The man turned and walked away without a word. I took a shaky breath and followed. This could be a bad decision, but Sophia’s words came back to mind. I was overthinking again. His back was broad, his steps unhurried but purposeful. People moved aside instinctively as he passed. It was not out of respect, but caution. The air itself seemed to bend around him.

He stopped in front of a heavy door, opened it, and stepped aside, waiting for me to enter first. I hesitated only a second before crossing the threshold.

For a moment, I hesitated. When I crossed the threshold, it wasn’t what I expected. It wasn’t a dungeon or a cold playroom. The private lounge was warm, bathed in low amber lighting. Leather armchairs, dark wood bookshelves, a small bar, and soft music playing low. The heavy door clicked shut behind us, sealing away the sounds of the club. Suddenly, it was just the two of us.

He gestured toward a chair. I sat, folding my hands tightly in my lap to hide their trembling. He watched me for a long moment before moving to the bar. Everything about him was deliberate. He poured water for me and whiskey for himself, then placed the glass in front of me.

“Drink.”

His voice was calm, but it wasn’t a suggestion. I brought the glass to my lips and took a sip. The cold water helped steady me.

He settled into the chair opposite mine, legs spread, completely at ease. His grey eyes studied me with unnerving focus.

“You play with your sleeves when you’re nervous,” he said quietly. “You also press your thumb into your palm when you’re trying to hide it.”

My hands froze. A flush of heat crawled up my neck. I hated how easily he read me.

“I don’t—” I started, then stopped. Lying felt pointless under that stare.

He took a sip of whiskey, calm and patient. “How old are you?”

I hesitated, suddenly aware of how exposed I felt. “Twenty.”

“University student?”

I nodded before I could stop myself.

His grey eyes sharpened with interest. “You have that look, exhausted but still trying to carry the world on your shoulders.”

I stared at him, my pulse racing. “You still haven’t told me how you know my name. I never said it.”

Dominic set his glass down slowly. He didn’t look the least bit apologetic. “The moment I saw you, I had someone find out who you were. It didn’t take long.”

I stared at him, heart hammering. “You had me checked? Just like that? Within minutes?”

“Yes.” His gaze held mine, steady and unashamed. “I don’t waste time when something catches my interest.”

A chill ran down my spine. This wasn’t normal. This was wrong. My father’s voice echoed in my head — trust actions, not words. Men who moved this fast, who dug up information this quickly, were dangerous.

“That’s invasive,” I whispered, my voice trembling slightly. “It’s creepy.”

Dominic tilted his head, studying me like I was a puzzle he was enjoying. “Would you rather I pretended I wasn’t interested?”

I didn’t know how to answer that. Part of me wanted to stand up and leave. The other part, the part that scared me more, stayed rooted to the chair.

I swallowed. “You ask very personal questions for a man who hasn’t even told me his name.”

A beat of silence passed. Then, for the first time, the corner of his mouth lifted, a small, almost dangerous hint of a smile.

“Dominic.”

The name suited him. Deep, commanding, a little foreign.

He leaned forward slightly. “Now answer me, Jasmine. Have you ever submitted to anyone before?”

The blunt question made my cheeks burn with embarrassment. I looked down at my lap, fingers twisting together.

“No,” I said softly. “And I’m not sure I want to. This… this was just supposed to be curiosity. I shouldn’t even be here.”

He waited. The quiet patience in him somehow made me keep talking.

“I’m tired,” I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “I’m so tired of always being the one who must hold everything together. School, family, expectations… I never get to let go. Not even for a moment.”

My voice cracked on the last words. I hadn’t admitted that to anyone before. Shame burned in my chest. I should never have said something so vulnerable to a stranger, especially one who clearly had power.

Dominic was silent for a long moment. Then he stood and crossed the space between us. I tensed, but he only lifted my chin with two fingers gently, yet impossible to resist.

Our eyes met. His touch sent warmth spreading through me.

“You don’t have to decide anything tonight,” he murmured, thumb brushing slowly along my jaw. “But if you want to learn what it feels like to surrender… to let someone else carry the weight for a while… come back.”

I swallowed hard. Everything about him felt dangerous. The calm voice. The careful touch. The way he looked at me like he already saw every crack inside me.

He released my chin and reached for my wrist. With steady hands, he untied the silk ribbon and replaced it with a sleek black leather bracelet. His fingers lingered, thumb pressing lightly over my racing pulse.

“Wear this only if you intend to return to me.”

The word me sounded like a claim. Like ownership.

He helped me up, his hand resting at the small of my back as he guided me to the door. At the threshold, he leaned down, lips close to my ear.

“Goodnight, Jasmine.”

The door closed softly behind me.

I stood in the hallway, heart pounding, fingers tracing the new leather bracelet.

I should take it off. I should be scared. I should run.

Instead, I closed my eyes and remembered the feeling of his fingers under my chin and the quiet promise in his voice.

And I hated how much I already wanted to come back.