Chapter 18
"I’m sure," I say, though my voice shakes slightly.
"This isn't just some reaction to trauma.
It's something I wanted before, something they twisted.
I want to reclaim it, the way it was meant to be.
" I take a step closer to him, drawn by the intensity in his gaze.
"But only with someone I trust. Only with you. "
Aiden's expression shifts, something primal flickering across his features before he masters it. He reaches out, his fingers brushing my cheek.
“If that’s really what you want,” he says, his finger tracing my jawline, “I can give that to you. But I want you to be ready. To be sure that’s what you want.”
“It is.” The resolve in my voice bolsters my confidence. “I want that. For you to completely own me, at least while we’re together. To experience all of the things I’ve imagined.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “This is a big thing to ask, Lana.”
“I know.” I swallow. “It’s what I want.”
Aiden stares over my shoulder for a few minutes. Then, he presses his palms together and moves his gaze to my face. When he speaks, his voice is rough. Deeper.
“I’m a Dom, Lana.”
“I know.”
He fixes me with a look, one that tells me exactly what he means by Dominant.
“I’m not what people call a Soft Dom, either. I like to control every aspect of my submissive’s life. I dole out punishment when she needs it.”
My stomach flips, but I don’t break eye contact.
Aiden gives me a dangerous smile, his dark eyes gleaming. “And my punishments aren’t easy, baby. Trust me.”
I do trust him. And the things he’s saying should scare me off, but they don’t.
Instead, they make me want to see just what it means to be dominated by a man like him.
A shiver runs through me. The dark promise in his voice should terrify me after everything I've endured, but instead it ignites something deep inside me. Something I've tried to deny even before the facility.
"I understand," I whisper, though I'm not sure I truly do. How can I know what it means to belong to someone like Aiden when my only experience with submission has been so twisted and corrupt?
"No, Lana," he says, stepping closer until I have to tilt my head back to maintain eye contact. "I don't think you do. Not yet." His hand comes up to cup my face, thumb brushing across my lower lip. "But if this is what you want—what you truly want—I'm willing to show you."
I read through the document twice before I sign my name.
Everything is laid out in explicit detail. What we’re agreeing to. Safe words. Hard limits.
It’s terrifying.
And it’s also the easiest thing I’ve ever done when I lift the pen and scrawl my name at the bottom.
Aiden's eyes hold mine as I set the pen down, a strange sense of calm washes over me. This contract between us feels more honest, more real than any document I've signed since my return. It's not about reclaiming property or bank accounts or legal identity. It's about reclaiming desire. Choice.
"Now what?" I whisper, my voice steadier than I expected.
Aiden takes the contract, his fingers brushing mine in a touch that feels deliberate, claiming. "Now," he says, his voice dropping to that register that makes my spine straighten automatically, "you're mine."
The words send a shiver through me, equal parts fear and anticipation. Mine. Such a simple word that carries so much weight.
"For how long?" I ask, suddenly needing to understand the boundaries of this new arrangement.
"For the next two days," Aiden replies, folding the contract and slipping it into his pocket. "And then we’ll reassess. Remember, Lana, this isn't prison. You can walk away at any time."
Two days. Forty-eight hours where I'm completely his. The thought makes my pulse quicken.
"Thank you, Sir," I say, the title feeling right on my tongue.
Aiden's expression shifts subtly, his posture straightening as he slips fully into his dominant role. The transformation is fascinating to watch—his eyes darken, his jaw sets, and suddenly he seems to take up more space in the room.
"From this moment," he says, his voice deeper now, resonating with authority, "you will address me as Sir.
You will obey my commands without hesitation.
You will speak honestly about your needs and limits.
" His fingers brush my cheek, a touch that feels both tender and possessive.
"And in return, I will take care of you.
I will protect you. I will give you what you need, even when that's not always what you want. "
I nod, my throat suddenly dry. "Yes, Sir."
"Good girl." The simple praise sends warmth spreading through my chest. "Now, go to your bedroom and remove all your clothes. Kneel at the foot of the bed and wait for me."