me down.
What if I accidentally cross the line?
What if tonight ruins everything—what if it can’t be repaired?
My eyes flick up to Julian, who gives nothing away except for the tight grip on his knee.
It’s not a verbal command, or even a nod, but it’s the kind of permission I didn’t realize I needed.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I ask, placing my other hand around her waist.
Her lips quirk to the side. “Having second thoughts, Ravage?”
Her boldness makes me laugh. “No. I just want to make sure you know what you’re in for. I won’t be gentle. And since your husband destroyed the contract…”
In my peripheral, I see Julian stiffen, his jaw flexing as his fingers drum slowly against his thigh, watching closely. Waiting to see if he’ll call the whole thing off, I don’t move my gaze from Sophie’s face, which has taken on the faintest blush.
He doesn’t.
