Sunlight pierced the room, a blade of gold slicing through half-drawn curtains. It struck Cathleen's eyes, a sharp reminder that dawn had come uninvited. She stirred, consciousness creeping in like an unwelcome guest. Her body ached, a delicious, tender soreness between her thighs. Eyes fluttering open, she expected the hard lines of Xavier beside her—instead, Bella's soft breathing filled the space."Fuck," she murmured. “There was no way what happened was a dream.” The memory of being fucked hard with a dildo flashed vividly in her mind, Xavier's stern gaze watching her every moan. But how the hell did New York's skyline replace Miami's nocturnal glow?Her heart raced. Need clawed at her insides, raw and demanding. Xavier. Why only a toy? His flesh was what she craved. A dick not a fucking dildo!She rose, each movement igniting the embers left by last night's fire. Slipping from Bella's bed, she padded toward their room, intent on washing away the confusion and the ache for more.S
With each step, Avery's heels beat a furious rhythm on the worn linoleum, echoing through hers and her mother’s cramped apartment that had become more of a prison than a refuge. "Mother!" Her voice was sharp and cutting, piercing the stale air like a knife searching for its target.Dora lounged on a threadbare couch, the flicker of the television casting ghoulish shadows on her face. She sipped her tea, unperturbed, a queen in exile amidst crumbling walls. "What is it?" The words dripped with disinterest."Are you really going to give up on my dream?" Avery's quivering hands clenched tightly, her nails leaving imprints on her skin. Tears streaked down her cheeks, smudging her mascara as she refused to abandon her ambition."What dream?" Dora's brow arched, teacup to lips, the epitome of calculated calm. The scent of warm, earthy tea wafted through the air, adding to the serene atmosphere of the room."Mother, my dream of marrying the richest man in New York City?" Avery spat out the w
Xavier's gaze locked onto Cathleen, a challenge smoldering in his ice-blue eyes. "Cat, I'd like to take you out on a date," he declared, his voice a firm command that dared her to object.She tilted her head, a coy smile playing on her lips. "But then, Mr. Knight, isn't it a little late since we have a little handbag to take care of?" Her tone was laced with amusement, yet she could feel the underlying seriousness of his request."Leave Bella home with the workers, or bring her along. What do you think?" His suggestion hung between them, weighted with unspoken promises.Cathleen's response came through a smile and a nod, subtle but deliberate. Xavier's expression darkened immediately. "I told you I hated nods," he growled, the chill in his voice sending a shiver down her spine."Mr. Knight, you are only a Dom in the dungeon, not outside the dungeon." Her words were daring as she rubbed cream into her legs, each stroke defiant against his claim over her.Xavier leaned in close, his bre
Xavier's hand, a silent demand in the predawn haze, brushed against Cathleen's arm. She jolted awake, her pulse quickening beneath her skin as she met his gaze. The corners of his lips twitched upward, a stark contrast to the hard lines etching his face."Good morning, babe," she murmured, her voice thick with sleep and something darker, more caustic."Morning." His tone was flat, his eyes scanning her like she was a puzzle to solve. "Don't you think you were a bit cruel to your sister yesterday?"Cathleen's eyelids fluttered, a clear display of disdain. A subtle eye roll followed one that she did not bother to suppress. The corners of her mouth turned downward in a disapproving frown as she searched for the right words to express her displeasure."Cat," he growled, the warning in his voice sharp enough to cut. "You'll regret that. Don’t ever fucking roll your eyes for me."A sigh escaped her, heavy with exasperation. "Did you wake me up just to talk about Avery? If so, I might as wel
Avery's eyelids fluttered against the glare of a ruthless sun. Heat clawed through the half-drawn curtains, dragging her from sleep's feeble grip. A smirk played across her lips, a plan already simmering in her mind.She snatched her phone from the nightstand, thumb-jabbing at Xavier's contact like a promise of chaos. She dialed his number, but the call failed. A beep, then silence. She tried again. Same damning beep. Frustration knotted in her chest; she tossed the device aside."Fuck this," Avery hissed under her breath, the words sharp and bitter.She got up and went into the bathroom. The room echoed with the hiss of running water as she stepped into the shower, shedding her nightwear like an old skin. Water pelted her flesh, yet it was nothing compared to the storm brewing within. Her plan was going as planned; she was receiving Xavier’s empathy.She dressed to kill—or rather, dressed to fuck—she slipped into a dress that left little to the imagination. Hems rode high. Curves hug
Avery's fingers slid off the fabric of Xavier's jacket, leaving behind a trail of insolence. She smirked, her eyes flicking towards Cathleen, searching for a crack in her composed façade."Nothing, actually," Avery drawled. "It's just that some people might think otherwise."Xavier's body tensed, his lips pressed into a thin line. The audacity of the woman in front of him rendered him completely speechless. A weighty whisper settled, a palpable presence enveloping them both.Cathleen crossed her legs, every inch the picture of seduction. Her voice dripped honey and venom. "I'm sure it's nothing, um, sir," she purred. "I brought lunch; wanna eat?"The sharp words, filled with hidden meanings, cut through the thick air like a knife. Avery's jaw tensed, the rejection hitting her hard. With an annoyed huff, she turned abruptly on her heel, storming out ungracefully yet defiantly.The apartment door slammed, rattling in its frame as Avery unleashed her fury. "Can you imagine that witch?" s
Author Note: This chapter contains suicide and self-harm if you are triggered; please do not read.Dawn peeled through the blinds, casting a prison of shadows across Dora Jackson's face. Her eyes flicked open, heavy with the decision. She slipped from the satin sheets, her bare feet cold on the hardwood floor. There was no turning back now.The apartment felt like a mausoleum, quiet and still. She padded to Avery's room, pushing the door with a tenderness that belied the turmoil within. Avery lay there, a picture of innocence in slumber, her lips parted slightly, breaths shallow. A single wayward lock of hair marred the perfection.Dora reached out, fingertips ghosting over Avery's forehead, pushing the strand back. It felt like a betrayal, the soft sigh that escaped her lips. Her daughter, her creation, is now an unwitting Judas. The sharp sting of inevitability coiled around her heart. She couldn’t go to jail. Not that cold, unforgiving place.She leaned down, lips brushing Avery's
With a loud creak, the door to Dr. West's office swung open, breaking the sterile silence and foreshadowing the pain to come. William Jackson stumbled inside, his eyes swollen and filled with sorrow."William, what's wrong?" Dr. West's voice was sharp, cutting through the heavy air.William's knees hit the floor with a dull thud, his hands trembling as he clutched at the doctor's pant leg. "I failed your sister, Wyatt," he gasped, words strangled by sobs.Dr. West's brow furrowed, a hand reaching down to pry William's grip loose. "Get up; my sister died 25 years ago. You're mourning a ghost."But William's wails sliced the room. "No, I won't rise until you forgive me. Your sister... Cathleen... Goddamn it, what kind of father lets this happen?""Tell me everything," Dr. West commanded, pulling William to the couch with firm hands. The leather groaned under the weight of William's collapse."Dora confessed..." William's voice broke, "to killing my wife."Dr. West stood abruptly, the ch