Chapter 224

Her stomach dipped, heat flooding low between her thighs.

“Do you still think I’m a child?” she asked, her voice trembling.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he turned and walked to the minibar. Elena stood frozen as he poured himself a drink.

“I want you,” she said simply.

He turned to her, brow raised. “You think that’s enough?”

“Yes,” Her heart pounded. “I’m not looking for a fairytale.”

“Then what are you looking for?”

Her voice was barely a whisper. “You.”

Ryan’s grip tightened slightly. “You’re playing a dangerous game.”

“I know the risks.”

“And I don’t need love,” he said, voice low. “I need control. Obedience. Respect. I want someone who’ll crawl if I tell them to. Who’ll give me everything without question.”

She stared at him, heart pounding, throat dry.

“You still want me now?” he asked.

She nodded.

He shook his head slowly. “Say it. Say you want me to own you.”

Her breath caught.

“Say it, Elena.”

“I want you to own me.”

His eyes flared, something feral and hot flashing across his face. “Jesus,” he muttered, turning away again like he was afraid he might actually break.

She didn’t move.

Finally, he walked to the massive leather couch and sat, gesturing for her to do the same.

She moved toward him slowly, her thighs brushing together beneath her skirt.

“You scared?” he asked as she sat on the opposite end.

“Yes.”

“Good. I’m not going to fuck you,” he said, voice like gravel. “Not yet. Not until you’re legal. But make no mistake, I will have you.”

Her lips parted.

“And when I do,” he murmured, “it’ll be on my terms. My rules. My pace.”

“Rules?” she whispered.

His gaze darkened. “You break them, I break you,” he added, dragging his thumb down her throat.

“I won’t hold your hand. I won’t play nice.”

She closed her eyes, shivering. “And if I still say yes?”

“Then you do what I say. No questions. No games.”

“And if I say no?”

His touch disappeared. “Then you walk out that door and we forget this ever happened.”

They sat in silence for a beat, the air electric between them.

“What happens now?”

He exhaled harshly, dragging a hand through his hair like he was trying to shake her off. But when he looked at her again, something cracked through the surface.

“Tomorrow,” he said.

“What?”

“You come back tomorrow night. Eight o’clock. Same door.”

Her stomach flipped. “Why?”

“Because if you’re really going to step into my world, I want to see how far you’re willing to go.”

“And if I come?”

His eyes burned into hers. “Then it begins.”

She stared at him, trying to breathe. He turned away, walking back to the window, the city lights casting long shadows across his sharp jawline.

“Go home, Elena.”

She didn’t move.

“Now,” he said, without turning.

She walked to the door, heart pounding, skin humming. She paused before opening it.

“You’re not the only one who’s scared,” she said quietly.

He didn’t answer. The door clicked shut behind her.

. . . . . . . . . . .

Jade had cornered Ryan an hour before Elena arrived.

Ryan stood still, fists clenched. He wasn’t supposed to feel anything. He wasn’t supposed to care. But the image of her trembling lip, the softness of her voice, the fucking hope in her eyes, it branded itself into his skull.

“You called her?” Jade’s voice was sharp.

“Don’t start,” Ryan warned. “It’s handled.”

“Bullshit. You don’t handle things like this,” Jade said. “I’m reminding you who the hell you are.”

“I know exactly who I am.”

“Then act like it,” Jade snapped. “She’s seventeen, man. This is not a game.”

“Of course, it’s not.” Ryan finally met his gaze. “I’m not fucking her, not until she’s eighteen.”

Jade scoffed. “Since when do you have self-control?”

“Since the alternative is prison.”

“And after that?”

Ryan didn’t answer.

Jade sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Ryan, listen to me. She’s a kid. She’s Enric Carter’s daughter. This isn’t just reckless, it’s suicide.”

Ryan’s jaw clenched. “I know.”

“Then what the hell are you doing?” Jade exhaled. “You’re not built for this. You don’t do feelings. You chew girls up and spit them out.”

Ryan finally said, “She’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Why?”

Because I just need to see her.

Because I can’t stop thinking about her.

Because she’s under my skin.

Because I’ve never wanted someone this badly.

He didn’t say any of that. Instead, he shrugged. “Curiosity.”

Jade shook his head. “You’re playing with fire.”

Ryan smirked. “I always do. I love fire.”