Jaxon POV
I stared across the table at the one person I never imagined would be sitting there—Riley Lawson. Of all people, him?
"What are you doing here?," I growled, narrowing my eyes at him.
He looked just as shocked as I felt, his expression a mixture of confusion and disbelief.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I demanded once again, folding my arms across my chest. "This is my table. I'm meeting someone."
Riley blinked a few times, trying to find his words.
His cheeks were already flushed, whether from embarrassment or something else, I couldn’t be sure.
"I-I’m meeting someone too," he stammered, tugging at the hem of his shirt like he was trying to shrink into himself. "They told me to sit here. Table 5."
My stomach twisted, the pieces clicking into place far too quickly for my liking.
The guy I had been chatting with on the dating app. The one I’d been exchanging messages with for weeks now. Could it really be…?
"Wait." I leaned forward, my eyes narrowing further. "What’s your username?"
Riley swallowed hard, eyes darting around the room like he wanted to be anywhere but here.
"What?"
"On the app," I said, a wicked grin creeping onto my lips. "You’re Sluttycumbottom12, aren’t you?"
Riley’s eyes went wide. His entire face turned red, and I could see him stiffen like he’d just been caught doing something dirty. Which, to be fair, he had.
The realization hit me like a brick to the chest.
Riley was the one I’d been chatting with this whole time. Riley.was the one who had sent me all those nasty, sexy messages.
The one who had told me, in no uncertain terms, exactly how good he was in bed, how he could satisfy a man in ways that would make him scream.
This was too rich.
I immediately started laughing, sitting back in my chair and running a hand through my hair as I processed the ridiculousness of it all.
"You’ve gotta be kidding me. You? You’ve been talking all that slutty shit on the app this whole time?"
Riley’s face twisted in humiliation. He couldn’t even look at me anymore, his eyes glued to the table as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
Good. He should be embarrassed. The things he’d said… it was beyond anything I thought he had in him.
"I-I didn’t know it was you," Riley mumbled, his voice barely audible. "This is a mistake."
"A mistake?" I smirked, my voice laced with mocking amusement. "No, this is priceless. All those talks about how you’re an 'expert' in bed, how you’d make a man beg for more… and it’s you? The quiet little mouse in the office who can barely string a sentence together?"
He looked like he wanted to disappear, shrinking further into his seat as I continued to mock him.
But I wasn’t done yet.
"I’ve gotta admit," I leaned forward again, my voice dropping to a low, taunting whisper, "I’m curious. If you’re as good as you claim, maybe you can prove it. Show me what all that talk was about, huh?"
Riley’s head snapped up, his eyes filled with a mix of shock and disgust.
"You’re disgusting," he spat, finally finding his voice. "I’m not doing anything with you."
"Oh, come on." I grinned, enjoying how flustered he was getting. "You seemed pretty eager when you were messaging DominantDaddy23. Or was that all just talk? A little fantasy you can’t actually back up?"
His face turned an even deeper shade of red, but this time it wasn’t from embarrassment—it was from anger. Good. I liked seeing that fire in him.
It was better than the timid, submissive Riley I saw at work every day.
"You should be ashamed of yourself," Riley said, his voice trembling with barely-contained fury. "I’m not some toy for you to play with. I don’t care if you’re my boss, I don’t want to see you again. Ever."
He stood up abruptly, knocking his chair back as he did. People in the restaurant turned to look, but Riley didn’t care.
He stormed out of the restaurant, leaving me sitting there, still grinning.
For a moment, I watched him leave, my amusement quickly shifting to something darker.
Riley might think he could just walk away, but I wasn’t going to let him off that easily. No, this was too interesting, too… fun.
He’d humiliated himself by accident, but I wasn’t about to let that be the end of it.
I wanted more.
And I always get what I want.
I leaned back in my seat, a sinister smile playing on my lips as I considered my next move.
Riley had always been beneath my notice before—just another timid little boy, another employee who didn’t stand out in any meaningful way. But now, things had changed.
Now, he was someone I wanted to play with. And I would, for as long as it entertained me.
If he thought he could just walk away and pretend this never happened, he was sorely mistaken.
I’d make sure he regretted it. I’d make sure he came crawling back to me, whether he wanted to or not.
And when he did, I’d make him beg.
I glanced down at my phone, scrolling through the messages we’d exchanged on the app.
All the things Riley had said, all the promises he’d made in the heat of the moment.
I couldn’t wait to throw them back in his face, to watch him squirm as I reminded him of every filthy word he’d sent my way.
He wouldn’t be able to resist forever. I knew men like him—quiet, submissive, but with a hidden desire for someone to dominate them. He’d try to fight it, but eventually, he’d give in.
They always did.
As I got up from the table and walked out of the restaurant, I couldn’t help but laugh to myself. This was going to be fun.
Riley had no idea what he’d gotten himself into.
