The money changed everything and nothing. First deposit hit on a Tuesday. Quiet ping on my phone while I stared at spreadsheets that no longer mattered. Fifty thousand dollars. Clean. Taxed already. Some offshore account magic. I sat in my new office. Door closed. Blinds half shut against the afternoon glare. I stared at the balance until the numbers blurred. Dad's voice echoed from childhood. Rough hands on a wrench. "Easy money's the devil's bait, son."
I bought a watch. Stupid. Gold. Heavy. Swiss brand Victor wore. I strapped it on. Felt the weight pull my wrist down. Like cuffs disguised as luxury. Isabella noticed immediately that night in the penthouse. She traced the face with one nail. Red polish chipped from earlier when she scratched my back raw.
"Marking territory already." Her voice purred low. She stood at the window. City lights flickered across her skin. Naked except for the key chain. It glinted between breasts that rose and fell slow. "Victor will approve."
Approve. The word twisted in my gut. I stepped behind her. Hands on hips. I pulled her back against me. Hard already. Always. She ground slow. Ass teased through my slacks.
"Shower first." She slipped away. Robe forgotten on the floor. Water hissed from the bathroom. Steam billowed out like secrets.
I followed. Glass stall big enough for four. She soaped my chest. Fingers circled nipples until they peaked hard. She knelt. Took the watch off gentle. Set it on the marble bench. Mouth replaced hands. Hot water cascaded over us. Her hair plastered dark to shoulders. She sucked deep. Throat relaxed until nose buried in my groin. Eyes up. Gray storms watched my face contort.
I pulled her up before I finished. Turned her to the wall. Hands flat on tile. I entered from behind. Slow thrust that buried to the hilt. She pushed back. She met every slam. Water sluiced between us. It mixed with her wetness. I reached around. Fingers on clit. Rubbed circles. She came first. Walls clenched. Moan echoed off glass.
I followed. Spilled inside. Always inside now. Pill. She said. Clean.
We toweled off. She wrapped in silk. Me in nothing. She led to the kitchen. She cooked steak. Rare. Blood pooled on the plate. She fed me bites from her fork. Wine on her lips. Conversation light at first. Markets. Victor's Tokyo trip extension. Then deeper.
"You spent on the watch." She sipped. Eyes over rim. "What else?"
"Nothing." Lie. I transferred half to Mom's account. Anonymous. "College loans paid." The note said. She called crying. Thought it was a scam.
Isabella set the glass down. "Liar." But smile played. "Family ties. Dangerous."
She stood. She pulled me to the dungeon. Door hidden behind a bookshelf. Key from her chain. Stairs down. Air cooler. Scented with leather and wax.
Room glowed red. Chains dangled from ceiling. Bench padded black. Walls mirrored. Infinite reflections.
"Strip."
I did. Watch left upstairs. Naked. Vulnerable.
She selected a paddle. Wood. Holes drilled for sting. "Ten. For lying."
I bent over the bench. Wrists cuffed to legs. Ass up.
First strike cracked loud. Pain bloomed hot. I counted. "One."
By five tears pricked. By ten sobs broke free. Cock hard against the leather. Leaking.
She uncuffed. Turned me. Knelt. She licked tears from cheeks. "Pretty when you break."
She pushed me to the floor. Straddled face. Ground on my tongue until she flooded my mouth. Salty. Sweet.
Then the bench again. This time her on it. Legs spread in stirrups. I ate her slow. Teased edges. Avoided clit until she begged. Voice cracked. Ice melted.
I fucked her there. Deep strokes. Paddle marks rubbed my hips. She clawed my arms. Drew blood.
We came together. Loud. Echoes forever.
Aftercare in the tub. Bubbles high. She washed the welts gentle. Kissed each one. Held me like a child.
"Victor returns tomorrow." She whispered into my hair. "Be careful. He smells weakness."
Weakness. Me.
We slept in the dungeon bed. Small. Chained to wall. She locked a cuff around my ankle. "So you don't wander."
