Chapter 7

Julian remained entirely unfazed. The man leaned one hand against the doorframe, staring down at Elena with a patronizing look heavy with hidden desire.

"Victoria left for the airport an hour ago, Elena. She won't be back for the next three days. So, we are completely free to do whatever we want in this house."

Elena swallowed hard, her anxiety not lessening in the slightest. She glanced around the luxurious penthouse, its architecture dominated by dark, masculine tones.

"But, why does it have to be here? What if there are hidden cameras? What if Victoria secretly installed something to watch you?"

Julian let out a low chuckle, a rich baritone that openly mocked his stepsister-in-law's innocent fears. "This penthouse belongs to me, registered solely under my name long before I married her.

Every security system and sensor in this place is under my absolute control. There isn't a single camera I don't know about."

Julian leaned his face closer, trapping Elena’s remarkably naive gaze beneath the dim lights. "Do you know why I brought you to this house tonight?" the man asked, his voice dropping into a dangerous whisper.

Elena shook her head slowly. Her heart hammered against her ribs, anticipating whatever madness the man before her was about to unleash next.

Julian brought his lips right against Elena’s ear, whispering wickedly with a sensual undertone that sent a sharp shiver down her spine. "Because I want to resume our lesson from last night. I want to teach you exactly how to pleasure me properly."

"Julian—"

"Come with me.” He cut her off, entirely disregarding her shock.

The man instantly took Elena’s hand, his long, warm fingers interlacing firmly with hers. He pulled her forward with an unyielding grip, leading her toward a specific section of the penthouse.

They came to a halt in front of a decorative wooden wall that, at a casual glance, appeared to be nothing more than a standard room divider. Julian reached out, pressing his palm against a biometric scanner concealed flawlessly behind the wooden paneling.

Click!

The wooden wall slid open smoothly, revealing a heavy, solid black steel door. Elena’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief. She had no idea, and even Victoria, in her status as his wife, remained completely oblivious, that such a hidden room existed within this home.

"What is this place?" she asked in a tiny, mouse-like voice, a sudden wave of dread washing over her.

"You'll find out soon enough," Julian answered curtly. The man pushed the heavy steel door open and guided Elena inside.

When the room was fully revealed and the automated lights flickered on to a low, sultry glow, Elena was utterly stunned. Her entire body locked up.

The sprawling, windowless space possessed a deeply dark ambiance, boasting a color palette of blood-red and pitch-black interiors that exuded an atmosphere both mysterious and intensely sensual.

Elena could never have imagined that her brother-in-law, a man notoriously rigid and detached in the public eye, possessed a private sanctuary of this nature.

Her gaze swept across the room, an immediate chill running down her spine. Standing prominently in the center was a massive bed flanked by iron pillars.

Complemented by various unfamiliar black leather implements, aesthetic chains, and small whips hanging neatly against the wall. To a girl as innocent as Elena, these objects looked terrifying and utterly foreign.

Julian completely ignored her shell-shocked expression. He casually strode toward a large leather sofa, picked up a remote control from the coffee table, and pressed a button.

Instantly, the massive television screen mounted on the wall flared to life. Elena, who had assumed Julian was about to display something regarding business or confidential documents, immediately recoiled.

Her eyes stretched wide, her face flushing crimson in a matter of seconds as loud, echoing moans filled the room, paired with highly explicit, vulgar adult film scenes flashing across the screen.

"Julian! What's the meaning of this?!" Elena screamed in panic, immediately turning her face away from the screen and covering her face with both hands. "You're crazy! Turn it off!"

Julian set the remote back down, stepping up right behind Elena. He looped his powerful arms securely around her waist, pulling her back flush against his broad chest, forcing her to remain anchored right where she stood.

"This is a lesson for you, Baby," Julian whispered, his voice incredibly deep and husky right against the crook of her neck. "You were a complete amateur last night, so you have a great deal to learn."

"But not like this!" Elena protested, fighting frantically to wrench herself free from Julian's rock-hard embrace.

"I am your provider now. I am paying an exorbitant price for your university tuition and every single one of your needs," Julian hissed.

He forcibly spun Elena's body around to face the television screen once more. One of his hands clamped firmly around her chin, ensuring the girl could not turn her face away.

"I can't be the only one doing all the hard work to teach you every single time we do this."

Julian stared down into Elena's eyes, which were glassy with tears of sheer embarrassment. Before shifting his gaze to the screen where the heated, passionate scene continued to play out.

"Now, study every detail," the man commanded. His tone was absolute, laden with the unyielding dominance of a master over his woman.

"Watch how that woman moves, and how she caters to her man. Learn it well, so that you can put it into practice directly on me tonight."

Julian pulled Elena's rigid frame along, forcing her down onto the plush, oversized sofa. Rather than sitting beside her, he stepped around to stand directly behind the couch, looming over her like a predator cornering its prey.

The girl immediately whipped her head to the side. Adamantly refusing to look at the highly explicit footage on the television screen.

Yet Julian refused to let her escape so easily. The man's large hand reached forward, firmly gripping Elena's chin and forcing her face right back to the front.

He leaned his broad chest down against Elena's back. Bringing his lips dangerously close to her ear, he let the heat of his breath scorch the sensitive skin of her neck.

"Watch every single scene carefully, Elena," he whispered, his voice dropping into a low, heavy register laced with a sensual threat.

"I will be testing you personally afterward. Remember, if your performance falls short or if you disappoint me, you will have to repeat it from the very beginning until I am completely satisfied."