Beneath His Control

The truth was, as much as Xavier terrified her, he also exhilarated her. His power, his intensity, the way he seemed to see through every wall she’d ever built—it was terrifying, yes, but it was also... intoxicating.

Gloria let out a low whistle, shaking her head. “ But hey, if you’re gonna marry a crazy billionaire, at least he’s offering to make you filthy rich while he’s at it.”

Sky couldn’t help but laugh, even as her heart ached with uncertainty. “Yeah, because money fixes everything, right?”

“Maybe not everything,” Gloria said with a shrug. “But it sure doesn’t hurt to have a hundred billion reasons to figure it out.”

Just then, Sky’s phone buzzed on the coffee table, the sharp vibration cutting through the tense air like a knife. Her stomach tightened as the screen lit up, the name flashing like a neon sign in the darkness: Robert.

Gloria paused mid-chew, a popcorn kernel caught between her fingertips. She shot Sky a look, her brows lifting as a slow, knowing grin spread across her face. “Oh, look,” she said, her voice dripping with amusement. “Your knight in shining Armani.”

Sky swallowed hard, ignoring her roommate’s teasing as she reached for the phone. Her hand trembled slightly, betraying the storm of emotions swirling inside her. She pressed the phone to her ear, her voice wavering as she forced out a greeting. “Hello?”

“Hey, babe.” Robert’s deep, velvety voice rolled through the line, smooth and confident, carrying a warmth that momentarily steadied her racing heart. “Get dressed. My driver will be there in an hour to pick you up. I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“A surprise?” Sky repeated, her throat dry, her heart thudding against her ribs. Robert’s surprises were never small gestures. They were grand, opulent affairs—weekend getaways on private islands, exclusive dinners at rooftop restaurants, gifts that sparkled brighter than the stars.

“Yes.” His tone softened, a hint of mischief curling around his words. “Something special. Trust me, you’ll love it.”

She hesitated, her thoughts darting to Xavier’s earlier proposition. The memory of his dark eyes pinning her in place and his voice, rich with authority, slithering through her mind like a dangerous secret. How could she face Robert now, knowing the choice that loomed before her?

“I…” Sky’s voice faltered. She bit her lip, glancing at Gloria, who was watching her with exaggerated interest, her head cocked to the side like she was tuning into a scandalous drama.

Robert must have sensed her hesitation because his voice dropped lower, taking on that tender yet commanding edge that made it impossible to refuse him. “Sky, please. Just trust me, okay? This will be worth it.”

Her heart twisted painfully. The guilt was suffocating, but so was the fear. What if she made the wrong choice? What if this surprise was his way of pushing their relationship to the next level—a level that Xavier’s proposal now overshadowed like a dark, looming shadow?

“Okay,” she finally whispered, the word barely escaping her lips.

“Good.” Relief laced Robert’s voice. “I’ll see you soon, babe.”

The call ended, leaving Sky staring blankly at the phone in her hand.

Gloria leaned back, popping another piece of popcorn into her mouth with the smug satisfaction of someone watching a train wreck in slow motion. 

“So,” she began, dragging out the word, her grin widening. “Your one-night-stand-slash-boss wants to marry you, promises you a hundred billion dollars a month to do it, and now your actual boyfriend is sending a car to pick you up for a surprise? Girl, your life is more dramatic than a soap opera.”

Sky groaned, sinking back against the couch, her hands dragging down her face. “Don’t remind me.”

“Oh, I’m not reminding you. I’m basking in this. This is prime entertainment!” Gloria laughed, her voice echoing in the small apartment. “Seriously, though, what are you gonna do? Marry the possessive Billionaire who would burn the whole world just for you or stick with Robert, who’s probably planning some candlelit dinner with, what, roses and violins?”

Sky’s stomach churned, the conflicting emotions within her churning like a stormy sea. Xavier’s proposition terrified her, yet it also sparked a strange, illicit thrill in her veins. A hundred billion dollars a month. It wasn’t just insane—it was unfathomable. But what chilled her most was how Xavier had said it, like he was stating a fact, like it was already decided.

And you’ll say yes, Sky. Because you don’t have a choice.

The words echoed in her mind, sending a shiver down her spine.

Before she could respond, the phone buzzed again, this time sharper, more urgent. She jumped, her breath catching in her throat.

“Round two,” Gloria teased, leaning forward, her popcorn bowl balanced precariously on her lap. “Who is it now? Robert again?”

But it wasn’t Robert.

It was Xavier.

Sky froze, her chest tightening as if invisible hands were wrapping around her lungs. His name stared back at her, bold and unrelenting, as if daring her to answer.

Gloria’s smirk faded. “Who is it?” she asked, her tone now laced with genuine concern.

Sky didn’t answer. Her hand hovered over the phone, her pulse roaring in her ears. She could feel Gloria’s eyes boring into her, but all her focus was on the screen, on the name that seemed to pulse with a life of its own.

With a deep breath, she pressed accept and lifted the phone to her ear. “Hello Xavier?”

“Angel” Xavier’s voice was a low, lethal growl, dripping with authority and a dangerous edge that sent a chill down her spine. “I hope you’re ready.”

“Ready?” she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Oh, my angel,” Xavier drawled, his voice thick and decadent, wrapping around her like smoke. It wasn’t just words—it was a weapon, sliding under her skin, teasing her senses, leaving her raw and exposed. “There’s no turning back.”

Sky’s stomach clenched, her breath hitching. That voice—God, that voice. It was dark, heavy, and deliberate, each syllable dripping with danger and promise. It sank into her, coiling low in her belly, pulling tight until her entire body felt like it was teetering on the edge of something she wasn’t ready to name.

Her thighs pressed together of their own accord as a wave of heat surged through her, uninvited and unwelcome. Her pussy was aching for it to be touched by him. 

Goosebumps erupted along her arms, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she gripped the phone tighter, her fingers trembling. 

What the hell is wrong with me? she thought, her heart hammering in a frantic rhythm that felt as though it was trying to drown out the fire roaring in her veins.

She should’ve been disgusted, furious even. And she was—at least, she told herself she was. But there was no denying the sharp pang of something deeper, darker, settling in her core. Desire? No, she wouldn’t give it that name. Not for him. Not for this man who seemed to thrive on twisting her world into knots.

“Xavier,” she whispered, her voice faltering as she tried to steady herself, “what do you mean?”

The line went dead.

“Xavier!” she hissed, pulling the phone back to stare at the screen, her chest heaving. Nothing. Silence. He was gone, and yet, he wasn’t. His presence lingered in the air, thick and suffocating, as though he were still there, standing behind her, his breath against her ear, his words branding her skin.

Her knees buckled, and she sank onto the edge of her bed, pressing the phone to her lips as if that could somehow mute the thoughts racing through her head. She hated him—she had to. The alternative was too dangerous to even consider. One thing was for certain. She wanted Xavier Collen to ruin her.

But deep down, in the part of herself she tried so desperately to ignore, a single, traitorous thought whispered.

What if I don’t want to turn back?