For a few moments, Sophia waited by the side gates before she saw Alistair’s car. Steven opened the gates for her and she left the cocoon of the garden for the street, turning and waving good-bye to the guard.

The purring sound of the Z4 engine reminded her of Gabriel. She suddenly felt sad. Don’t go there, Sophia. This isn’t the time.

Alistair noticed something wrong the moment he came out of the car.

“Hi, Beauty.” His mood was light and he kissed her for a long time. He entangled his fingers in her hair and his hands cupped her face, bringing it into the light. He noticed her moist eyes and frowned. “Why are you crying?”

“I’m not crying.” It is not fair to him.

“All right, so you’re not crying.” He gently whipped her eyes. “Well, then. Tell me why are you sad?”

She smiled gloomily, “It’s nothing.”

He leaned on the car and pulled her between his legs, his arms around her waist. “I’m just as stubborn as you. We’ll stay here, freezing, until you tell me why you’re sad.”

“It’s really nothing. Don’t mind-”

“Ah-ah,” he put two fingers over her lips, shaking his head. “No lies. I know you. And the thing is: I mind.”

She sighed, “Memories.”

“Gabriel?” He felt a pang of jealousy in his heart.

She didn’t reply. Damn, Sophia. At least, try. She breathed deep, nodded her head, and shoved the memories to the bottom of her heart, and succeeded in giving him a bright smile. “But the sadness was gone the minute you arrived. Let’s go. I don’t want us to miss our reservation. I’m hungry.”

“I’m hungry, too.” He hauled her in his embrace and kissed her fiercely, imprinting his so ready erection on her belly. “But it’s not food I desire.”


Shoreditch. Boundary.

10.55 p.m.

“It’s impressive how you know these cozy and secluded restaurants,” Sophia remarked before placing the first spoon of her dessert in her mouth and closing her eyes to savor the chocolate soufflé with mixed berry sauce.

There she goes again. I shouldn’t have suggested a dessert. “You don’t like it here?”

“Mmm. Uh-hmm,” she nodded, opening her eyes and licking the spoon, oblivious to the seductive way she ate dessert. “Very much. The Victorian warehouse is so carefully preserved. These alcoves are so charming. However, it’s dark and secluded, as sometimes your mood is.”

Oh, Sophia, I don’t think you know how dark I am. “I’ll take you upstairs after. They have a stunning roof garden terrace with two olive trees over a hundred years old and a unique humidor. Do cigars bother you?”

She laughed. “I smoke cigars, Alistair. Cubans are my favorites.”

His eyes crinkled at the sides when his beautiful smile spread over his face. “Aren’t you a surprise, Sophia?”

“Of course I am. You still don’t really know me,” she shrugged and glanced at him sideways. “A good surprise, I hope.”

“Yes, a good surprise.” But I want to know you, Sophia. He shifted on the sofa and his scent clouded her senses.

“You smell so good, Alistair,” she breathed, the spoon forgotten in her hand.

He merely smiled at her praise and directed the spoon to her mouth, feeding her.

Mmm, Mr. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it is in the room.

“I’ve never seen you smoke.”

“I don’t smoke in front of Gabriela. And I like company when I do it. There’s still a lot you don’t know about me and I don’t know about you.”

“Aye, there is,” he answered quietly, a strange look shimmering on his features.

He waited for her to finish her dessert to ask. “Give me your left hand and close your eyes.”

She eyed him with a teasingly distrustful look.

“Come on. Indulge me.” He wriggled his fingers in her direction. “First, give me your watch.” He put her Aeternitas watch carefully on the table. “Good girl,” he murmured. “Now, close your eyes and don’t open them until I say so.”

She did as he asked and felt his warm hand circling her wrist. Something cold touched her skin and her eyelids fluttered.

“Ah-ah!” he warned, hastily stopping whatever he was doing and putting a hand over her eyes. “I’m not finished.”

Her forehead creased. “What’s taking so long?”

“It’s not every day I enslave a woman like you,” he said huskily. “Rather, I wonder if I ever have it or will ever do it again.”

“Liar,” she whispered, “you’ve already enslaved me.” She smiled, with her eyes closed.

“Not the way I want to.” It was a promise. “A few more seconds… Not yet…” She felt a cold bracelet being released on her wrist. “You can open your eyes.”

Alistair held her hand for her to look, her watch still on the table.

She looked at her wrist and then stared at him, astonished, her smile fading. “Alistair-” What does he mean by that?

“You don’t like it,” he breathed, disappointed.

