CONTROL

“You know,” Liam’s voice dropped low, like a velvet warning, “the only thing harder than resisting you… is pretending I want to.”

My pulse jumped, heat pooling low and thick. The city lights blurred past the windshield, but all I could see was the hunger burning in his eyes, a fire that promised trouble I wasn’t sure I was ready for. Tension coiled between my legs, sharp and electric, impossible to ignore.

“Maybe you’re just good at pretending,” I teased, forcing my voice to stay steady even though every nerve screamed otherwise.

His fingers brushed mine, slow and deliberate, sending fire lancing up my arm, setting every inch of my skin alight.

“You drive me crazy, Ava,” he growled, voice rough and close, like a secret meant only for me. “Do you even know what you do to me?”

I swallowed hard, breath hitching. “Maybe I like the way you lose control around me.”

“Spend the night with me,” he said suddenly, the words sharp and unyielding, leaving no room for argument.

“I can’t.”

Not that I couldn’t—I didn’t want to. It wasn’t fear of him. I was scared of what I could become when I was with him—the way he could unravel me, piece by piece.

“I haven’t signed your contract. Remember?”

His hand tightened around mine—firm but gentle, like a tether holding me in place. “You have no idea how much I want to break every rule with you.”

My lips curved into a daring smile, the kind that said I wasn’t backing down. “Then what are you waiting for?”

His eyes darkened, hunger flashing like a warning deep in their depths. He leaned in, voice barely more than a whisper. “Rules keep the world sane.”

I didn’t answer. Instead, I let my lips meet his—slow, hungry, and claiming, the kind of kiss that burned through every last bit of restraint I had left.

“God, you’re mine,” he murmured against my mouth, his voice a promise and a threat all at once.

“And you’re already lost,” I breathed back, daring him to prove me wrong.

The city faded away. There was nothing but the fire between us, the beautiful chaos of control and surrender. Just as he wanted it.

I let his hands linger a moment longer, fingertips tracing the curve of my jaw before sliding down my neck, light as a whisper against my skin.

Then, his fingers drifted lower, grazing the sensitive skin beneath my blouse. When his hand cupped my breast and his thumb found my nipple, a soft, desperate moan caught deep inside me, held hostage just before it escaped.

His eyes flicked down to my dress, darkening with appreciation. “That dress… damn, Ava. You seductress. You know just how to drive me insane, don’t you?”

I smiled inwardly. Hell yes, I did. I’d seen the dress he’d had his designer send over—a sleek, tight number meant to command and control. But I chose this instead: soft, teasing, with just enough sway to promise freedom. I loved disobeying him, loved the way it put him in the mood to punish me so badly.

Even though he hated it, even though it made him angry, that defiance was mine.

Right now, as his thumb traced slow circles over my breast, I knew exactly what I wanted.

I bit my lip hard, fighting the surge of need threatening to overtake me. Not yet. Not like this.

Liam’s eyes searched mine—dark and demanding, and I could feel the hunger swirling between us like a storm ready to break loose.

“Not yet,” I whispered, voice trembling but fierce. “I’m not yours until I say so.”

A slow smile curved his lips, the promise of a challenge shining in his gaze. “I’ll wait. But I’ll never stop wanting you. You’ll be mine… eventually.”

The car was still, the city’s hum distant and forgotten. All that mattered was this fragile, electric moment, poised on the edge between control and surrender.

God, I wanted to fall.

He reached past me and pushed the button to unlock the door. The soft click echoed in the quiet cabin, and I felt his eyes on me like a physical weight.

I stepped out of his expensive black Maserati, legs almost trembling under the intensity of his gaze.

“I had an amazing night.” I smiled, thanking him for dinner before turning toward my building, heels clicking softly against the pavement.

His stare followed every step I took. I fought not to stumble in my stilettos, knowing he was memorizing me—already planning the next time I wouldn’t get away so easily.

The night air wrapped around me, cool but charged, like the promise of storms ahead.