Aiden
There it was.
That crack–that beautiful fracture in the armor he wore so tight it had become part of him.
No sass. No jokes. No swagger. Just Noah. Raw and trembling on the edge of something he didn’t fully understand–but wanted anyway.
And I’d known this moment would come. Not because I was cocky. Because I’d seen it before. In others. In myself.
That quiet, exhausted surrender when you’re just too damn tired to carry the weight of your own chaos.
He wasn’t just angry or curious anymore. He was desperate.
I closed the distance slowly. Gave him time to change his mind, to step back. He didn’t.
When I reached him, I brought one hand up to his jaw and gently tilted his chin up, meeting those wide, restless blue eyes.
“Take a breath,” I said softly.
He closed his eyes before he did.
“Good,” I murmured, letting my thumb graze the edge of his cheekbone before I dropped my hand. “This… this right here? That’s the Noah I can work with.”
He didn’t answer right away. But his shoulders eased just a fraction. His hands stopped clenching.
“Will you… do it, then? Train me?”
“If that’s what you truly want, yes.” I studied him as he looked down, face half–hidden by his hood.
“I–I want that peace you talked about. I want to trust someone who… won’t let me down. Not like I let myself down.”
“I won’t let you down, Noah. Not here. Not on the field. Not for as long as you trust me. Can you do that?” I softened my voice, holding his gaze.
“I really want to…” he muttered.
“Then that’s all we need. Trust isn’t given–it’s earned. And I’ll earn yours. If you let me.”
I stepped back slightly, gesturing toward the table. “Now. We’ve got work to do.”
He blinked. “Work? Oh. Are we starting right now? Like, this is training already?”
“No. This is just a small test,” I corrected. “Before anything is signed. Before we even open that contract, I want to see how you respond to structure. Just a
glimpse.”
He nodded carefully, and I could feel the excitement building in him–that spark of forbidden anticipation glowing behind all the nerves and doubts in his
eyes.
1/2
4:25 pm P P P м
Chapter 20
“Okay…”
M
I held his gaze. “Rule number one: In public, you will address me as Sir. I told you once, and you have completely neglected it. That will no longer be tolerated. In private, you’ll address me as either Sir or Master. For now, it’s practice. A test. But if this becomes real that rule will be binding And
punishable.”
A breath caught in his throat. But he didn’t argue. He just gave me a slow, reluctant, “Yes, Sir.”
God, it was beautiful.
Like the first drop of rain on dry ground.
“Rule number two,” I continued, circling him slowly, deliberately, letting my presence wrap around him like a command. “When we’re in private, I want to see your face. Always. Eventually, we’ll discuss dress codes. But for now–take off the hoodie.”
He hesitated. Embarrassed. I could see his hands twitch at his sides.
“Noah,” I said softly, pausing behind him. “Do you understand what this is?”
He nodded once.
I stilled.
“I didn’t ask for a nod,” I said, voice low but firm. “When I ask a question, I expect a clear answer. Yes, Sir. Or No, Sir. No shrugs. No nods. No guesswork.
Words, Noah. Use them.”
His throat bobbed. “Yes, Sir.”
There it was. Sharp and a little breathless.
I felt it–his need to rebel colliding with his desire to obey. That tension was gold.
“This is submission, Noah. Not sex. Not games. Just obedience.” I stepped closer, my breath brushing the shell of his ear. “You want this? Then give me
this.”
Comments
36
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
