She'd known, and the girl had come back every time.

Why? I wondered, crouching down to brush the warm water. What kept her coming back? The obvious answer was that she'd wanted the things I was doing to her. She'd been so invested, obsessed, that she'd risked everything for another taste.

Crushing my fingers, I splashed my hand in the pool. Stupid girl. Shaking my hand, I dried it on my pants. But I'm stupid, too.

How long would I have kept this charade up?

I'd tried to coerce her with more art jobs. I'd longed to keep our game going.

Closing my eyes, I sighed.

Naomi had wanted me to collar her. It was an act I'd never done before.

Fuck, the way she'd reacted when she was worried I would let someone else buy her. I couldn't forget how I'd crushed her into the rug, our eyes flashing like diamonds across from each other. I'd seen her fear, then, and it had given me pause.

But even after facing my fury, she'd come back.

She was insane.

And I loved that.

How could I begrudge her? I was no different.

Snorting, I stood, walking towards the house.

To me, control was everything. But once I'd dominated a girl, the excitement-the drive-it always faded. I'd never taken a personal submissive. I'd trained many, but that was all.

I'd never wanted someone.

Not until...

No, I snapped at myself. Snarling, I stomped into the main entrance room. You can't have her. She doesn't listen, she'll never fully break.

Slowing down, I stared up at the railing above. The mural there was a storm of colors, raging and reminding me of my own emotions. It had a subtle quality to it, but that was easily lost if you focused on the black clouds and grey hints.

This was what Naomi had painted.

I'd told her to do anything, and she'd created this explosion of inner turmoil. It was more fitting than she could realize.

Naomi was wild, she was free. Yet she had a softer part, a velvet center that ached for me to stroke it and cup it in my palm. She craved domination, it was built into her blood.

And yet, someone like her...

She can't be tamed.

I stood straight, saturated in cold understanding. That's right. Again, I studied the painting; the reason I'd been attracted to her in the first place. Naomi is wild, she wants to bend, but she'll never fully yield.

And that...

That was why I wanted her.

It was what separated her from all the other subs I'd encountered. Naomi had life, fire, and the way she resisted excited me.

The first time we'd been alone, she'd kicked me. Bit and fussed even as I gagged her. The imagery, even now, had my cock growing hard.

And tonight, after I'd demanded she leave, she'd stood her ground. She'd stared me down, and when I'd risen to meet her, we'd exploded in a furious kiss.

Touching my lips, I closed my eyes, shivering.

I wanted to taste her again. I wanted...

I wanted her back.

There was a maddening lust in me. A desire to hunt her down, claim her until she could remember nothing but my name as she screamed it over and over. I itched to fill her every crevice. Even breathing would be secondary.

Turning, I stared at the front door.

I'm not done with her, I realized, clenching my fingers.

I would do whatever it took to make her mine again.

But this time, it would be on my terms.

- Chapter Fifteen -.

Naomi.

It had been several days since I'd last seen Seth.

Even thinking of him was painful.

I'd tried to push past the depression, but the sadness... the defeat... it ruled my world. I'd lost access to a wonderful, enticing man who'd opened my mind and body to a whole other level of pleasure.

I'd also lost the ticket into the college of my dreams.

For the first time, the day after he'd yelled at me, I'd actually sat and read the contract. The clause was very specific: break the rules, and my rewards were forfeit.

No money.

No letter.

What was I going to do? How did I recover from this?

My phone buzzed, ripping me back to the present. I almost didn't answer, but the sound of another voice was appealing. "Hey Mom," I mumbled, falling backwards onto my couch-bed.

"Is something wrong, Naomi? You sound... off."

My smile was sour, I was glad my mother couldn't see it. "No, everything is fine," I whispered, rubbing my eyes with my forearm. The tears came suddenly, insistent as they rolled down my cheeks. "Everything is just great, Mom. So great."

"Naomi..."

Rolling on my side, I looked out over my drab apartment. The sight of it was too much. Just like that, all I wanted to do was get away from this city. I could start over. Besides, it wasn't as if I had anything keeping me here.

Not anymore.

"Mom, I was thinking, is the offer to go home still there?"

"Honey, listen-"

A sharp knock on the door startled me. Sitting up, my brain somersaulted. I stared across the room.

The sound came again, demanding.

"Hang on," I said from the corner of my mouth. "I'll call you right back." Ignoring the frustrated, confused words my mother made, I hung up.

