Chapter 23
“Very well,” he said calmly. “Unless you ask me to.”
“That will be never… Sir.”
A muscle twitched in his jaw. “We will see.”
I skipped over a small section and circled back to what I did understand.
“For my safeword,” I said, clearing my throat, “I’d like to go with… ‘Mercy.“”
His eyes warmed, just a bit. “A classic.”
“I was gonna go with ‘bananas,‘ but figured it might not work mid–panic.”
He didn’t laugh, but his eyes told me he wanted to.
Then came the deeper stuff. Fears. Desires. Punishment and reward. He asked calmly, professionally, like it was just another Tuesday night at a board
meeting–but the questions? They weren’t easy.
“What do you fear most in this dynamic?”
Being abandoned. Not being good enough.
Letting someone down who finally gives a shit.
I shrugged. “Failure, I guess.”
“I see… And tangible fears?” he asked, one brow lifting.
Oh, smooth. I see what you’re doing.
“I don’t have any, Sir,” I lied.
The warmth in his expression vanished. “Noah, do you remember what we said about trust?”
“Yes, Sir.” I bit my upper lip.
“Without truth, there’s no trust. And there’s one rule that can never be broken. All mistakes can be punished and forgiven–except lying. You lie to me, and you’re out. Same goes for me. So I’ll ask again. Do you have any fears?”
My mouth went dry. “You just want me to tell you so you can use them against me.”
“Sir.”
Oh, my God. “Sir.”
“And yes,” he said calmly, “I probably will. If it helps you heal.”
1/3
4:25 pm P P P M
Chapter 23
Smooth as hell….
I looked down, rubbing the back of my neck, trying not to pull my hair childhood habit, anxiety trigger. “Small spaces i can’t escape from And…
cockroaches, Sir.”
He nodded once. “Good. Thank you for the honesty. Now–what do you want most?”
That one took longer. But when it came, it was simple.
“Peace.”
A small pause. Then, quietly:
“And that, Noah, is exactly what I’ll give you.”
We kept going. He explained the difference between discipline and punishment. Talked about rules, structure, obedience. And when we reached the question about health or medications, I hesitated.
He noticed.
“Noah?”
“I used to be on something for anxiety. I’m not anymore, Sir.”
He said nothing. Just waited.
“I figured out ways to handle it. Coping mechanisms. And… I’m okay now. Mostly.”
“Good.” His voice was still calm, but I caught the protective edge underneath. “If that ever changes, you tell me. Immediately.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Finally, we reached the end.
He slid the last page toward me. “This is the declaration of intent. You don’t have to sign
I read aloud, slowly.
now, but read it.”
“I, Noah Blake, request the acceptance of my submission by Aiden Mercer. I offer my trust and obedience freely, and in return, I ask for guidance, protection, and the structure to become my best self…”
“I agree to speak honestly, to voice needs, fears, and boundaries without shame. I surrender control only with the understanding that my safety–emotional, mental, and physical–will be your responsibility…”
“This contract is valid for a trial period of six weeks, at the end of which we will either renew, revise… or end it.”
I looked up. “Six weeks?”
“A full cycle. Enough time to assess compatibility.”
“What if I’m terrible at this?” I asked. “Like, what if I trip during my first kneel and get a concussion?”
2/3
4:25 pm PP PM
Chapter 23
“Then I’ll teach you again. Slower. On carpet.”
That earned a laugh–real, breathy, nervous. “You’re serious about all this.”
“Deadly,”
And I believed him.
16
My fingers traced the edge of the paper as I said, quietly, “I want to try.”
And when he nodded, approval soft in his eyes, I felt something inside me settle.
Maybe I was crazy. Maybe this whole thing was one long delayed spiral, but right now, I felt seen. Safe.
And–for the first time in forever–wanted.
Just then, I signed myself in body and soul to a man I knew nothing about.
Comments
user2511306516
uh huhhhh sureeee
7 days ago
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.