And by the time I was done with him, he’d wish he never crossed my path.
The game had only just begun.
Riley POVI couldn’t sit still. My leg bounced under the desk as I continuously tapped away at my keyboard, but my mind was far from focused on work. The events of last night replayed in my head.Running into Jaxon—my boss—at that fancy restaurant, the horrifying realization that we’d been chatting on that app for weeks… And the things I’d said.I cringed just thinking about it.Sluttycumbottom12.I wanted to bury myself under the office floor just remembering those humiliating conversations.But what was worse than the shame? The fear that Jaxon would fire me. The way I’d stormed out of that restaurant, insulting him in the process… who was I kidding?This was Jaxon we were talking about—he didn’t take well to being disrespected.And now, I was sure I’d be out of a job before lunchtime. My heart raced at the thought.I needed this job. Rent wasn’t going to pay itself, and I had bills stacking up as high as the skyscrapers surrounding our office.Every time the elevator opened, I f
Riley's POV "I agree" I replied reluctantly. "I'll do as you say."As I stared at the ground, a storm of emotions swirled inside me: shame, anger, helplessness. This wasn’t a choice; it was survival. I hated every bit of my decision, yet I had no other choice. Losing my job wasn’t an option, not with the crushing weight of rent and bills hanging over my head. I had worked too hard to let Jaxon ruin it all, yet here I was, at the mercy of a man who took pleasure in watching others squirm."Good decision," Jaxon said with a smug grin, leaning back in his chair. He crossed one leg over the other, folding his arms in that infuriatingly arrogant way he always did. "Though I’m honestly not surprised. You’ve always struck me as someone who knew his place."I clenched his fists behind my back, hiding them from Jaxon's view. I could feel my nails digging into my palms as I forced myself to keep my expression calm. I didn't have the luxury to express my true feelings, not now. I tried to
Jaxon's POV"That reminds me" I began, " You will start your pet duties tonight when you come to my house."I watched Riley’s face shift from disbelief to something close to panic the moment I told him about tonight. “A car will be sent to your place this evening,” I repeated, drawing out each word slowly, watching his reaction with all satisfaction. “I expect you to be ready.”Riley looked like he might faint. He swallowed sliver, his gaze darting away as if he could somehow will himself out of this situation if he just ignored it hard enough. “Tonight?” he asked, voice barely above a whisper. His shock was amusing, but I could also see something else in his eyes—a hint of defiance trying to break through the fear. And just as quickly, it vanished.“Yes, tonight,” I confirmed, raising an eyebrow. “Surely you didn’t think we’d waste time. Or is your memory already failing you?” I folded my hands, enjoying every word. “There was a rule in there about obedience, wasn’t there?”Riley’
Riley's POV I paced around my room, running my fingers through my hair for what had to be the fiftieth time. My pulse hammered in my chest, every beat a relentless reminder that the seconds were slipping by, and Jaxon’s car would arrive any minute. The weight of tonight’s arrangement pressed down on me, each detail like a stone in my gut. I didn’t know what to expect, but whatever it was, I doubted I’d come out of it the same.My eyes kept flicking to the window, as if I might see headlights flare up at any moment. I didn’t want to be caught off guard. I wanted a few more minutes of peace—or as close to peace as I could manage while my thoughts tangled like barbed wire. Just when I thought I might lose my mind, my phone buzzed, its vibration breaking the silence. I snatched it up, expecting a text from Jaxon, but my stomach lurched when I saw the name on the screen.Eric.I drew in a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. The last thing I needed was for Eric to pick up on th
Riley's POVAs we approached the more upscale part of town, the buildings grew taller, sleeker, and the lights brighter. I leaned back, forcing myself to keep my breathing steady. I needed to stay calm, no matter what Jaxon had planned. I’d agreed to this arrangement, however reluctantly, and I’d just have to endure it.But as the car turned down a winding driveway that led to an imposing mansion, my heart sank. The sprawling estate was bathed in a soft glow from the surrounding lights, its sleek, modern architecture framed by meticulously landscaped gardens. It was as much a fortress as it was a home, with high walls and security cameras stationed at every corner.The driver stopped at the front entrance, and I took a shaky breath, gathering whatever courage I had left. This was it—no turning back now.“Have a good evening, Mr. Lawson,” the driver said as he opened my door, his tone as professional as ever. I could only nod, forcing myself to take in the cool night air.The fron
Jaxon's POVThe bar’s polished wood gleamed under the dim lighting as I leaned against it, watching the crowd with calculated ease. I’d kept an eye on Riley from the moment he entered the mansion, each uncertain step revealing how out of place he felt among my guests. There was something intoxicating about seeing him surrounded by the very world he’d likely never thought he’d be pulled into. And the best part? He had no idea why he was here, let alone what I had planned for him.My smirk deepened as Riley spotted me and, with that familiar glint of reluctance in his eyes, made his way across the room. I took another sip of my drink, letting the anticipation build as he finally stopped in front of me, crossing his arms in a thinly veiled attempt to appear composed.“Why did you invite me here, Jaxon?” His voice was cold, barely hiding his irritation. “Especially knowing you were having a party. I thought tonight was supposed to be... well, you know, private.”The corner of my mouth
