Her eyes lit up. That desperate wanting I'd seen the first time I'd shown her these pages. The need for structure and boundaries and someone to make the chaos manageable.
"Yes," she breathed. "Please."
Chapter 10
Sophie
Rules.Hewantedtotalk about rules.
My heart was pounding, my body felt like it was on fire.
Nikolai's expression was different. It was intense. The gentle man who'd held me while I cried about Sergei was still there—I could see him underneath. But layered over top was someone else. Someone commanding. Someone who expected obedience and would enforce consequences when he didn't get it.
Daddy.
He leaned back in his chair. Settled into it with that controlled grace that made every movement look deliberate. His legs spread slightly. His hands rested on the armrests. He looked at me with those grey eyes that missed nothing.
Then he patted his lap.
Two gentle pats. An unmistakable summons.
"Come here, devotchka," he said. His voice had dropped an octave. Gone quiet and firm and absolutely certain. "It's time you learned what happens when my Little girl breaks the rules."
My heart slammed against my ribs. The air in the study felt too thick. I couldn't get enough of it into my lungs.
This was happening. This was actually happening.
I'd asked for this. Had begged him to be my Daddy, to give me structure and discipline and consequences when I fucked up. Had sat in this very chair ten minutes ago and told him I needed to know he'd follow through.
But now that it was real—now that he was looking at me like that and I knew what was coming—terror and anticipation warred in my stomach until I felt sick with it.
My core clenched. Heat pooled between my legs. The pink cashmere sweater was suddenly too warm. Too tight. My skin felt electric, hypersensitive, aware of every sensation. The leather chair under me. The Persian rug under my feet. The way my bad knee was protesting from sitting too long.
The way Nikolai's gaze tracked over me like he could see all of it. The fear. The arousal. The desperate wanting mixed with the urge to run.
"Sophie." Not a question. A command wrapped in my name.
I stood. My legs shook. I'd danced on stage in front of thousands of people without trembling. Had survived being sold at auction. Had held Sergei while he died.
But crossing the burgundy Persian rug to where Nikolai sat waiting—that took courage.
Each step felt too slow and too fast at once. My bad knee protested. I tried not to limp. Failed. He noticed. Of course he noticed. Those grey eyes cataloged everything.
I stopped in front of him. Close enough that my knees almost touched his. Close enough to feel the heat radiating off his body. Close enough to see the pulse jumping in his throat.
He was affected too. Not as calm as he looked. The realization helped somehow. Made this feel less like punishment and more like—
What? Connection? Trust? Two people doing something vulnerable together?
His hands settled on my hips. Warm through the cashmere. Large enough to span my waist. The pressure was gentle but firm. Grounding.
"We're going to discuss what you did yesterday," he said quietly. Not angry. Not even disappointed. Just matter-of-fact. "Tell me the rule you broke."
My throat was tight. I had to swallow twice before words would come. "I left the compound without telling you where I was going."
"And?"
"I ignored your calls."
