CH 7 - Boundaries and Temptations

Ana had never felt more alive—or more terrified.

The feeling stayed with her for days after Hayden's visit. The touch of his breath on her neck. The words he said. The way he made her feel *exposed* in a way she couldn't quite name.

She thought she could push him away.

She thought she could stay in control. But each day that passed, the knot in her chest grew tighter.

The necklace—a symbol of submission, of surrender—had become something she couldn't forget, even though she'd taken it off as soon as she'd returned home.

But when she closed her eyes, she could still feel the cold gold resting against her skin. It haunted her.

And that haunting was becoming her prison.

---

It was the third night after their meeting when Hayden called.

His voice was smooth, like velvet slipping through her fingers. "Dinner. Tomorrow. Seven. No excuses."

She gritted her teeth, trying to force down the unease rising in her stomach. "I'm not interested in dinner with you."

"I think you are. If not, you wouldn't still be wearing the necklace."

It was a taunt. A challenge.

Ana wanted to fight. Wanted to yell at him, hang up the phone, ignore his presence in her life.

But instead, she stayed silent.

"Tomorrow," he repeated, before hanging up.

---

The next evening, Ana stood in front of her closet, staring at the black dress hanging on the back of the door. It was the most simple thing she owned—no lace, no silk, just black. But it was enough to make her feel...something.

A sense of duty? Or something darker?

She couldn't tell.

But when she slipped into it, she felt his eyes already on her, watching.

She glanced at the clock—only twenty minutes left. With a deep breath, she reached for her makeup, painting on bold strokes and finishing with a blood-red lipstick, as if preparing to seduce him.

Time slipped by, each second thick with anticipation.

---

Seven o'clock sharp, she was at his penthouse door again. A single knock, and the door opened by the butler and there sitting the devil Hayden. His dark eyes swept over her, taking in the sight of her black dress, the tightness in her stance.

"You came," he said, voice low, thick with amusement.

Hayden led Ana into the dimly lit dining room, the soft glow of candles flickering on the table. She couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, knowing what had happened the last time she'd been here.

Hayden pulled out her chair for her, his hand brushing against her back as she sat down. She shivered at his touch, her body betraying her even as her mind fought against him.

"I hope you're hungry," Hayden said, his voice low and smooth as he took his seat across from her. "I had the chef prepare something special for us."

Ana nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She watched as he poured them each a glass of red wine, the deep crimson liquid catching the light of the candles.

They ate in silence for a while, the only sound the clink of silverware against china. But Ana could feel Hayden's eyes on her, watching her every move.

"You're not eating much," he observed, his gaze intense. "Is something wrong?"

Ana shook her head, taking a sip of her wine. "No, everything is fine. I'm just not very hungry."

Hayden leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Or maybe you're just distracted. Maybe you can't stop thinking about what happened the last time you were here."

Ana felt a flush creep up her neck at his words, her heart racing in her chest. She knew he was right, that she hadn't been able to stop thinking about him, about the way he'd touched her, the way he'd made her feel.

"I don't want to talk about that," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Hayden chuckled, low and dark. "But we will. Because you can't deny it, Ana. You want me just as much as I want you."

Ana shook her head, but she could feel the heat pooling in her belly at his words. "This is a mistake," she said, even as her body betrayed her. "I don't belong in your world."

Hayden stood up, moving around the table towards her. He leaned down, his face inches from hers. "You belong exactly where I put you, Ana. And I put you here, with me."

His hand reached out, cupping her cheek. Ana's breath caught in her throat at his touch, her skin tingling beneath his fingers.

"You can fight it all you want," Hayden murmured, his thumb brushing over her bottom lip. "But in the end, you'll surrender to me. Because you know it's what you need."

Ana's eyes fluttered closed, her body leaning into his touch even as her mind screamed at her to push him away. But she couldn't. She was trapped, both by him and by her own desire.