Riley's POVThe dim lighting softened the room’s walls and ambiance, but nothing could dim the intensity of the disgust already sitting in my gut. I forced a polite smile as the old billionaire, Sheffield, continued to eye me with a gaze that made my skin crawl. His thin lips turned up in a smirk, the kind of smile that said he’d seen and taken all he wanted in life without a second thought. And tonight, I was apparently just one more thing for him to admire and consume.Meanwhile, Jaxon was talking, going on about the company’s latest venture, weaving the tale of success he hoped Sheffield would buy into. But Sheffield’s attention was only half on the conversation, his gaze repeatedly flickering back to my face as though he were examining a new piece of art he planned to add to his collection.I clenched my jaw, struggling to keep my emotions in check. I hadn’t expected anything like this when I was told to come here tonight. My thoughts flickered back to the arrangements Jaxon
Jaxon's POV The moment Sheffield returned from the bathroom, his satisfied smirk met mine. He strolled over with the same air of entitlement I’d come to expect, his eyes gleaming as they landed on Riley, who stiffened in response. Riley's expression was a barely concealed mixture of frustration and contempt, and it amused me to no end that he was struggling to hide it.I gently hit Riley's shoulders and he turned to look at me with obvious resentment plastered on his face."You had better smile if you don't want to see my bad side" I said, my voice going to a malicious tone.Riley's eyes widened in shocked as he stared at me, wondering what he might have done wrong."I'm trying my best here" he replied. "It's not exactly easy to smile comfortably when you're being given off to an old man as a piece of candy for him to have a taste."Riley rolled his eyes then returned his gaze to the ground."Nevertheless, you should smile" I said plainly."I'm trying my best" he said."Then try har
Riley's POV The car came to a smooth halt in front of the restaurant, its glowing elegance an extravagant display of glass and lights. The sheer elegance of the building was enough to make anyone feel out of place, but I was used to this now—Jaxon’s world of wealth and sophistication had become familiar territory. Before I could reach for the door handle, it swung open, revealing one of Jaxon’s bodyguards standing tall and imposing. His movements were precise, almost rehearsed, as he stepped aside to let me out. “Thank you,” I said politely, stepping onto the almost busy driveway. “Please let the driver know to stay ready. I won’t be too long.” The bodyguard nodded respectfully, his deep voice steady. “Understood, Mr. Matthews" he said.I adjusted my jacket, smoothing down the runples and took a moment to take in the sight of the restaurant. The evening air was delicious, the faint scent of sweet and expensive perfume being carried through the breeze. A valet hurried past,
Jaxon's POV The first thing I became aware of was a soft, persistent voice pulling me from the suffocating depths of unconsciousness. It wasn’t sharp or startling, but it was there—gentle and warm, like a light tug at the edges of my mind. “Jaxon… Come on, Jaxon. It’s time to wake up now.” Alexis. I’d recognize her voice anywhere, even in this hazy void. She was the only one that could annoy me to wake up.I tried to respond, to open my eyes, but my body felt like it was filled with something heavy.My limbs were tight, my chest tight, and even my eyelids refused to cooperate. Still, her voice didn’t falter. “You’re stronger than this,” she said, her tone firm but encouraging. “Riley needs you, Jaxon. We all do. So, wake up already!” That name—Riley. It sparked something in me, like a fire lighting in full force.Slowly, painfully, I willed my eyelids to move. The room around me came into focus, and the first thing I saw was Alexis’s face hovering above mine, her eyes wide
Riley's POVThe quiet of my apartment was a welcome change after the constant hum of the hospital. I didn't have to deal with the relentless beeping of the machines connected to Jaxon and I have to admit, I felt relived that I didn't have to listen to it, even if for just a few moments.It honestly wasn't easy living without Jaxon and I couldn't believe I had become so close to him, so much that I couldn't imagine how my life would have been if we never met.I guess that's what happens with someone takes a bullet for you.I set my bag down and pulled out my phone, intending to check the time, but a text notification caught my eye. It was from Chloe. "Hey, Riley. How’s Jaxon doing?" She asked and I could feel her concern just from reading her short message.I sighed, my fingers hovering over the keyboard before I finally typed out a response. "He’s still in the coma. The doctors don’t know when or if he’ll wake up" I replied, almost feeling like these words have become some kind of