I woke to her mouth. Slow wakeup blowjob. She swallowed. Unlocked.
Breakfast. Eggs. Toast. She in suit now. Ready for office.
"Drive with me."
Chauffeur. Back seat tinted. Her hand in my lap. Stroked through fabric. Stopped at red lights. She bent. Took me in mouth quick. Pulled off before finish.
Office. Separate entrances. I took stairs two at a time. Hard and frustrated.
Victor summoned at ten. His office smelled cigar and old leather.
"Sit." He poured scotch. Neat.
I drank. It burned.
"Asia deal closes Friday. You're point." He slid folder. "Isabella prepped you?"
I nodded. Throat dry.
He leaned in. Eyes bloodshot. "She's fond of you. Rare." Pause. "Don't fuck it up."
Fond. Understatement.
I left. Sweating.
Lunch. She texted. *Roof. Now.*
Helipad. Wind whipped. She waited. Coat flapped.
She pushed me against the fence. City far below. Unzipped. Knelt. She sucked hard. Fast. Wind howled. She swallowed. Stood. Fixed lipstick.
"Focus this afternoon."
Meeting. Boardroom. Victor at head. Isabella beside. I presented. Numbers flawless. Thanks to her late nights "tutoring."
Applause. Victor beamed. "My protégé."
Her foot under table again. Toes in heel. Traced my ankle.
Dinner that night. Mansion. Investors. I sat across from Isabella. Victor's hand on her knee public. Mine itched private.
Speeches. Toasts. She excused to "check on dessert."
Text. *Library.*
I slipped away. Bookshelves tall as trees. She waited behind globe bar.
She hiked gown. No panties. Bent over antique desk.
I fucked quiet. Books shook. I came inside. Pulled out slow. Watched drip down her thigh.
Back to table. She smiled sweet. Victor none the wiser.
Week flew. Money spent slow. Apartment upgrade. Sublet old one. Clothes. Tailored.
She approved. "Look like power."
Nights varied. Some tender. Bath. Massage. Her head on my chest. Listened heart.
Others brutal. Whips. Clamps. Nipples purple next day. Hidden under shirt.
Victor noticed nothing. Or pretended.
Co-workers whispered. "Golden boy." Jealousy thick.
One. Sarah from accounting. Flirted. Coffee invite.
I told Isabella.
"Accept." Eyes gleamed.
I did. Café downstairs. Sarah pretty. Blonde. Eager.
Hand on my arm. Laugh too loud.
Text from Isabella. *Kiss her.*
What?
I did. Quick peck. Sarah blushed.
Photo snapped. Unknown.
That night Isabella showed it. "Good."
Jealousy? Or control.
I fucked angry. Pinned her. Thrusts punishing.
She laughed through moans. "Mine."
Orgasm hit her hard. She scratched face.
Marked.
Next day Sarah transferred. Sudden.
Isabella's doing.
Power.
Money hit again. Hundred now. Saved most.
I bought lingerie for her. Black lace. Crotchless.
She wore it. Surprised in penthouse.
I ripped it off. Fucked on balcony. City watching. Risk high.
I came on her back. Watched it drip.
Inside. She turned. "Careful. Pill slipped. Period late."
Late.
Heart stopped.
"Test tomorrow."
Test.
Pregnancy.
Scare starting.
But that night denial. I fucked slow. Missionary. Eyes locked.
"Whatever happens. Mine."
Yours.
We slept tangled.
Morning. She peed on stick. Bathroom door open.
We waited. Three minutes eternal.
Negative.
Relief. Hers? Mine?
She tossed it. "False alarm."
But seed planted. Doubt.
Victor called. "Weekend retreat. Hamptons. You too."
Family trip.
Isabella smiled. "Pack light."
Light. Nothing fit anymore.
Old me gone.
Watch heavy on wrist.
Gold weight.
Contract invisible chain.
The test negative in trash.
But what if next time?
For now the money. The sex. The control.
Addiction complete.
Deeper still.
The air tasted of rust and leather. Silence thick as wool muffled the cracks.