Page 84 of The Jaded Notes

I want to be defiant, but his command tightens my stomach in the most dangerous way.

Fuck, he’s impossibly sexy when he takes control. The wanting alone is enough to make me wet.

I lower my gaze. “Yes, sir.”

“That’s better.” His other hand comes to my neck, applying gentle pressure against my pulse. “From this moment on, you don’t think. You respond. You feel. You let me carry every part of you until you can’t take any more.”

The breath I let out is shaky, like my body knows I’ve just crossed into someplace I can’t retreat from. “Yes, sir.”

“Good girl.” He steps back, gesturing toward the center of the room. “Stand there. Let me admire you.”

It’s such a simple instruction, but my knees feel unsteady as I move into place. He circles me once, like an artist deciding where the first brushstroke will fall.

“Tonight is about trust.” He stops behind me. “And I intend to earn it in ways no one else ever will.”

He moves my hair aside, and his lips graze the bare skin beneath my ear. The warmth of his breath sinks into me like an unspoken vow. Equal parts promise and threat.

My insides set ablaze, and I’m just waiting for him to take over.

“Follow me.” His voice is low, commanding.

He takes my hand. His grip is firm yet reassuring, and he leads me out of the foyer.

We walk down a hallway I’ve never entered before, lined with soft recessed lighting that casts a warm, intimate glow. The air is charged, like the space itself is alive with anticipation.

We stop at a door. He opens it and steps aside, allowing me to enter first. The room steals the air from my lungs.

The walls are a deep matte black, absorbing the dim light and creating an atmosphere that feels both serene and electric. A large red padded bench sits in the center, its leather smooth and inviting.

Shelves line the walls, displaying an array of carefully arranged items. Some familiar, others mysterious. The space was decorated with a purpose that sends chills over my skin.

“Jax, this is beautiful.” I glance his way, a sliver of panic slipping in.

He didn’t tell me I could speak. Maybe I messed up.

He studies me for a moment but doesn’t reprimand me.

“Livianna, I had this room designed for you.” His voice is steady but edged with something deeper. “I’ve never brought another woman here. This place is just for us.”

His words hit me like a wave, making my heart pound. “For us?”

He nods, his gaze unwavering. “For us. For the trust we’re building.”

“Thank you.” I lower my head in submission. “I appreciate your graciousness.”

“You’re more than welcome.” He steps closer, his presence filling the room. “This is where I let go with you. And tonight, it’s where you learn to trust me.”

“Yes, sir.” My chest rises and falls too fast. Every cell in my body knows something irreversible is about to happen.

“Turn around.” His words brush over me before his hands do.

I obey, turning in a slow, full circle.

His gaze drags down the length of me, lingering in ways that’s both intimate and appraising. He doesn’t rush or soften the silence. He wants me to feel the weight of being seen.

His fingers slide to my jaw, tilting my head up, and forcing me to meet the passion in his eyes. “You’re doing so well.”

The praise hits like a current. My knees threaten to buckle.