"Isn't there? Because the man who just lost complete control while I sucked his cock didn't seem to be thinking about business assets."
"That was—"
"That was you wanting me. You want me. Personally. Not professionally. That was you forgetting, for just a moment, that you're supposed to sell me to other men."
"There’s not a moment, I forget that."
"Don't you? Because right now, looking at me, are you thinking about the auction? Or are you thinking about how it felt when I had my mouth on you? And you want it to happen again, don’t you? You already thinking about how you can work that into our study sessions."
He doesn't answer, but the muscle in his jaw twitches.
"Yeah, that's what I thought." I walk over to him, reach up and smooth down his hair. "So tomorrow, when you come back for my next lesson, remember something."
"What?"
"Every skill you teach me, every technique you show me, every moment of intimacy we share—I'll remember all of it when I'm with them. Every time Al-Mansouri ties me up, I'll think about you showing me how to endure it. Every time Kozlov demands submission, I'll remember you teaching me how to fake it."
His hands clamp down on my arms, not enough to hurt, but enough to remind me he’s still stronger. Yet I can feel the tremor in his fingers, the hesitation. That’s new.
“Camilla, stop."
"Why? Because the idea of me using your lessons to please other men makes you sick?"
"Because you're trying to manipulate me."
"Am I? Come back tomorrow and teach me about bondage. Show me how to be tied up and helpless. Demonstrate exactly what might be expected from me."
"Fine."
"And Renato?" I let my fingers trace along his jaw. "Try not to let it affect you too much when I’m going down on another man. Just like I did with you. After all, it's just business."
I see something dangerous flash in his eyes, but he doesn't respond. Just releases my wrists and heads for the door.
"Same time tomorrow," he says without looking back.
"I'll be ready to learn whatever you think I need to know."
The lock clicks shut behind him, and I sink onto the bed with something that feels remarkably like victory.
Because I was right about one thing—he is losing control.
The careful, professional facade is cracking more with each lesson, and today I found the sledgehammer to finish the job.
Sex.
The undeniable chemistry that sparks between us every time he touches me.
He thinks he's training me for other men, but what he's really doing is binding himself to me more tightly with every intimate moment we share. Every lesson makes it harder for him to imagine letting me go.
And tomorrow, when he has to tie me up and teach me submission techniques, he's going to realize exactly what he's preparing me for. He's going to have to face the reality of other men having that kind of control over me.
It's going to destroy him.
And his destruction might be my salvation.
Chapter 18: Renato
I can't get the taste of her out of my mouth.
