No.
I couldn’t let myself think that way.
I needed to gain the upper hand here and fast, but I didn’t know how. So I did the next best thing.
I stayed quiet and lifted my chin, proud of myself for making him come. Clearing my throat, I pulled my shoulders back and he leveled me with a look that made my knees go weak. I hated him for having such an effect on me, but more than that, I was annoyed at myself for letting him.
With a smirk, I licked my lips, tasting him, and I could tell by the way his jaw twitched that it had an effect on him, and my grin widened by the second, at least until he cocked his head and cleared his throat to speak.
“That was a good start, but now Daddy’s going to take you into his office and show you what a real orgasm feels like.”
A real orgasm?
What the fuck did that mean?
“Look at Daddy, little girl,” he ordered, and my eyes immediately flicked back to his. “You need Daddy to take care of you, don’t you? In all of the ways a naughty girl needs to be taken care of. Punished, and spanked, and made to come so hard that your legsgive out and your voice goes hoarse from screaming. You need that, don’t you?”
My lips parted, and I felt the warmth spreading across my skin. It was too much, the way he said it, the way his eyes burned into mine. But more than that, it was the truth. And that was the worst part. The fact that he could see me.
Therealme.
My stomach twisted, the conflict inside me growing stronger, the desire and need warring with the stubbornness and pride. I felt exposed, vulnerable, and a part of me wanted to push him away, to protect myself, but another stronger part wanted him closer, wanted him to see all of me, every single broken piece.
He held my gaze, his eyes searching mine, as if looking for an answer. I opened my mouth, and closed it, then opened it again.
“Yes.”
The word fell off my lips before I could stop it.
“Yes,what?”
He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving mine and a shiver raced down my spine. He was going to make me say it. The word was right there, right on the tip of my tongue. All I had to do was open my mouth and allow it to come out, but it was so hard.
Could I even say it out loud? Could I do that?
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry, and his lips curled into a faint smile. He leaned down, his mouth only a breath away from my ear, his voice low, a whisper of velvet.
“Say it, baby girl. Let Daddy take care of you. You know you need it. Say yes, Daddy, and it’s yours. Everything you need. Every. Single. Thing.”
His words, his closeness, the heat of his breath on my skin, the intensity in his eyes, it was all too much. My core constricted tight, and it was hard to draw air into my lungs. My lips parted.
“Yes, Daddy.”
The words slipped off my tongue before I could stop them, my voice hardly more than a whisper.
And just like that, it was done. There was no going back.
“Good girl,” he purred, and his lips brushed against my ear. “Let’s get started then.”
Aleksei’s hand closed around mine, warm and commanding, as he pulled me away from the wall. For a moment, I was too caught up in the dizzying afterglow of calling him Daddy. Unable to bring myself to fight, I let him guide me, my pulse still racing, as if my body was just waiting for whatever came next.
Without a word, he led me through the gallery, past the lingering scent of oils and canvas, past the pristine frames that lined the walls and into the back.
He pushed open a heavy oak door at the end of the corridor and drew me inside. The moment we stepped into his office, I felt like I’d been transported into another world—one that was purely and unmistakably him.
The space was rich and dark, lit by the soft glow of a vintage brass desk lamp that cast a warm pool of light over deep mahogany furniture. The air was thick with the scent of leather and the faintest hint of cigar smoke, though there wasn’t a singleashtray in sight. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with leather-bound volumes on art, history, and philosophy. A massive abstract painting dominated one wall, its deep reds, purples, and blacks bleeding into each other like secrets whispered in the dark. The desk was large and uncluttered, save for a crystal decanter filled with amber liquid and two heavy glasses—ready, waiting.
Aleksei’s grip on my hand tightened slightly as he turned to face me. In one smooth motion, he released my hand, stepped back, and closed the door behind us with a soft, deliberate click. The sound of the lock turning sent a shiver down my spine. My breath caught as he turned to look at me, the air between us thickening with that same tension that had been building ever since the moment we met.