Se connecterZOEâS POV My heart hammered in my chest as I got to the playroom. I slipped off my heels and did a quick, probably very messy, braid as my eyes took in the room. The room was big, in a beige and dark brown theme. He had a couple of LED lights on the ceiling, which lit up the room just enough for it to still be sensual without brightening up the place too much. In the middle of the room was a huge bed that could probably take three adults. There was a St. Andrews cross, pedestal, and other equipment positioned in different corners of the room whilst a sex swing hung from the ceiling. On the wall hung different types of whips and paddles; the sight of them made goosebumps erupt on my skin. Kneeling, I sat on my heels and did my best to assume the position Julian had instructed me on. Julian made me wait for longer building up the dread and suspense. He gave me time to come up with several things he could do to me, making me shiver in anticipation. The door opened behind me a
ZOEâS POV I took several steps towards him, my heart hammering loudly in my chest. I stopped walking when I was directly in front of him. His eyes moved over my face, lingering for a moment before dropping to the coat wrapped around me. âCan I take your coat?â I nodded hesitantly,.âYes.â He untied the sash, then reached for the buttons, undoing them slowly. One by one, until the coat fell open and his gaze dropped to what I was wearing underneath. For a moment, he said nothing. His eyes travelled over the black lace, taking in the delicate straps, the sheer fabric hugging my waist and the way it accentuated my curves. Then his mouth curved slightly.âSo beautiful.â Heat rushed to my cheeks. I suddenly became very aware of how little I was wearing, especially with him standing there in his pants and shirt. He slipped the coat from my shoulders and hung it over the back of a nearby chair. âWould you like something to drink, kitten?â I swallowed.âYes, please.â â
ZOEâS POV I had never been so grateful for a parked car in my entire life. The moment I noticed the shadow moving behind Madisonâs curtains, I ducked. My knees hit the pavement, and I bit back a curse as I crouched beside the nearest vehicle, praying that whoever was approaching the window hadnât seen me. For several seconds, I didnât move. My heart was pounding so violently I was convinced someone would hear it. I pressed a hand against my mouth, barely daring to breathe. Then I caught a glimpse of Madisonâs face through the curtains. I immediately pulled my head back. Oh, God. Had she seen me? I stayed frozen, my eyes fixed on the narrow gap beneath the car. Every second felt painfully long. I could hear the faint movement of footsteps, followed by the rustle of fabric. Then the curtains shifted. I squeezed my eyes shut. Please donât look outside. Please donâtâ I didnât move immediately; I waited until I was certain there was no one coming out before carefully s
Julianâs Pov I dialled her number and she picked up after the second ring.âHello, sweetheart.â âHi.â She breathed. âHow are you?â âBetter now that Iâve heard your voice.â It wasnât entirely a lie. Despite my irritation, hearing her voice eased something in my chest that had been tight since Raymond mentioned her name. âHow was your evening?â I asked. âGood. Quiet.â I looked at the photograph of Richard outside Madisonâs house. âDid you get home safe?â âUhmm. Yes.â The answer came quickly, too quickly. I pressed my tongue against the inside of my cheek. âGood.â âWhy do you ask?â âBecause I want to see you.â There was a brief silence before a breathless, âOh.â I could almost picture her expression. The slight widening of her eyes, the uncertainty she would try to conceal, the way sheâd probably sit up straighter as she wondered whether Iâd changed my mind about giving her space. âTonight?â she asked. âTonight Kitten.â âOkay. What time?â The immedia
Julianâs Pov My phone rang just as I was about to close the report on my desk. Raymond. I leaned back in my chair and answered the call. âTell me you have something useful.â âI have something better than useful.â His voice carried the faint satisfaction of a man who had finally found the missing piece of a puzzle. âI have photographs of Richard, Vivienne, and someone else you might find interesting.â That caught my attention.âSend them to my email.â âAlready done. I sent them a few seconds ago.â With my phone still to my ear, I opened my inbox. Raymondâs email sat at the top, with several attachments beneath a brief message. I clicked the first photograph. Richard Forrester was standing outside a bank, looking towards the entry. In the second, Vivienne emerged from the building and approached his car. The third showed them inside the vehicle, talking. I enlarged the image. Vivienne was leaning toward him, her expression relaxed. Whatever they were discussing, she
Zoeâs PovThis was probably a bad idea but I couldn't bring myself to turn around. About twenty minutes later, Richard turned into a quieter residential area.The buildings here were older, many of them constructed from red brick, with narrow entrances and small trees lining the pavements. I slowed down as the sedan pulled toward a block of apartment buildings.My pulse quickened as Richard stopped near the entrance. Vivienne opened the passenger door, stepped out, adjusted her coat, and bent down to speak to him through the open window.He said something in return. Then she smiled, waved, and disappeared through the buildingâs entrance. I drove past without slowing down too much, my eyes fixed on the rearview mirror until I was certain she hadnât noticed me.I continued down the road, turned at the next intersection, and pulled over a few streets away. I should have been satisfied. Iâd confirmed that Richard and Vivienne were meeting outside work, and now I knew where heâd dropped he
ZOEâS POV The elevator hummed softly as it began its slow ascent. The walls were mirrored on three sides, polished to a shine that reflected us from every angle. The ride was charged with unspoken words. I stood next to him with my overnight bag at my feet, trying very hard not to stare.
ZOEâS POV I wriggled out of Julianâs arms and jumped to the floor, my heart still pounding as I scrambled into my shorts. I then heard the familiar voice of Old Mrs Oâneil floating through the door, followed by another faint knock. âZoe? Zoe dear, are you in there?â I glanced at Julian,
ZOEâS POV You know that feeling of being watched? The one that makes your skin prickle and your pulse race at the same time? The one that tells you youâre taking a risk⌠and dares you to take it anyway. That was exactly how i felt as Julianâs words floated into my ears. âEyes on me, baby
ZOELLA I have done a lot of things in my life but stalking has never been one of them. But right now as I sat across from Julian, it sure felt like I was stalking him. Come to think of it, he had called me a stalker when I slipped into the backseat of his car. Life really knew how