Riley's POVThe steady hum of the machines filled the hospital room, a cruel reminder of Jaxon's fragile state. I sat beside his bed, my fingers holding his hand tightly, as if my touch could somehow bring him back to me. I couldn't deny it, I was actually hoping something like that would happen and finally end this nightmare once and for all.His face was pale, almost as pale as the clean hospital sheets, and the rhythmic beeping of the monitor was the only sign that life still flowed within him. It had been weeks—weeks since he’d taken that bullet meant for me, weeks since he’d fallen into this coma, and weeks since my entire world had come to revolve around this quiet, suffocating room. I sighed, brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead. “Jaxon,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the machines. “You have to wake up. Please. I don’t know how much longer I can do this without you.” There was no response, just the rise and fall of his chest, fixed and unchangin
Riley's POV The moment Jaxon hit the floor, my entire world shattered. I pleaded with him not to go into the light but as I knelt beside him, I could feel his life draining slowly.“Jaxon please don't leave me!” I screamed, holding his head and trying to get him to stay awake. His shirt was soaked with blood, the red stain spreading fast across his chest. My hands trembled as I pressed down on the wound, desperate to stop the bleeding. His eyes fluttered open for a moment, glazed with pain, and he gave me the faintest smile. “Riley…” “Don’t you dare,” I said, my voice breaking. “Don’t you dare leave me, Jaxon. Stay with me.” His breath hitched, shallow and ragged, as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. I pressed harder on the wound, my hands slick with his blood. The warm, sticky sensation made my stomach churn, but I couldn’t afford to think about that now. Arthur stood a few feet away, his face pale and eyes wide with disbelief. He stared at Jaxon as though u
Jaxon's POV The world seemed to tilt on its axis the moment my father pulled the gun from his jacket. Since when did my father carry a gun? This was entirely new to me and I tried my best to process fast what exactly I was stsriiat: the barrel of a loaded gun.Growing up, I have always looked at my father as a man of power, control, and manipulation. He didn’t need weapons—his words alone had the sharpness of blades. But there he was, holding a gun, his face twisted in fury, and the cold metal glinting under the dim light. “Drop the gun, Dad,” I said, my voice calm despite the storm of emotions raging inside me. “This isn’t you. This isn’t how we do things.” His grip tightened around the gun, his knuckles white. “Don’t lecture me, Jaxon. You have no idea what I’m capable of.” Riley’s voice trembled behind me. “Arthur, please… put the gun down. You don’t need to do this.” Arthur’s eyes darted to Riley, his hatred so palpable it felt like a physical force in the room. “Y
Riley's POV The air in the room was suffocating, thick with tension and the undeniable scent of danger. My chest tightened as I glanced around, the four guards surrounding us like wolves circling their prey. My hands trembled, and my legs felt like they might give out at any moment. I had faced enough trials in one day and I was already too tired to even continue another confrontation.I instinctively grabbed hold of the back of Jaxon's shirt as I leaned in closer to him, feeling the intimidating stares from the bodyguards that surrounded us with their huge, muscular bodies."Don't worry, Riley. I've got you. I'll keep you safe" I heard Jaxon say despite the huge amount of tension he was under.I looked at Jaxon as he remained standing in front of me, his broad shoulders squared and his head held high. His body was a solid wall of defiance and determination, shielding me from the menacing gazes of the guards. Although I could feel his intention to protect me, I could tell our s
Jaxon's POV The cold night air felt sharp against my skin as I parked my car far from the house and stepped into the shadows. I kept my eyes on the road ahead to make sure I was a safe distance from where Riley was being held by my father.I checked my phone once again to make sure the tracker signaling Riley was still up ahead was still working despite being a considerably distance from town.I sent Chloe a text, updating her of where I've gotten and told her to be on standby because I had a feeling I might need her.I couldn't tell just how this rescue operation might go and I didn't want to take the risk of putting Riley's life in more danger than it already was.The safe house stood in the distance, surrounded by tall trees and an eerie silence that settled heavily in the atmosphere that almost made me shudder.I took quiet steps as I surveyed the environment to look for a good entry point where I was sure I won't be seen or detected by my father's goons.Thanks to all the James
Riley's POV I laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling, my fingers brushing against the worn fabric of the blanket beneath me. My mind churned as I tried to piece together where I was and why Arthur Steele would have a place like this. Arthur didn’t seem like the type to hide away in secret locations. He was a man who dominated every room he entered, a master manipulator who controlled people and situations with ruthless efficiency. So why have a place like this? And more importantly, why bring me here? I rubbed my temples, the silence of the room amplifying the questions in my head. My thoughts spiraled, shifting to Jaxon. Was he looking for me? Did he know where I was? The idea that he might be out there, searching for me, gave me a small sliver of hope. My train of thought was interrupted by the abrupt sound of the door unlocking. I sat up, heart pounding, as one of Arthur’s bodyguards entered the room. He was the taller of the two, the one with the annoyed face.He thre