Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

A my

I woke slowly, cocooned in the warmth from his body, and my senses filled with the scent of him. His steady breaths stirred the hair at the nape of my neck, and the soft rise and fall of his chest pressed against my back was the most comforting thing I’d ever felt.

I blinked against the early morning light streaming through the curtains, letting myself really savor the moment before reality came crashing back, that this wasn’t just some dream. I was in my own bed, in my own apartment, but with Aleksei Morozov wrapped around me like he had every intention of keeping me here.

Like he had every intention of keeping me .

I stayed still, not wanting to wake him just yet. But as if he could sense my thoughts, he shifted, his lips brushing the back of my neck.

“Good morning, baby girl,” he murmured, his voice low and still heavy with sleep.

A shiver ran down my spine at the sound of that pet name on his lips. I turned my head slightly to look at him, my eyes meeting those dark, fathomless ones that seemed to see right through me.

“Morning,” I whispered, my voice a little shaky.

He grinned lazily, his fingers tracing slow circles on my stomach. “How did you sleep?”

“Better than I expected,” I admitted, trying to keep my voice steady. But with him so close, his body pressed against mine, it was impossible not to be affected.

“Good,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to my shoulder before finally, reluctantly pulling away. “Stay here,” he commanded, slipping out of bed with that effortless grace of his. “I’ll make us breakfast.”

I propped myself up on my elbows, blinking in surprise. “You’re… making breakfast?”

He shot me a playful, almost boyish grin as he pulled on his trousers. “Of course. Daddy takes care of you, doesn’t he?”

A flush crept up my neck at the memory of what had happened, but I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. I watched him disappear into the kitchen, feeling oddly… content. It was a strange feeling, this domesticity. As if we’d done this a hundred times before, as if it was natural for him to be here, making me breakfast in my little apartment.

About twenty minutes later, he returned, balancing a tray filled with scrambled eggs, toast, fresh fruit, and two cups of coffee.

“Breakfast in bed,” he announced, setting it carefully on the bed beside me. “You’ll need your strength today.”

I raised an eyebrow, taking a sip of the steaming coffee. “For what?”

“For the auction tonight,” he said, settling back down beside me, his arm slipping around my shoulders. “We’ve got a lot to prepare for, and I want you sharp, baby girl. No distractions.”

Oh, right.

I swallowed a bite of the perfectly cooked eggs, trying to ignore the way his closeness made my heart race.

“I’m always sharp,” I said lightly, trying to tease him, but there was an undercurrent of something else in his gaze. Something that made my breath hitch.

He leaned in, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “Good,” he whispered, his voice dropping into that dark, commanding tone that sent shivers down my spine. “Because tonight, you’re going to do exactly as I say.”

The fork paused halfway to my mouth, and I turned to look at him, my heart thudding in my chest. “What do you mean?”

He smiled, that slow, dark smile that always made me feel like I was teetering on the edge of something dangerous.

“I mean,” he said softly, his fingers trailing down my arm, “you’re going to be a good girl tonight. You’re going to obey me, no questions asked. And if you don’t…”

My breath caught as he leaned closer, his lips brushing mine.

“If you don’t,” he continued, his voice a seductive whisper, “I’m going to put you over my knee the moment we get home. Do you understand me?”

Heat pooled low in my belly, and my cheeks burned as I looked up at him. The room seemed to shrink around us, and the air felt impossibly thick. My mind was racing, torn between wanting to push back, to prove I could handle whatever game he was playing, and the deep, desperate desire to just… give in.

He watched me, his eyes dark and knowing, waiting for my answer. I could feel the challenge in his gaze, the way he was daring me to defy him. But instead of fighting it, instead of pushing back… I found myself nodding.

“Yes,” I whispered, my voice barely more than a breath. And then, before I could stop myself, I added, “Yes, Daddy.”

A slow, wicked grin spread across his lips, and he leaned in, kissing me deeply, possessively, like he’d just won a prize.

“Good girl,” he murmured, his voice thick with approval. “Now finish your breakfast, baby girl. We’ve got a big night ahead of us.”

And just like that, the spell was broken. He pulled away, letting me catch my breath as I tried to wrap my mind around what had just happened between us. I felt like I was supposed to be furious with him for treating me like this, for pushing me into his world and making me play by his rules.

But the truth was… I liked it.

I liked the way he took control, the way he made me feel small and powerful all at once. And as I finished the last bite of breakfast, I knew that tonight, whatever he had planned, I was ready to follow him wherever he led, but that didn’t mean I would give in without a fight.

Because as much as I hated to admit it, there was a part of me that craved this.

That push and pull between us.

The game we played where we both fought and only one of us came out on top.

I couldn’t wait.

After finishing breakfast, I slid out of bed, still feeling the lingering warmth of Aleksei’s kiss on my lips.

