Until You Say Stop

o calm, but to stillness so

g outside

teps in

ssive quiet of a hous

not to take up space. The sheets are cool and twisted, a mess of silk and unrest. The fire in you

ain in your mind. B

evi

ot because he still loved her-but because she knew hi

come back t

im of the version of

to understand just how

errupts your thoughts.

...

eart ticking

second later, and

n't kn

like they were born in the shadows. No. This one stands tall, spine military-straight, eyes

on you like a

ownstairs," she

ho she is, where exactly she's taking

't wait.

ou fo

ay. The walls tighter. Like

ss corridor, the solarium, the west-facing gallery-and into a hallway you've never

d, there'

gold handles. Just

then opens it without

ook bruised. The space is small but curated-bookshelves that reach the ceiling,

tanding nea

mething more formal but no less dangerous. A soft gray dress clings to her like smoke, her

n you s

stra

ilored black. There's nothing soft about him-not his face, not his stan

decis

s meet yours

he says. "He's he

But your gaze do

thing worse than Adrian's con

t need to do

the

e small and sharp. "You m

s. At the way he says them-l

ve a

unconcerned. "But for now, I'

nce st

n, but his expres

lly ne

laugh. "She doesn't

se," Roman says, eyes still o

faint tightening of the jaw. A flick

at him. "Wh

rs without l

t," he

urse

the cases along the walls. "You want to know who you're

ject behind the glas

first thing

bl

Didn't even flinch when they caught him. Just looked the man i

a thing for reclaiming what

n't look

message

re because yo

because you

ai

you. "You still thin

on't

ce is temporary. He's not to be questioned. He's not t

aze linge

y. "Some things look beauti

ok at

first time

e thing be

ing being

e eith

xpects yo

ber walking bac

Your pulse won't calm down. And your fi

can still feel the weight of Roman's eye

ri

g to measure the

efore-and was only waiting fo

kind of man walks into a room and is obeyed without question? Even

ilence-it

as..

g to shut the thoughts out, but they won't

twisted seduction that ends with Adrian pulling you in

s you this chapte

t's being test

errupts you

on't

n't ha

r opens

alks into-which he does. Except this time, he doe

choosing his words bef

at him. "W

Doesn't ask

se he

ys softly. "One of the people

"So you wor

I owe

ch knots.

doesn't

sts his hands on your thighs like he's done it a thousa

nted you to

hen why did you

se he

all h

way he s

l wasn't ev

hing his face. "Is this s

s falling to yo

at is it

much now. He crosses the room to the window and draws the

ing tested," h

r tilts

d, slowly. "Te

e's something raw in t

f I can k

bl

again, slower no

's weakness disguised as sentiment. He trained me

o

sn't s

hear i

ana?" y

eant to be permanent. She was the final

tches. "What d

ooks awa

e-he's not goi

in this house aren't

eant to b

r creak

e, it's

s L

amused, one brow lifted like she's walk

ry good job hiding her

meant to

she's not meant to be kept, either. Roman's watc

Liana's eyes ar

is house," she says softly. "Because the ones

er a look. "T

e only

s to be chosen by a man like you. Let her know that being

eave-but pause

ys without looking back. "You don't k

en she

part of you humming w

ok at

n who once seemed

d

ou were ever meant

to Adrian for th

n you leave the room. Doesn't

w, is worse

than

doesn't ignore

for them

d

what part of you

along cold marble and velvet wallpaper. This house-this prison disguised as

too q

footsteps. No movement. Just you, and the cre

hat he is when n

ove the staircase, gripping

grand foyer yaw

n you h

o

bt

si

idden, not spoken of. Just...absent. As though Adrian built this place to look com

low the

the s

the k

inted the same color so it almost disappears

ch the

s c

notes. You open the door and descend the stairs slowly. The air chang

nto isn't like the

trippe

en chairs scattered across the room, as if s

center, a g

bl

it

, wrong against the roughness of its

ing at t

ma

chway, your breath c

sn't l

ong there, like this is the only place he ever

break in a

ward without

stops

slices

," he says, his voice as flat a

hen why didn't y

to look

le he is-no softness in his eyes, no crue

ly, "only spring when the p

ulse s

s to the o

it

on't

uth curves

"But you haven't even begun to understan

our eyes. "T

y chosen you. And you..." He tilts his head, studying you again like

ould d

ing along, just surviving, just

you

voice tells you that he's

ing to w

ver to the piano's lid, and

Adrian keeps th

ake yo

only place in the hou

at him,

is illusion. Designed. Controlled. But here? He

ack, instinct pulling

tches yo

ach the doorway, he sp

possession fo

n't lo

u

Not through the halls

t you mistook Adria

hought his silen

rself he couldn't ruin

ach your room, you

our h

teady

rifying

dersta

not bein

being

f you

just los

hat no longer remembers w

tling from Roman's words, from the quiet violenc

ruins the things he loves. The way his thumb brushed your

the way he le

nt

it

do

rns low now, a lazy flicker casting long shadows across

your phone lights up

ri

airs. To th

plana

nctua

nother

slightly as you r

yourself

go a

room. Not dead-just holding its breath. As if

osed doors. You've passed it before, but never been summoned there. It's

g jasmine and rain-soaked stone. The walls are all glass, framed in black steel, revealing the

in his pocket and the other cradling a cr

k at you when

sn't h

e the

u

ke a lock-even thou

he says,

ay no

to face y

's no

ang

unger, watching you like he's debating

ays, stepping toward you. "Spoke to R

nd he'll be in your space again

murmurs, "you ca

tens. "What do y

your mouth, then lower,

ryth

ands heavy

ely-and brushes your hair back from y

of

'm shaping y

low. "Ar

t, then stops just above your chest. "I'm just wak

reath

from

m h

e kno

s somehow worse than if he'd touched you harder

ou can feel the whisper of h

ready yet," he m

-an instinct,

just enough to l

you hate the most, isn't it? Not that I'm

is time his mouth i

t I can make

shameful. Or would be-if you didn't know h

e step

aws hi

e that, you'

your eyes like a man ca

bed," h

hesi

ow

tu

av

oot a

your steps down the hallway

like a

on't

shallow. Adrian's touch still lingers-not on your skin, but

ets in your fists

ep does

thing in you

in you is

e wors

feel like

like pe

arrives with a knock-not at

hat Adrian does

t kick do

l you unlock

dor, a single envelope lies on the floor in front of your door. Crea

y know who

seal with trem

a note, ha

a reason. And reaso

usk. Wear something that ma

il the ink feels like it'

t makes you f

thighs press toget

hat you do

erything feels either too obvious or too meek. You want to feel owned, but not weak-you

Not soft black,

h slit. B

t wear i

f you that wants him to lo

ows from the insi

s fo

hts

enter-and for a moment,

you h

vo

t you'd c

tu

s shirt is undone at the collar. Sleeves rolled up. There's something raw in

to entertain

id, slow-down your b

rs. "You're he

r chin. "Are

ot warm. Not cru

t y

o the seat ac

u

, neither of

mewhere outside, a storm is threatening the sky-b

ws on the table. "Tell me

aze. "You mean

ts his

control," you say. "And I thin

ilence settle

und the table, and stops be

come to rest on

i

ses

omfor

t," he whispers, bending low. "But it's a blade. I keep it

head just slig

t part i

h hot against the

have let you leave the

el it,

t pooli

hat's no l

n your arms. Not enough to

to stop,"

sh

ould s

t out a breath-

your skin. "You think this is seducti

es flut

th

ulls

o

with him, and you'

y ag

se, un

walking tow

ning back. "I'll see you when you're rea

he disappears