Crossing lines (Noah and Aiden) novel Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Aiden

I never imagined the day would conclude like this.

A grueling training session? That, I expected without question.

An argument? Naturally.

Some form of punishment? Without a doubt.

Me, filled with shame, apologizing profusely, just moments away from taking him home?

Well, that was a rare possibility—maybe one in a hundred—but still within the realm of chance. Perfection has never been my strong suit.

But climbing into bed with Noah, stripped bare of every last defense I’d clung to, ready to consume him entirely—burning with the desperate need to please him?

That had never even crossed my mind.

Yet, here I was.

Hovering above him, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest, the subtle flush coloring his cheeks, and the flicker of hesitation in his eyes—a hesitation he had every right to feel. He wasn’t here by accident. This wasn’t the result of me losing control.

No, he was here because he stood firm.

Because, even when every fiber of my being tried to push him away, he remained.

This moment wasn’t about guilt.

It wasn’t some clumsy attempt at redemption.

He needed to hear that.

Hell, I needed to remind myself.

“This isn’t a consolation prize,” I whispered, pressing a soft kiss just above his navel. His stomach tightened beneath my lips, and a startled, breathy gasp slipped from him. “And it’s not forgiveness.”

I moved upward, kissing a little higher—slow, deliberate, teasing. Just a hint of skin. He whimpered softly, his fingers digging lightly into my shoulder. I caught his hand, kissed his fingers gently, then placed it back on the bed. “Hands to your sides,” I murmured, lowering my head to his waist, my breath warm against his cool skin.

“This,” I said between tender kisses along his ribs, “is a reward.”

Noah arched beneath me, his hands curling into fists, clutching the sheets.

“For standing your ground when your friends pushed you. For refusing to drink. For not letting them drag you into something you knew would only disappoint me.” I paused, my lips grazing just below his nipple. “And most importantly…” I flicked my tongue lightly once.

A low, desperate moan escaped him.

“…for daring to ask for what you wanted.”

His entire body trembled beneath my mouth. Each breath came shallow and frantic. He was unraveling, and I hadn’t even truly touched him yet.

I was going to break him.

But only because he wanted me to.

I traced kisses down the slope of his ribs, circling one nipple with my tongue before closing my mouth around it, sucking slowly and deeply. He let out a broken, fragile cry, his hand shooting toward my hair.

I caught it mid-air without a glance.

“Hands at your sides,” I murmured, my mouth still brushing over his chest. “That’s the last time I’ll remind you.”

He froze for a moment, then nodded.

I rewarded his obedience with a soft bite, then sucked harder. His back arched off the mattress, hips twitching as another whimper slipped out. I kissed my way across his chest, lavishing attention on the other side, dragging the sharp edge of my teeth over his skin just to hear the gasp he couldn’t hold back.

“Fuck,” he breathed. “Aiden…”

I didn’t respond immediately. Instead, I held his gaze.

God, the sound of my name on his lips—raw, needy, trembling—was intoxicating.

But rules were rules. Reward or not, breaking them still came with consequences.

I slid off the bed and crossed the room, opening the small chest tucked in the closet. His eyes followed me—nervous, trembling with anticipation in every breath.

He tried to lift his arms. Couldn’t. His thighs twitched.

This was our first bondage session, and my heart hammered fiercely. Seeing him like this—struggling, trembling with a mix of anticipation and discomfort, yet yielding to my will, trusting me in his vulnerability—made my desire ache painfully. But tonight wasn’t about me. Not in this way. Tonight was all about him.

I brought the leather straps back slowly, deliberately, letting him see every inch.

“What are those…?” he asked, voice thin with uncertainty.

“Something special,” I said with a smirk. “You’re going to love them.”

He didn’t reply, but he didn’t ask me to stop either.

I fastened the leather snugly around his right ankle first, careful not to hurt him, then clipped it to the small hook on the side of the bed frame. He gasped—part shock, part thrill. I repeated the process with his left ankle, spreading his legs wide and securing them until he was completely open, utterly mine.

Then I paused, simply taking in the sight.

Noah. Naked. Flushed. Breathing hard, as if he’d run a marathon. Bound tight and helpless beneath me.

God, he was breathtaking.

I reached into the nightstand drawer and pulled out the final piece.

His eyes went wide. “A blindfold?”

I nodded. “Just trust me.”

He swallowed hard. “I—I do.”

I kissed him—slowly, deeply—right in the center of his chest, then slid the blindfold over his eyes.

Darkness enveloped him.

And I smiled.