My Mafia Dominant Is Back

"Bend over."

The man's voice echoed behind her, magnetic and irresistible.

Lyla Sinclair trembled, feeling the coarse texture of the small leather whip grazing across her hips, again and again, each stroke both a threat and a tease.

She instinctively leaned forward, her hands pressed against the couch. Her underwear and skirt had somehow been removed, leaving her in a shameful, exposed position.

The man's broad hand caressed her buttocks, gently patting her as if calming a prized mare, a mix of punishment and reward.

In this intoxicating caress, Lyla gradually abandoned her shame. Summoning her courage, she leaned back and, with a trembling voice, said, "Let me see you."

The next second, the whip landed hard on her skin, making her gasp in pain.

"Watch your tone," the man said coolly, "What should you call me?"

The pain sharpened her mind. Lyla knew the rules of this game well-she should address him as Master. But her innate pride and shame kept her from uttering the word.

The whip lingered on her skin, tracing the fresh welt, the slight sting making her skin tighten.

"My patience is limited," the man spoke again. "Do you want me to s*pank you in front of all your students?"

Lyla's body tensed, the intense shame making her bolt upright, shouting, "No!"

The alarm clock rang mercilessly, waking Lyla from her nightmare.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't a nightmare, but rather an extension of her innermost desires. As a psychology-majored master and now a lecturer at Westhaven College, Lyla was well aware of this.

That man, buried deep in her heart, was a secret she felt ashamed of-a man who only appeared in her dreams, yet had become her most unmentionable obsession over the past three years.

She picked up her phone to silence the alarm, and suddenly a message popped up on the screen, "Are you on your way? I brought you breakfast." It was from Lucas.

"Crap." Lyla muttered, realizing she'd almost forgotten about an important department meeting at the college today.

A mysterious benefactor had donated a building to Westhaven College's Psychology Department, and today was the day to finalize the design plans. The Dean of Psychology Department encouraged all faculty to attend and share their opinions.

As an unassuming lecturer, Lyla wouldn't normally attend such meetings, since her opinions didn't carry much weight. But she was determined to apply for an assistant professorship and wanted to make an impression on the Dean and the review committee, so she had RSVP'd for the meeting.

Dragging her aching body out of bed, she quickly fixed her hair and makeup before heading out.

The Monday morning rush hour was a disaster, and by the time Lyla arrived at the meeting, the contractor's presentation had already gone through three slides.

Thankfully, the meeting was open, with around a dozen people in attendance. Lyla slipped in through the back door, found a seat, and sat down. The man next to her slid a cup of coffee and a paper bag with a croissant toward her.

"I knew you'd be late, so I grabbed a seat at the back," Lucas whispered with a gentle smile.

Lyla smiled awkwardly. She wanted to refuse, but the allure of the first coffee of the day was too great, and she wasn't sure she could get through the meeting without it. So she took the cup and took a big sip. "Thanks, I'll pay you back for breakfast later."

"Just take me to a movie," Lucas whispered, leaning in closer.

Lyla smiled again but didn't respond, focusing on her croissant instead.

She knew Lucas liked her.

As the youngest assistant professor in Psychology Department, Lucas had a stellar reputation in both academic and professional circles. Besides his academic talents, he was incredibly handsome, with striking red hair, a legacy of his Irish heritage, and a gentle demeanor.

He was a true gentleman, always respecting Lyla's wishes and maintaining a careful distance. He brought her medicine when she was sick, brought her breakfast when she was late, and was a great help with her application for assistant professor."

But Lyla always felt something was missing between them. Even though they had done most things that couples do, aside from sleeping together, their relationship remained in the limbo between friends and colleagues.

Gentleness. That was it! Gentleness.

Despite the shame Lyla felt for her dream self, she had to admit that a gentleman held no attraction for her.

In the most naïve and yearning years of her life, a man with his whip and rope had barged into her heart with conquest and desire, in a way she had never expected, and had since remained there.