Her lips quivered. “Please…” I let the silence stretch until it filled the room like smoke. Then I leaned back, one arm slung over the chair, smirking. “Fine. If you can’t take it off,” I drawled, letting my eyes linger deliberately on her trembling hands clutching at her blouse, “then I’ll take s
Piece by piece, she had been unraveling under my victories. The deck of cards sat between us like a loaded weapon, each round stripping away not just her adornments but her composure. Her bangles lay scattered like fallen chains, her earrings glinted against the wood, her anklet was coiled like a sm
That night, we sat across from each other at the low table in our room. The air was thick with something that wasn’t quite silence—more like a low, restless hum between us. A single bulb cast a soft amber glow on the deck of cards lying between us. She sat upright, her hands folded close to her body
She hadn’t given me a kiss in days. Not even the brush of lips on the cheek, not even the fleeting touch on my hand. After my relentless asking, she’d finally snapped—not with words, not with shouting, but with the crueler punishment: silence. She turned her face away whenever I leaned close, kept
When I released her, she sat frozen, her cheeks burning with humiliation. “Good,” I murmured, low enough for her alone. “Before breakfast, and after. Don’t forget.” Her eyes widened, the reality sinking deeper. I gestured toward her plate. “Finish your food.” She obeyed quickly this time, almo
We had dinner together that night. I’d made her eat, watching every bite like it was proof she belonged here. She was quiet, but she obeyed, and for me, that was enough. Later, we returned to bed. She fell asleep in my arms, stiff but unmoving, her breath shallow against my chest. But I never prom