I shook my head, trying to focus as I took a shower and rummaged through my closet. Tonight was going to be big, and there was no room for mistakes. I couldn’t afford to let myself get distracted by him, no matter how much he got under my skin.

Or in my panties.

My pussy clenched hard.

I chose a sleek black dress—something professional but flattering, with just enough flair to look confident in front of our high-profile guests. As I zipped it up, I could feel Aleksei’s eyes on me, that dark, knowing gaze that made my hands tremble. I slipped into a pair of classic black heels and turned to find him leaning against the doorframe, watching me with that infuriatingly calm expression.

“Ready?” he asked, his eyes flicking over me appreciatively.

“Ready,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. But the way he looked at me, like he was undressing me with his eyes, made my heart race.

He held out his arm, and I hesitated for a split second before slipping my hand into the crook of his elbow. The gesture was so… intimate, so possessive, and it sent a shiver through me as we walked out of my apartment together. There was a car waiting for us when we stepped outside.

The drive to the gallery was filled with a comfortable silence. Aleksei’s presence beside me was solid, reassuring in a way that I wasn’t sure I was ready to admit. By the time we arrived, the sun was already high in the sky.

The gallery was already buzzing with activity as we stepped inside. The staff was moving quickly around the space to prepare for the evening. Aleksei’s hand pressed lightly against my lower back, guiding me through the organized chaos, and I found myself leaning into his touch, despite my best efforts to remain composed.

“Go ahead and get started. I need to get changed,” he said softly, his breath brushing my ear.

I nodded, biting my lip as I watched him stride down the hall toward his office. It was impossible not to admire the way he moved, every step radiating confidence and control. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts.

I busied myself with last-minute preparations. I double-checked the guest list, reviewed the catalog of pieces up for auction, and ensured the staff knew their roles.

As I flipped through my notes, I heard his office door open. I turned to find Aleksei stepping out, now dressed in a fresh, perfectly tailored charcoal suit that hugged his broad shoulders and fit him like a second skin. My breath hitched for a moment as our eyes met.

“How do I look?” he asked with a slight smirk, adjusting his platinum cufflinks.

“Like you’re ready to command the entire room,” I said, trying to keep my voice light, even though my heart was racing.

“Good,” he murmured, stepping closer until he was right in front of me. He reached out, adjusting the collar of my dress with the faintest brush of his fingertips. “And you… look stunning.”

I swallowed, forcing myself to hold his gaze. “Thank you,” I managed, trying to ignore the way my skin tingled where his fingers had touched me.

“Let’s go over the final details,” he said, all business now, though his eyes still held that knowing spark that made my knees weak.

We moved through the gallery together. I couldn’t deny that we worked well as a team, his instincts and his eye for detail unmatched. He had an uncanny ability to know exactly which pieces would draw the highest bids, which clients needed a little extra attention, and how to create just the right atmosphere to encourage competitive bidding.

“Make sure the lighting over the Degas is perfect,” he instructed, his tone precise. “It needs to catch the light just right. I want them to see every detail of such a magnificent piece.”

I nodded, scribbling notes on my clipboard. “And the Chagall in the far corner—should we move it closer to the entrance? It might create a better flow.”

Aleksei paused, his eyes flicking to me with a hint of surprise.

“Good call,” he said, his smile almost approving. “Let’s do that.”

For a moment, I allowed myself to bask in that small victory.

Working with him was like playing a game of chess. But when I got it right, when I saw that flicker of respect in his eyes, it made all the tension between us almost worth it.

As the evening approached, the staff began to light candles, and soft classical music filled the space. Aleksei stepped closer, his presence suddenly overwhelming again.

“Remember what I told you this morning, baby girl,” he said, low enough that only I could hear. “Tonight, you will obey me. No questions, no hesitation.”

I looked up at him, my cheeks flushing as the memory of his earlier words washed over me. He was so close now, his hand resting lightly on my hip, his fingers brushing the fabric of my dress. My heart was pounding, but there was no denying the way my body responded to him.

“And if I don’t?” I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper.

His eyes darkened, a slow smile spreading across his lips. “Then you’ll find out what a real punishment spanking over my knee is like,” he said softly, his grip tightening just enough to send a shiver down my spine. “Understand?”

Punishment spanking?

I bit my lip, fighting the urge to challenge him, but the way he was looking at me, the heat in his gaze… It was too much. I was already starting to unravel, and the night hadn’t even begun.

“Yes, Daddy,” I finally whispered, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

“Good girl,” he purred, pressing a quick, searing kiss to my forehead before stepping back. “Now let’s show them how it’s done.”

And just like that, he was all business again, turning away to greet the first guests as they began to trickle in. But I couldn’t shake the heat in my cheeks, the way my heart pounded in my chest, or the way my clit pulsed between my legs.

Tonight was going to be a challenge, but I was determined to prove to him—more to myself really—that I could handle whatever he threw my way.

Both as his assistant and as his baby girl.

I blushed hard at the thought.