Chapter 5: The Shattered Control

NAOMI's POV

Tatlong gabi na.

Tatlong gabi na akong bumabalik sa penthouse ni Raze, at tatlong gabi na rin niyang pinapauwi ako nang walang nangyayari.

Well, hindi naman talaga walang nangyayari. May nangyayari. Maraming nangyayari. Pero hindi yung akala mong mangyayari.

Gago talaga.

Nandito na naman ako ngayon, nakatayo sa harap ng salamin sa banyo ko, tinitingnan ang sarili ko. I was wearing a black dress—mas revealing kaysa sa usual kong suot. Plunging neckline. Bare back. Hanggang mid-thigh lang.

Kung gusto niyang laruin ako, then two can play that game.

"Naomi, you look like you're about to seduce someone," sabi ni Kira na nakaupo sa kama ko, judging me with her eyes.

"That's the point."

"I still think this is a bad idea."

"Noted." I grabbed my purse. "But I'm doing it anyway."

"At least text me later para alam kong buhay ka pa."

I rolled my eyes. "Dramatic mo naman."

Pero deep inside, kinakabahan din ako. Because tonight, I wasn't going to play by his rules anymore. Tonight, I was going to take control.

8:00 PM

Pagbukas ng elevator doors, nakita ko agad si Raze. He was standing by the window, naka-gray suit, hawak ang wine glass. Pero when he turned around and saw me, tumigil siya.

His eyes traveled slowly from my face, down to my dress, then back up again. And for the first time since I met him, I saw something flicker in his expression.

Desire. Raw, unfiltered desire.

"Naomi." My name came out like a warning.

"Raze." I walked toward him, hips swaying, channeling every ounce of confidence I didn't actually feel. "Miss me?"

His jaw tightened. "What are you doing?"

"What do you mean? I'm here for my lesson." I stopped in front of him, close enough to smell his cologne. "Isn't that what you wanted?"

"You're playing a dangerous game."

"You've been playing games with me for three nights." I tilted my head. "I'm just leveling the playing field."

He set down his wine glass, his eyes never leaving mine. "You think you can handle me, Naomi?"

"I guess we'll find out."

For a moment, neither of us moved. The tension was so thick, parang kaya kong hawakan. My heart was pounding so hard, I was sure he could hear it.

Then, finally, he smiled. That dangerous, predatory smile that made my knees weak.

"Alright." He loosened his tie. "You want to play? Let's play. But remember, you asked for this."

"I can handle it."

"We'll see." He walked past me, heading toward the couch. "Strip."

I froze. "What?"

"You heard me. Strip. Take off your dress."

My confidence wavered. "Right here? Right now?"

"You wanted to take control, didn't you? Then prove it. Show me you're not afraid." He sat down, spreading his arms across the back of the couch. "Or are you all talk, Naomi?"

Shit. He's calling my bluff.

But I wasn't going to back down. Not now. Not after three nights of torture.

I reached for the zipper at the back of my dress, my hands shaking slightly. Slowly, I pulled it down. The sound echoed in the quiet penthouse.

"Eyes on me," Raze commanded. "Don't look away."

I met his gaze as I let the dress slip off my shoulders, down my body, pooling at my feet. I was standing there in nothing but my black lace underwear and bra.

I'd never felt so exposed in my life.

"Beautiful," he murmured, his eyes roaming over every inch of me. "Now come here."

I stepped out of the dress and walked toward him, trying to ignore the voice in my head screaming that I was in way over my head.

"Closer."

I stopped right in front of him, between his legs, just like that first night.

"Do you know what I see when I look at you?" he asked, his voice low and rough.

"What?"

"A woman who's been told her entire life to be small. To be quiet. To not take up space. To not ask for what she wants." His hand reached out, fingers trailing up my thigh. "But underneath all that fear, there's fire. And I'm going to make sure you never hide it again."

His touch was electric. Every nerve ending in my body was screaming.

"Raze—"

"Shh." His other hand came up to my waist, pulling me closer. "Lesson three, Naomi. This is where you learn the difference between wanting and taking."

"I don't understand."

"You will." He looked up at me, his eyes dark with desire. "I'm going to touch you now. And you're going to tell me exactly how it makes you feel. No holding back. No filtering. Complete honesty. Understood?"

I nodded, unable to form words.

"Use your words."

"Yes," I whispered. "I understand."

"Good girl."

His hands slid up my sides, slowly, deliberately, leaving trails of fire in their wake. When he reached my ribs, just below my bra, he stopped.

"How does this feel?"

"Good," I breathed. "It feels good."

"Where else do you want me to touch you?"

Everywhere. Anywhere. Just don't stop.

"My... my neck," I admitted.

One hand moved up, fingers wrapping gently around my throat. Not squeezing, just holding. A claim.

"Like this?"

"Yes."

"What else?"

I was losing my mind. "My... lower. Touch me lower."

His hand slid down my stomach, stopping at the waistband of my underwear. "Here?"

"Yes. Please."

"Please what?"

"Please touch me."

"Where, Naomi? Say it."

Oh God. He was really going to make me say it.

"Touch me... between my legs. Please."

His fingers slipped beneath the lace, and I gasped. He wasn't even doing anything yet, just resting his hand there, but it was enough to make me tremble.

"You're already so wet," he murmured, almost to himself. "So responsive. So perfect."

Then his fingers moved, and I nearly collapsed.

"Raze—oh God—"

"That's it. Let me hear you." His other hand tightened slightly on my throat. "Don't hold back."

I couldn't hold back even if I tried. Every touch, every movement of his fingers was driving me insane. I'd never felt anything like this before. Never knew it could feel like this.

"Look at me," he commanded.

I opened my eyes—when did I close them?—and met his gaze. The intensity there nearly undid me.

"This is what power feels like, Naomi. This is what it means to take what you want without apology. To feel without shame. To exist without fear." His fingers moved faster, and I moaned. "And this is just the beginning."

I was so close. So close to falling apart completely.

"Raze, I'm—I'm going to—"

"I know. Let go. Let me see you fall apart."

And I did.

I shattered completely, crying out his name, my body shaking uncontrollably. He held me through it, his hands steady, grounding me as I came undone.

When I finally came back to myself, I realized I was half-collapsed against him, my forehead resting on his shoulder, his arms wrapped around me.

"That," he said softly, "is lesson three."

I couldn't speak. Couldn't think. Couldn't do anything except try to remember how to breathe.

And all I could think was: What the hell have I gotten myself into?