PROLOGUE
DYLAN
My heart raced like a wild stallion as I crossed the threshold into the grand corridor of Belle Amé, which means beautiful soul, a reflection of its enchanting allure. I couldn't forget the first time I set foot here, a private haven where one could unleash their deepest desires, a place reserved exclusively for those willing to pay a hefty price for entry.
Everywhere I looked, the tools of passion and submission adorned the room-floggers, gag balls, and handcuffs, all whispering tales of unspoken pleasures. The very air carried the scent of lust, a perfume that greeted me with every step into the pavilion. It was a world where judgments held no sway, where people could liberate their true selves, so long as they adhered to the rules of this clandestine realm.
"Miss Gordon," a voice called from behind, and I spun around to face a man in a sharp tuxedo. "Mr. Orsini is expecting you. Please follow me," he said with a slight nod.
My heart raced as I trailed him through the pulsating atmosphere. I couldn't fathom why Cassius had asked me to meet him here. While I was aware he owned this place, I questioned the appropriateness of inviting his fiancée to such an establishment.
We stopped before a crimson door, and the guide spoke once more, "Mr. Orsini awaits you inside, miss," before giving a bow and disappearing into the shadows.
Drawing in a deep breath, I turned the knob and pushed the door open. The room welcomed me with the passionate cries of a woman. My heart thudded as I beheld her, bound, gagged, wrists and ankles tethered to a spreader bar, blindfolded, and utterly exposed.
"Close the door, Dylan," came a command from a voice I knew all too well.
I felt as though I'd been under his spell, and I did as he bade, my eyes locked on the woman who stood exposed before me.
Startled, I watched as Cassius, the man I thought I knew, began to wield a flogger with practiced skill, its leather strands dancing upon the woman's tender flesh. Her moans and cries were stifled by the cruel embrace of the gag ball that silenced her. I couldn't discern if her cries were of pain or pleasure.
The scene before me was a whirlpool of sensations, and I tried to avert my gaze.
"Don't look away, Dylan. I want you to witness it all," he murmured. Like a marionette guided by his words, I complied, my eyes fixed on the mesmerizing display.
Cassius, his gaze locked onto mine, continued his fervent display, the flogger in his hand descending with rhythmic precision. I tried to avert my gaze, feeling overwhelmed by the spectacle before me.
"Don't look away, Dylan. I want you to see everything," he commanded, and like a marionette, I followed his words without hesitation. "This is the hell that I'm living in, Dylan. An angel like you has no place here," he declared before releasing the flogger from his grip. He panted, clearly relishing the activity he had just performed. This was the man he was.
Now, I understand why he didn't want to marry me. I remained frozen in place, like a statue carved from stone, as my mind grappled with the torrent of secrets unraveling before my eyes. It was as if time had come to a standstill, and I couldn't muster the strength to make a single movement.
"You should be running by now, Dylan," he uttered once again.
"Is this the reason why you never wanted to pursue the wedding? You think I'm not fit for this?" I asked when I finally found the strength to speak.
Cassius's response hung in the air like a heavy curtain, shrouding me in confusion. "What else could it be?" he replied, his words laden with a gravity that sent a shiver down my spine. It was as though a revelation had cracked the facade of my understanding, exposing a world I had never dared to imagine before. A realm of hidden desires and secrets that stirred something deep within me.
A sudden urge surged through me-an unexplainable compulsion to prove something, perhaps to Cassius or maybe to myself. Without hesitation, I began to move, each step deliberate and measured, toward the woman who was bound across the spreader. My eyes remained locked with Cassius's, an unspoken challenge passing between us. I watched as his jaw clenched and his gaze locked onto me with a burning intensity, like a storm of passion swirling in his eyes.
My path led me around the very spot where he had been standing moments ago, wielding the flogger with a practiced hand. As I walked, I couldn't help but notice the array of tools neatly arranged on a nearby table. Cassius followed my gaze, and then his eyes returned to mine, unwavering in their intensity. I had no clear plan in mind, but he didn't need to know that. My fingers traced gently over the various implements on the tray, lingering briefly on each one, as if contemplating their purpose.
Finally, my hand settled on a sleek vibrator, its surface cool and smooth against my skin. Cassius continued to watch, his gaze never leaving mine, his curiosity palpable in the air.
"What are you doing, Dylan?" He inquired, his voice filled with tension. His eyes remained locked onto mine, and I could see the subtle movement of his Adam's apple as it bobbed with a swallow of anticipation.
I chose not to answer him with words. Instead, I moistened my lips and sensually ran my tongue along the tip of the vibrator. It was an intentionally provocative act, one that didn't escape Cassius's watchful gaze. I savored the moment, drawing it out until I was thoroughly satisfied, my gaze never leaving his.
With newfound confidence, I activated the device, a soft hum filling the room, and then I placed it against the woman's most intimate place.
A muffled moan escaped her lips, stifled by the gag ball that held her voice in check. Her body arched, responding to the sensations coursing through her. I continued to tease and tantalize her, guiding her on a journey of pleasure until she reached the peak of her ecstasy. Her breath came in rapid bursts as I finally switched off the vibrator, allowing her to slowly descend from the heights of her climax.
Cassius's eyes met mine once more, burning with a fervent desire. What occurred next was beyond anything I could have foreseen. The boundaries of our world seemed to dissolve, and he stood before me, our bodies mere inches apart.
Before I could utter a word, Cassius moved with startling swiftness, his hand finding my nape and his fingers curling possessively. In an instant, his lips claimed mine in a fiery kiss, a collision of emotions and desires that left me breathless and dizzy.
In the midst of that passionate moment, I felt completely overwhelmed, carried away by a rush of intense emotions. Our lips met in a passionate kiss, a powerful blend of desire and longing that felt all-encompassing. For a brief moment, it was as if everything else vanished, and there was only the intense connection between us.
But just as quickly as that surge of passion had engulfed me, I regained my composure. It was as if a shock of cold water had snapped me back to reality, making me realize that I didn't want to be ensnared in Cassius's world, treated as a mere pawn in a game of desire.
With newfound determination, I pushed him away, ending our heated kiss. He hadn't anticipated this, so it was relatively easy for me to put some distance between us. His desire-filled gaze remained fixed on me, his lips still carrying the warmth of our intense encounter. He moved as if to draw me back into his embrace, to reclaim my lips in another passionate kiss.
However, I stood my ground, resolute in my decision. Without hesitation, I delivered a firm and resounding slap across his cheek. The sharp sound echoed in the room, serving as a stark reminder that I wouldn't allow myself to be swept away by the currents of his world without a fight.
"You know, Cass," I retorted, my voice laced with a mix of frustration and disappointment, "you could have simply asked me if I was willing to be a part of this." I didn't wait for his response; instead, I walked past him, my steps determined as I headed toward the exit. The weight of what had just transpired hung heavily in the air.
But just before I could step out of the room completely, a thought compelled me to turn and face Cassius once more. I wanted him to understand the gravity of my decision. "And there's no need to worry," I declared, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside me. "I'll be canceling our engagement."
With those final words, I turned on my heel and left that room behind, leaving Cassius standing there, his expression a mix of astonishment and bewilderment.
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