Page 39 of Use Me, Daddy

The rest of the day was a blur of clients, inventory, and emails, but the entire time, I felt like I was on the edge of a precipice, trying not to fall. Every glance he sent my way, every small, casual touch as he brushed past me—it all left me feeling like a tightly wound coil, ready to snap.

By the time the gallery was closing, my nerves were frayed. I had spent the entire day trying to act like everything was normal, like I wasn’t unraveling every time he was near. It was exhausting. And somehow, despite everything, Aleksei remained as cool and collected as ever, leaving me wondering if I had imagined it all in a dream from the safety of my very own bed.

No. I couldn’t have.

At the end of the day, I gathered my things, preparing to finally escape the gallery. As I stepped toward the door, I felt him behind me, that familiar heat of his presence washing over me.

“Good work today, Amy,” he said softly, his voice almost a whisper against my ear. “Daddy’s proud of you.”

I turned, ready to say something—anything—but the words caught in my throat. He was watching me with that same knowing look, his eyes dark and unreadable. And all I could do was nod, my cheeks flushing hot once again, before I turned and practically fled into the night.

The next few days passed in a blur. Every morning, I walked into the gallery with my resolve intact, determined to put him out of my mind, to pretend I was the same strong independent woman I’d always been. And every evening, I left feeling like I was coming undone.

Aleksei was relentless. He never acknowledged what had happened between us—not openly. But every interaction, every lingering look, was a silent reminder of what he could do to me with just a few words and a knowing touch. He had me tied up in knots, and the worst part was that he wasn’t even trying. He was simply there, commanding the space, moving through the gallery with that same effortless grace that only made me want him more.

By Wednesday, I could barely think straight. The tension between us was like a fraying rope that stretched tighter with each passing day threatening to break. Aleksei kept his distance, but he watched me with that same intense focus, like a predator waiting for its prey to stumble. And maybe that was exactly what I had been doing—stumbling and falling deeper into this twisted game he had me playing.

But by the time Thursday rolled around, something in me snapped. I couldn’t take it anymore, couldn’t stand the way he looked at me like he already owned me, like he was just waiting for me to break.

No, I couldn’t let him win.Not again.

If he thought I was just going to fall in line, to submit to whatever he had planned, then he could just take that and shove it.

I was Amy Whitaker.

I was ambitious, competitive. I was a woman who never backed down from a challenge. And Aleksei Morozov was just another challenge. If he wanted to play games, then fine—I’d play too. But this time, I would be the one to win.

I spent the entire day psyching myself up, my mind spinning with possibilities. Maybe I could play up my sex appeal and trick him into fucking my pussy instead of my ass. Maybe I could get him to break first by sucking his cock so good that I had him eating out of the palm of my hand.

The idea sent a thrill through me, and for the first time in days, I felt like I had the upper hand. If he wanted to make me squirm, to test just how far he could push me, then I’d push right back. I’d make him falter. I’d make him question himself, make him need me as much as I had needed him.

As the afternoon wore on, the gallery began to quiet, the usual crowd thinning out. Aleksei was in his office, going over some final details for the upcoming auction slated for tomorrow, and I could feel the anticipation building in my chest. I was ready.

Tonight, I was going to be the one in control.

I smoothed down my dress, took a deep breath, and walked toward his office, every step measured, every move deliberate. I was going to show him that I wasn’t just some pawn in his game.

This time, I was going to win.

CHAPTER 14

Amy

I smoothed my dress one last time, squared my shoulders, and walked toward Aleksei’s office with my chin held high.

I could do this. Iwoulddo this.

I pushed the door open without knocking, striding in like I owned the place. Aleksei looked up from behind his sleek mahogany desk, his dark eyes locking onto mine with that familiar, unreadable intensity. He was leaning back in his chair, one hand resting casually on his desk, the other holding a glass of bourbon that glimmered amber in the low light. For a moment, he just watched me, his expression cool as a cucumber, almost like he’d been expecting this.

“Well,” I said, closing the door behind me with a deliberate click. “I thought I’d find you hiding away in here.” I let my voice take on a teasing edge, hoping to throw him off balance.

He didn’t flinch. If anything, his smile deepened, the barest hint of amusement playing at the corners of his lips. The triumphant look in his eyes made me falter for the briefest of seconds, but I held my ground and lifted my chin a bit higher, raising an eyebrow for good measure.

“Hiding?” he asked, his voice smooth as silk. “Hardly. I’ve just been waiting for you to figure out what you really need.”

I ignored the rush of heat that swept through me at his words, determined not to let him see me falter. I moved further into the room, letting my hips sway as I walked, my heels clicking against the polished floor. I perched myself on the edge of his desk, crossing my legs slowly, making sure he noticed. His eyes roved up and down my legs for the briefest of seconds before they snapped back up to meet mine.

“And what if I know what I want?” I challenged, leaning forward just enough to give him a glimpse of my cleavage.

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