Hayden's lips brushed against hers, and she couldn't help but gasp at the contact. His tongue delved into her mouth, and she found herself responding, kissing him back with a hunger she didn't know she possessed.

He pulled back after a moment, his eyes dark with desire. "See?" he said, his voice rough. "You can't resist me."

Ana shook her head, but it wasn't a denial. It was an acknowledgment of the truth.

Hayden smiled, a slow, predatory grin that sent shivers down her spine. He reached for her hand, pulling her up from her chair.

"Come with me," he said, leading her out of the dining room and down the hall to his bedroom.

Ana's heart raced as he closed the door behind them, the click of the lock sounding like a gunshot in the silence.

"Hayden, we shouldn't..." she started, but the words died on her lips as he turned to face her.

His hands reached out, gripping her waist and pulling her close. "Shh," he murmured, his lips brushing against her ear. "Just let it happen."

And then he was kissing her again, his mouth hot and demanding against hers. Ana's hands fisted in his shirt, pulling him closer as she lost herself in the feeling of his body against hers.

Hayden's hands roamed over her curves, slipping under her dress to caress her bare skin. She gasped into his mouth as his fingers brushed against the lace of her panties, teasing her through the thin fabric.

"Hayden," she whimpered, arching into his touch. "Please..."

He chuckled, low and dark. "Please what, Ana? Tell me what you want."

"You," she panted, too far gone to care about the implications. "I want you."

And then he was stripping off her dress, tossing it aside to leave her bare before him. His eyes raked over her body, drinking in the sight of her naked form.

"Fuck," he groaned, his hands reaching out to cup her breasts. "You're perfect."

He pushed her back onto the bed, covering her body with his own. His mouth trailed down her neck, over her collarbone, to her breasts. He took one nipple into his mouth, sucking and nibbling until Ana was writhing beneath him.

"Hayden," she cried out, her hands fisting in his hair as he lavished attention on her other breast. "I need...I need..."

"I know what you need," he growled, his hand slipping between her legs. "And I'm going to give it to you."

He rubbed her clit in slow, deliberate circles, his fingers dipping inside her to tease her already slick folds. Ana bucked against his hand, desperate for more.

"Please," she begged, not caring how she sounded. "I need you inside me."

Hayden pulled back just long enough to strip off his own clothes before settling between her legs. He notched the head of his cock against her entrance, teasing her with the promise of what was to come.

"Beg for it," he demanded, his voice rough with desire.

"Ana hesitated for only a moment before the words spilled out of her mouth. "Please, Hayden. Please fuck me. I need you so badly."

With a groan, he thrust forward, burying himself to the hilt inside her. Ana cried out at the sudden intrusion, her walls stretching to accommodate him.

"Yes," she panted, wrapping her legs around his waist as he started to move. "Fuck me harder."

Hayden set a punishing pace, driving into her again and again. The sound of skin slapping against skin filled the room, mixing with their moans and cries of pleasure.

Ana could feel herself climbing higher and higher, the pressure building inside her until it was almost too much to bear.

"I'm close," she gasped, her nails raking down his back. "Don't stop, please don't stop."

"Come for me," Hayden commanded, his thumb finding her clit and rubbing tight circles. "Let me feel you come on my cock."

And with a final thrust and a flick of his thumb, Ana did just that. Her orgasm crashed over her like a tidal wave, her walls clamping down around him as she screamed his name.

Hayden followed close behind, spilling himself deep inside her with a guttural groan. They stayed like that for a long moment, both trembling in the aftermath of their intense lovemaking.

As they came down from their high, Hayden pulled out and tucked himself back into his pants. He looked down at Ana, sprawled out on the bed in the aftermath of their passion.

"See?" he said, his voice low and possessive. "I told you you'd surrender to me. And now you have."

In the morning Ana left his penthouse with her head spinning, her thoughts a jumble of confusion, anger, and lust.

She wanted to hate him.

But she couldn't.

And the worst part?

She wasn't sure she wanted to anymore.