“It’s not my best cooking, but I figured you had to be hungry.” Before Emma, it was nearly impossible for me to empathize with others’ pain. She had taught me how to care again, even if only for her.

I ran my hand through my hair and took the seat next to her.

“No, I mean for everything. Thank you for being there for me.” She smiled. I tipped her chin up to look her in the eye, still unable to trust the love I saw in them for me.

“I’m not going anywhere, Emma. You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.” I laughed. Truer words had never been spoken.

“Why would I want to get rid of you?”

The smile fell from my face as I shook my head and returned my attention to the plate in front of me.

“Eat. You need your energy.” I refused to let myself think about all of the reasons Emma should turn her back on me and run as fast as she could. I didn’t need to remind myself of all the wrong I had done, because I was all she had left. I had to keep my past a secret now or risk her being completely alone.

“You have barely touched your food.” I gestured to her plate. She had only taken a few bites, and I had eaten my entire sub.

“I’m not really that hungry.” She set her sandwich on her plate.

“Eat.” I wasn’t asking. Emma still needed discipline and guidance. Something she had never gotten growing up.

“I’m really not that—”

I narrowed my eyes, and the words caught in her throat. “I’m not asking.” I grabbed my plate and took it over to the sink. I didn’t need to turn around to know that she had resumed eating. This was the one aspect of our relationship that ran flawlessly. I needed to dominate, and Emma needed someone to keep her in line and protect her.

I washed the few dishes in the sink as I tried to decide where we should go next in all of this. We were almost free to live our lives like a normal couple. But nothing about this would ever be normal. I wouldn’t be able to give Emma the things in life she really wanted. I could never give her children. It was fucked up enough that I pulled her down into my world—but never a child. I put the plates in the cupboard and grabbed a soda from the fridge. I placed it in front of Emma as she put the last bite of food in her mouth.

“Good girl.” I traced the curve of her jaw with my fingertip. Her face turned pink under my touch, and I couldn’t help but grin. I turned back to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of whiskey. I grabbed a few tumblers from under the island and sat them between us.

“I don’t know about you, but it has been a long day, and I could use a drink.” I smiled down at her.

“Thanks.” I poured her a double shot and slid the glass closer. She picked it up and smelled it, making a face of disgust as she set it back on the countertop.

“Don’t ever hesitate. You just have to go for it, or you will talk yourself out of it.” That was how I went through life and got what I wanted. I slid the glass closer to her. She took a deep breath and drank it down, her face twisted in disgust as she chugged a gulp from her soda. I couldn’t help but smile.

“Again. This time, no chaser.” I refilled her drink as I watched her eye it cautiously. “Drink it.” I said slowly. She picked it up and drank the contents without a second thought. I drank mine as I watched her cough.

“Good girl.”

She smiled widely at my praise.

“More?” I held up the bottle between us. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and nodded. I didn’t want her to get wasted, but I needed to help her take the edge off. I poured another round, and we both drank.

“Woo,” she called out as it burned down her throat. The mood had lightened significantly, and I took satisfaction in being able to ease her discomfort, even if my methods were fucked up. She slid her glass back over to me.

“I think that’s enough for now.”

She pushed out her lower lip in a pout and I reached across the island, rubbing over her mouth with my thumb. “Let’s go have some fun.” I cocked my head toward the elevator and raised my eyebrow. She blushed, looking down at our empty glasses.

The third floor was the only place I could truly be myself. It was where the demons I carried inside of me got the chance to come out and play.

My eyes danced over Emma’s nearly naked body draped facedown over a high bench. I had her keep panties on to offer her some modesty. I knew she was eager to please me, but I wanted her to grow to love it and anticipate this time as much as I did. I would never leave this floor if it weren’t for that. This wasn’t something you could jump into with both feet. Trust took a long time to gain and only one mistake to rip away.

I secured her hands above her head and spread her legs wide. I didn’t bother securing her ankles because I enjoyed watching her struggle to follow my orders while overcome by pleasure. I leaned over her, my lips against her ear.

“If you move your legs, I will punish you.” I couldn’t help but smile at the sound of her sharp intake of breath as she stiffened beneath me. “You will fucking love it.”

She relaxed, releasing her breath as I stood upright and looked down over her.

“Do you remember the safe word?” I asked as I skimmed my fingertip down the back of her thigh, leaving a trail of goose bumps.

“Oh…god…”

I smiled as I brought my hand down fast and hard across her perfect ass. Red spread across her flesh, and I admired my mark.

“Wrong.” I brought my hand down again across the other cheek as it bloomed with color. I ran my fingers softly over the mark, dipping my fingers between her legs to feel how wet I had made her.

“Flower,” she panted as I slowly slid my fingers inside of her. “Ahh…yes…flower.”

I stilled my hand, and she squirmed.

“Are you using your safe word?” I asked as she turned her head to look at me.

“What? No! No!”

I couldn’t help but smile as I smacked her ass playfully.

“Stay still.” I poured some tingling lubricant over my fingers and ran them over her slit. She bit back a moan as her ass pushed back against my fingers.

“You can moan. I want to hear you enjoying this.” I rubbed over her again, pressing against her clit and bringing my fingers back over her ass. I felt her muscles tighten. “Just enjoy it, Emma.” I used my other hand to reach between her legs and massage her clit. I pressed two fingers into her pussy and fucked her slowly with my hand before pulling out and slipping my fingers over her ass. Her body stayed relaxed this time.

“Good girl.” I praised her as I repeated the process over and over, spreading the lubricant. After she was completely relaxed, I pushed my finger against her ass. She flinched, tugging against her restraints. “Shh…” I whispered. I knew it would not be as painful as she imagined. I used a lube that had a numbing effect, but she would have to trust me completely. I pushed the head of my cock against her pussy, shoving hard inside of her as she moaned. I pushed my finger further into her ass as I drove into her.

“William,” she whimpered, but I didn’t slow down.

“Emma, I want you. Every part of you. I can’t help myself.”

Her ass pushed back against me, and I couldn’t help but growl as she submitted herself to me so willingly. “Let me take you. Please let me take you. I can’t wait any longer.” I pulled out of her completely, gripping her hips so tightly they would probably bruise as I positioned myself against her ass. “Relax,” I commanded as I reached around her and rubbed her swollen clit.

“Ahh…yes…” she purred. I pushed my head inside of her, holding perfectly still as I stroked her pussy.

“Do you want me to stop?” I groaned, struggling to keep from burying myself inside of her. She shook as her orgasm began to build.

“No,” she moaned, and I rubbed faster as I pushed against her, slipping deeper inside until I was fully seated in her perfect, tight ass.