Sophie’s honesty filled his heart with hope. Wondering if Zack would ever let his guard down and look at her–atthem–as more than shadows and stolen glances in the dark.
“You know, you looked at home when you were in the club store with Claudia earlier.
“Lidia says it's Toys R Us for adults.” Her laugh was infectious.
Aiden’s smile was fond. “You look… comfortable with it all.”
“I was,” she admitted quietly. “ Curious.”
Aiden tilted his head, studying her. The streetlights painted fleeting stripes of gold across her face as they drove. “About what, specifically?”
Sophie traced a condensation pattern on the window, her gaze distant. “Everything. The way people move in that space. The… intentionality. There’s a difference between playing a part and living it. At the store, seeing all the tools-the collars, the floggers, the cuffs-I felt a pull. A recognition.” She paused, her fingers stilling. “I’ve never had someone who wanted to knowmylimits, Aiden. It was always what they could get away with. What I would tolerate.”
Aiden’s arm tightened around her shoulder, a flash of something cold and possessive in his eyes. “They were idiots, then.”
Sophie offered a small, sad smile. “Maybe. But it’s all I knew. Until Zack. Untilyou.”
“He’s not what he seems, you know,” Aiden said, his voice low. “Zack.”
“I’m starting to see that.”
“No, you’re not. Not really.” Aiden sighed as they navigated the quiet streets. “We were kids. Fraternity brothers. He was this untouchable God and I was… me. The geek jock who lovednumbers. We got drunk together, got in fights together, and graduated together. We built a business from the ground up. But he locks everything away. Everything important.”
Sophie turned from the window, her full attention on him. “You’re not like that.”
“Someone has to be an open book,” Aiden said with a shrug. “Zack operates on control. It’s his religion. He thinks if he lets anything in, it will break him.”
“Claudia mentioned…”
Aiden arched his brow. “Don’t get shy on me now, Sophie.”
“Zack is more… forceful?”
Aiden chuckled. “You could say that. When we’re in a scene, there’s a different dynamic in place. He doesn’t relinquish control. Ever.”
“I see.”
“Have you ever been in a dynamic with full consent?” Aiden pried further. He knew in his bones that she was perfect for them. He needed to guide them to see it.
Sophie pressed her lips together, her eyes holding questions she didn’t seem able to articulate.
“Zack demands total submission. He won’t admit it, but there is a thrill to the play when a sub wears your cuffs.”
“Cuffs?”
“Yes, little star. Daddy would love to see you wearing our cuffs.” Aiden brought her wrist to his lips. “I get hard thinking about it.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Wearing them would have meaning. They aren’t just a scene prop. It would be a marker. A statement. You’d be ours, even if he’s too proud to admit it. He needed you to understand their meaning without having to say the words.”
Aiden reached out, his fingers tracing the line of her jaw. “To me? They’re a promise. That when you’re with him–us, and he’spushing you to your very limit, I’m right there. That you’ll never break. That I’ll catch you.”
He leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead. “They’d mean you’re ours. Now, let’s go inside. I have a feeling our storm is waiting.”
Sophie
Sophie and Aiden enter the condo, clumsily tugging at each other's jackets. Sophie’s heels hit the floor when they’re startled by a figure sitting in the darkened room.