Sliding off the bed, I approached my door warily. Who could it be? For a moment, I debated not answering at all. The rap of knuckles returned. That time, I pulled the handle.

In a white button-down and faded jeans, a look I'd never seen him sport before, Seth stood on my front step. He looked down on me, as penetrating as ever.

"Seth." His name came out in a puff of air. "I-what are you doing here?"

He didn't blink, didn't move. "Can I come in?"

Unsure what to do, my flesh hungering instantly for the man I'd never expected to see again, I slid a heel backwards. Once he'd entered, I closed the door gently. Seth was studying my tiny, messy apartment. My cheeks turned cherry red. "Uh, sorry about the place, I was..."

"Ms. Starling," he said, spinning to face me. The seriousness in his expression froze me where I was. "I came here to offer you something."

The surrealism of this encounter was fading. Seth had been enraged with me the last time we'd seen each other. What had changed? Why was he messing with my head like this?

My mouth twisted at the corners. "You took everything I wanted away from me. What are you playing at here?"

The intensity in his stare burned at my fucking center. I knew those eyes, that ferocity.

On impulse, I clenched my thighs together.

He said, very slowly, "I spent some time considering how we left things." The reminder of our fight didn't calm my nerves. "Perhaps I was too hasty."

"Too hasty?" I replied numbly.

His smile crossed into a wicked promise. "If you truly want another chance, like you begged for so dearly, I'm willing to give it to you."

Moving my mouth, I sought to make sense of the emotions waging in me. Excitement... relief... and doubt. "You'd still write me that letter? If this is a trick, I-"

Lifting a hand, he silenced me. That would have been enough, but Seth bent closer, corralling me against the wall in a split second. "This offer doesn't come easy. Ms. Starling, if you agree to this, there will be conditions."

Conditions. Thinking about that damn contract, I narrowed my eyes. "More rules?"

I saw his teeth. "One rule."

My heart thumped in a constant, rising tide. Seth pressed his palm to the wall, blocking me in with his body-his heat. I could smell him, and that scent had me wobbling.

"Returning to my home comes with a price. You spent so much time with me behind that special door... surely you know my taste for punishment. And surely we both know how much you enjoy it."

In my throat, my breathing hitched. Like I had a portal into his twisted mind, I could imagine every single thing he was. Worse, the arousal was radiating out of me.

Was I so damaged, so longing for more, that even the mere mention of his torture had me growing wet?

Swallowing, I said, "Just tell me what you want."

Grinning, he took a slow inhale. "I want you to let me have my way with you. Allow me to punish you the way a Dom would reprimand his sub. If you don't back down, no matter how hard I go at you..." His fingers cupped my cheek, and it took everything I had not to lean forward and kiss him. "Then, dear Opal." My heart jumped at that name. "You may have your wish. You'll get your letter."

The huskiness in his tone said volumes. If I went back, Seth would be allowed to do whatever he wanted to me. I'd seen some of his tools, felt the hot burn of his palms. How devious would he be with me without boundaries?

What if I couldn't handle it?

Seth was watching me closely. The hunger in his face said he knew why my cheeks were so flushed. Clearing my throat, I met his eyes as calmly as I could. "How much time do I have to think this over?"

Backing away from me, he smoothed his jacket. "Until tonight. If you want this chance, just message Corbin. Once you reach my home, there will be no going back."

His threat curled inside my lower belly. "I understand."

"Good." With one more look around my apartment, Seth circled towards the door. "Don't take my offer lightly. This is no game." Peering back at me, his eyes were heated. "I look forward to hearing you beg again."

And then he was gone.

Breathing out like a deflated balloon, I fell onto my bed. Standing was impossible. Seth had left, and he'd taken my strength with him. Another chance. The phrase was so nice.

If only it didn't come with a price.

Brushing my hair back, I looked at my palms, flexing my fingers. I'd never expected to see Seth again. But the opportunity to go back to the erotic, dark world he'd opened my heart to... it was immensely tempting.

He acted like he was sure I'd agree.

His parting words had made my heart drum madly. And was he wrong for being so cocky? I needed that letter, but he had acted like I needed something else.

I had to wonder, if I did go back, would it be for the letter, or would that just be my excuse?

It scared me, how little I knew myself anymore.

Standing up, I looked for my phone.