“No. I mean, yes. Damn.” She shook her head, staring at the Cartier Love collection bracelet in white gold, paved with diamonds and bigger diamond studs. “It is exquisite. I love it. I do.” Sophia, this is a Cartier icon, a bracelet that symbolizes both love and possession. So the question is, what is the meaning behind this gift? “It is beautiful,” she grinned at him. “It’s just that you surprised me with it.”

“Why?” He didn’t look convinced.

“This is a slave bracelet.”

“Aye, it is.” He cupped her face in his hands and gazed intently into her eyes. “And I’m keeping the screwdriver.”

How significant he turned a bracelet with a simple sentence. “You are keeping it,” she repeated, totally ensnared by the beacon of his emerald eyes, she mused about the difference between Ethan’s and Alistair’s gifts. Ethan had showered her with extremely expensive presents just because he could. The gifts were a way to buy her affection. Now, Alistair was giving her a much simpler jewel, with so much emotion and meaning packed on it. And her thoughts turned to the similarities between Alistair and Gabriel, who always gave her meaningly gifts. “I’ll treasure it, Alistair Connor. Thank you.”

“Allow yourself to become one with me, Sophia. Let me possess you.” His lips hovered close to hers. “All of you.” I need you, Sophia. Can’t you see?

His mouth descended on her and his tongue licked her bottom lip. As she parted her lips to breathe, he kissed her, heatedly, his hand on her nape, the other on her waist.

“Alistair Connor. We’re in a restaurant,” she whispered, escaping from the kiss. “What’s your problem with restaurants? Some fetish?”

He chuckled and shook his head, his hair softly swinging around his rugged face. “No, you’re my fetish. Sleep with me tonight.” He squeezed her nape. “Please.”

“No, I can’t. If you want me to go with you to Craigdale, I’ll have to wake up early and go to work.”

“Then stay with me in Craigdale.”

“In your room, you mean?”

He nodded.

“The first time I’m going to your father’s home? Of course not. I won’t feel comfortable.”

“Of. Course. Not.” He repeated slowly, rolling the words on his tongue. “Is this some kind of punishment, Sophia?” he asked her seriously.

“Punishment?” She asked, perplexed. “I don’t get you.”

“Do you want to punish me for something I did and you didn’t like? Is that it?” Dominant or submissive, Beauty? What do you plead? Can you please decide? “Do you want to see me on my knees? Begging? Because I’m almost there. I can switch once in a while with you, if you want me to.”

“Switch?” She frowned, “Switch what? I’m sorry, Alistair, I don’t understand what you’re saying. Be clear, please.” Sophia narrowed her eyes a bit and creased her forehead. What the hell? “The best way to get the right answer to something is to be direct and honest. What do you want to know?”

Let’s see what you are. “Dominant or submissive, Sophia?” He blurted and squeezed her hand, teetering in the suspense.

She opened her lips to answer dominant, but thought better. Her face creased even more. “Uh? What?”

Oh, fuck! Double fuck! “Never mind.” He flicked his wrist, dismissively. But his eyes betrayed his disappointment. Christ. “I have my answer.” He raked his free hand in his ink-black hair. She doesn’t know what she’s got herself into. And another thought struck him harder. I don’t know what I’ve gotten myself into.

Sophia laced her fingers with his. “What’s going on, Alistair? You’ve been strange ever since this afternoon.”

“I’m going crazy with this ‘slow down’ of yours, Sophia.” He inhaled deeply, “I have a high sex drive and I don’t like to jack off alone, which, incidentally, I have been doing every night since I started going out with you.”

Sophia gasped, shocked. “There is no need to be so crude,” she hissed, disentangling her fingers from his.

“Crude? No,” his mood darkening. “It’s the truth.” He spread an arm over the back of the sofa and his hand encompassed her nape firmly in his grip. “Would you rather I lied to you and went out with an escort?”

“An escort?” Her eyes grew wide and then narrowed. What the hell? “Alistair Connor, this is getting worse by the second.”

“Or would you rather I turned to an ex to do it?” His hand tightened on her nape, almost painfully.

“Are you… threatening… coercing me into having sex with you?” she said between clenched teeth, her dark lashes fusing for a split second.

“No.” He bent his head in the direction of her mouth. “I’m just warning you.”

Dear God. How on earth did we get into this conversation? Her hand shot up to stop his advance, palming the center of his chest. “Very well, Alistair Connor, let me warn you, then. I don’t take threats well. Nor do I like being cornered.” Her lips thinned to a hard line as she sustained his searing gaze. “I only do what I want, whenever I want, and with whomever I want. You are free to find an escort or an ex.” Two can play this game, Mr. High-sex-drive. “But let me give you another warning. Again.” She stressed the word. “If you do let it happen, it’s the end for us. It will end before it begins.”