It was nearly midnight when Ivan finally returned from his work. Fatigue etched itself into the lines of his face, while a deep crease formed between his brows. He had expected Yuki to be asleep by now, yet he found her instead perched in the middle of the room with her knees drawn close to her chest, while her eyes were glued to the flickering television.
"Welcome back," she said softly, a smile gracing her lips.
Ivan's tired gaze softened at the sight. He moved toward her with silent ease, lifting her gently before seating her atop his lap.
"Having trouble sleeping?" he asked.
Yuki nodded, her hands brushing over her knees. "I waited for you… so we could sleep together," she admitted. Even as the words left her lips, she couldn't gauge the measure of his satisfaction.
Ivan responded with a single, gentle kiss. In that instant, the weight of the day seemed to lift from his shoulders.
"Because you've been a good girl, waiting for me… should we do something about it now?"
Yuki's heart quickened. She knew what he meant. The nights they had spent together had always carried an unspoken rhythm, a dark intimacy that neither needed to voice. Yet tonight, a strange dissonance stirred within her. Something was off, though she could not name it herself.
"Master…"
She lifted her gaze to meet his, steady despite the tremor in her voice.
"What am I to you?"
He had saved her from the brothel and dismantled the yakuza network that had held her captive. That alone should have secured her certainty about her place in his heart. Yet after Igor's warning, a seed of doubt had taken root, and Yuki needed confirmation, a truth beyond acts of protection.
"You are my woman," Ivan said without hesitation, his voice quiet but absolute.
Yuki bit her lip, uneasy even as she pushed further.
"And… if I asked you to choose me or your organization... what would you choose?"
Ivan's expression shifted instantly, and Yuki felt the weight of the misstep. She had stumbled into a minefield. The faint smile vanished, replaced by the sharp edges of authority. Ivan guided her down to the sofa, straddling her while holding her hands firmly in his.
"That isn't a question at all," he said flatly, his eyes dark and unyielding. "You're amusing, Yuki… but I hope you'll think before speaking next time."
The answer was clear. Ivan would not hesitate to step aside if she became an obstacle to his life. Yuki's throat tightened. Tears threatened to spill, though she fought them back. She had been foolish to believe that following him into a foreign land guaranteed her safety.
Ivan had a world of his own long before she arrived, a world where her existence is completely unnecessary.
"Are you done?" he asked, his voice a low growl that made her shiver. "You've dampened my mood with that question, Yuki."
Yuki forced a smile, raising her hands to rest against his neck.
"I'm sorry… I want you, Master."
Her words were soft, seductive, an offering to placate him. At first, Ivan did not immediately respond. But seconds later, his head lowered, lips finding the curve of her neck.
"Ah—"
Yuki squirmed beneath him, but did not resist as his teeth grazed her skin. The coldness she had feared in him had vanished, replaced with a heat so intense it left her breathless.
"Ah, Master…"
Her moan barely escaped as Ivan pressed against her, eliminating every space between them. She felt the undeniable firmness of his body, a bulge that was both imposing and intoxicating.
"Mhn…"
The friction made her tremble, each movement of his body eliciting a low, instinctive sound. Her body arched and writhed, drawing him in, compelling him to take her fully.
"Open your mouth, Yuki."
She obeyed, and his lips claimed hers with the hunger of a man who had gone too long without satisfaction. He devoured her mouth, tongue tracing, exploring. When his hand slipped beneath her clothing, grazing her tender flesh, goosebumps rose over her skin.
Then, with deliberate motion, he revealed her lower body to the cool night air. Shivers ran through her as Ivan's hand continued its exploration.
"Master…" she whispered.
"Don't speak," he murmured against her skin.
Unlike before, there was no cruel game tonight. No teasing pain, no back-and-forth torment. Tonight, Ivan gave himself to her, pure and unrestrained, moving swiftly yet tenderly, ensuring every motion drew from her only pleasure.
It was unfamiliar, yet intoxicating. And in that moment, Yuki glimpsed the depth of his desire, the shadowed contours of his love for her. She surrendered fully, eyes closed, body responding instinctively, her breath mingling with his.
When she came to herself, Yuki was seated in a large bathtub, leaning against Ivan's chest. She had never imagined he would bathe her personally. Yet there he was, fingertips tracing every inch of her with a care that contradicted the coldness he had once worn.
Her limbs felt leaden, heavy with exhaustion, yet she wanted nothing more than to revel in the intimacy, the careful devotion. Ivan had warned her that she needed stamina to endure the nights they shared. Perhaps, now she understood why.
"Master… what really happened in the red-light district?"
The words slipped from her lips between consciousness and sleep. Ivan's lips curved into a small, reassuring smile. He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head before replying.
"There's nothing for you to worry about there. For now, all that matters is that you behave—sweet and obedient—just for me."
Yuki looked up at Ivan with trembling eyes. But in the next moment, Ivan kissed her, as if he was emphasizing his words through his actions. At that moment, Yuki was sure of her choice. Yuki closed her eyes, hoping that she could enjoy Ivan's tenderness a little longer by being as obedient as he wanted her to be.
"Master…"
Yuki tried to say something, but she swallowed her words mid-sentence. Yuki smiled as Ivan's handsome face bent down to look at her. Yuki's body slowly relaxed as she finally chose to accept the darkness that had been trying to swallow her since she regained consciousness.