I haven’t mustered the courage to go up there when he’s home. I might enjoy the spanking and how my arse feels afterwards, even now, but I’m not stupid enough to purposefully bring out his wrath.

Self-preservation has always been my strength.

Besides, the more time I spend in his company, the more anxious I get about why he’s not taking the next step.

Jonathan has never tried to fuck me. Not even once. He seems content with owning my body, then turning it against me in the most brutal way possible.

Whenever I sit on his lap, I feel his hard-on, but he’s never acted on it.

Not that I want him to.

I don’t.

It’s just that the unknown is keeping me on my toes.

“Earth to Aurora!”

I startle, biting my lower lip and the pen. Ouch!

I’m on the sofa, looking at proofs of the designs. Or was. Until I got lost in my head.

Layla slides an iced coffee in front of me and takes a long slurp of hers. Her baggy trousers fall all around her as she sits opposite me, knees splayed wide apart, and leans her elbows on her thighs.

That’s the same position her army brothers sit in when they’re in town. She’s such a tomboy, and the most adorable thing is that she doesn’t even notice it. When I call her out on it, she thinks I’ve lost my mind.

“Okay, shoot.”

I take a sip of my coffee. “What?”

“Talk to me, mate. I’m all ears.”

“About what?”

“About what you’ve been daydreaming about lately.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. Since you moved in with Johnny, you’ve been distant and often get lost in that pretty little head of yours.”

“I have not.”

“You have, too. He’s consuming you, isn’t he?”

“No. Maybe. I don’t know.” I sigh and push the proofs away. I’m not focused enough to do a good job at it anyway, so I might as well stop pretending. “Hey, Lay, can I ask you something?”

“I’m your man. Shoot.”

“I know you’re saving your virginity for marriage, but you know stuff about stuff. Being nosy and all.” Layla’s mum, her aunts, cousins and extended family — which is huge — are really forthcoming about sex, but only with their female friends and family.

I might have had sex before, but Layla knows more about it than I ever will. She’s an encyclopaedia in practically everything.

“First of all, suck my D. Second of all, I’m not nosy. I like to know things so I’m prepared.”

“Okay, fine. So my question is…” I trail off, wetting my lips.

“Any day now.”

“What does it mean if a man only likes oral?”

“He needs Viagra. Wait a second, Johnny needs Viagra? Way to ruin my daddy fantasy. Hey, what do you think his reaction will be if I mail him a pack?”

I burst out laughing. “Don’t do that.”

“Why not? I’m giving the man a boost. If anything, he should thank me.”

“It’s not like that. He does get…you know…hard.”

“Then his performance must be rubbish.”

“I don’t think so.”

“I actually don’t think so either.”

“What do you mean?”

“He seems like the type of man who commands everything, even in the bedroom. Control is his kink.”

She can say that again.

Layla drinks her coffee, seeming deep in thought. “How about you ruin it?”

I pause with the straw halfway to my mouth. “Ruin what?”

“His control. People like Jonathan get off on knowing the result before they even go in, so when you destroy that pattern, they act out, either by showing their ugly side or their hidden side. Both are their true selves.”

“I do defy him. It’s not always ‘yes, sir’ or ‘whatever you wish, sir’.”

“That’s probably not enough to warrant him acting out.”

“How do I know I’ve pushed him enough? He’s so unemotional, it drives me insane.”

“Remember that day when he barged in here to announce that this company was now his property in front of Ethan Steel? That was his reaction to the way you pushed him.”

It was. Jonathan said he’d put me in my place, and he did, ever so savagely.

“So you’re saying Ethan is a key to Jonathan’s ugly or hidden side.”

“Could be. Do you know their history?”

“If I recall correctly, they were best friends who turned into rivals as their respective companies grew simultaneously. Then a few years ago, they fell from each other’s graces. Ethan went into a coma and recently returned to the scene. The entire time, Jonathan has been ruling on his own.”

“That’s common knowledge, but I have the inside scoop.” She grins like a Cheshire cat.

“Inside scoop?”

“My friend’s cousin used to work in the Steel mansion in Birmingham — you know, his main residence aside from the one in London. Anyway, while you were targeting Ethan, I asked around about his history, and apparently, Jonathan caused the death of Ethan’s wife. Some even say it was an affair, but no one confirms that.”

“Oh my God.”

“I know, right? Why would she want Jonathan when she has Ethan? Sister didn’t know what she had.”

“Lay, be serious.”

“I am. Ethan is better looking than Jonathan, and he doesn’t have Bastard written in bold letters on his forehead.”

Ethan is handsome, but he doesn’t have the lethal edge Jonathan does. His eyes aren’t a storm brewing in the distance, threatening to take everyone hostage.

I shake my head. Did I just defend Jonathan? That’s not allowed, even in my mind.

“Anyway, Ethan is Daddy in another universe.”

“Lay!”

“What? You get your daddy. Why can’t I fantasise about mine?”

“Bugger off, you twat.”

“Fine, fine. Live the daddy fantasy for both of us.”

“I’m not!”

She stands up, but before leaving, she cups her mouth with both hands and whispers, “Daddy.”

I throw a pen after her and her throaty laughter echoes down the hall.

Shaking my head, I focus back on the design I was working on. Something about it is bugging me, but I can’t put my finger on it.

My hand finds my watch and a sense of calm engulfs me. Alicia’s memory has always calmed me down and filled me with so much inspiration.

There’s a knock on the door, and I expect Layla to be back for more taunts, but then I recall she doesn’t knock. And neither do I.

We haven’t had any boundaries since we met at uni — aside from the past that I’m shielding her away from.

Jessica, my assistant, appears at the threshold. She’s petite with dark brown skin and huge, striking eyes. “Ms Harper, there’s someone here to see you.”

“I thought I didn’t have any appointments until this afternoon.”

“Yes, but he said it’s urgent. He’s a solicitor.”

“Let him in.” Could this be another one of Jonathan’s games?

Jessica disappears. Soon after, a middle-aged man with dark brown hair and pale hazel eyes appears at my door. I stand and take his hand as he offers a handshake.