Crossing lines (Noah and Aiden) novel Chapter 98

Chapter 98

Aiden

From the moment I accepted that invitation the previous evening—and saw the swift confirmation of my attendance for tonight—my heart hadn’t ceased its relentless pounding. It had been years since I’d set foot in a gathering like this, especially one as exclusive as the Dominium. This place wasn’t just another club; it was a crucible. A proving ground where reputations were forged, legacies shaped, and futures irrevocably altered.

And my own reputation? It had lain dormant, buried beneath years of silence and shadows. Tonight held the promise of resurrecting it, of rekindling that fire and branding my name anew with a kind of recognition I’d believed lost forever. Different arena, yes—but one where I could still dominate, if I played my cards perfectly. If I was flawless.

Every detail had to be immaculate: the attire, the posture, the discipline. Presence wasn’t merely expected—it was demanded. That was something I had mastered. Command, control, dominance came as naturally to me as breathing. But what I was about to do tonight… that was a risk unlike any before.

I was bringing Noah.

He was the unpredictable element, the wild card. The boy who had already pushed me beyond every boundary I thought I had. The one who made me teeter on the edge between obsession and destruction. Yet, introducing him into this world wasn’t just reckless—it was essential. The ultimate test. The perfect opportunity to solidify his obedience, to demonstrate what submission truly meant beyond the confines of my basement or the safety of our home.

For Noah, this night would be a defining moment: either his proving ground or his breaking point. And if he shattered, it wouldn’t just be him lost to me. It could shatter everything we’d built.

I turned to study him, my gaze sharp and calculating, every word I was about to speak carefully measured and laced with warning. “Tonight is important,” I said quietly, my voice low and steady. “More important than you realize. Every word you say—or don’t say—will carry weight. Every action will be noticed. You follow my lead without hesitation. You obey without question. And you do not test me in public. I need you at your absolute best.”

Noah’s grin appeared instantly, cocky and defiant, a reflexive shield. “Yes, Dad. I’ll try not to pick my nose in front of everyone.”

My jaw tightened, but despite myself, a smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth. Damn him—he never made this easy. His irreverence was his armor, his humor a weapon wielded against fear… and against me.

“This isn’t a joke, Noah,” I warned, voice dropping even lower, threaded with iron resolve. “If you embarrass me tonight, even once, you’ll regret it. But if you make me proud—if you trust me—you’ll learn more in one evening than you have in all the weeks we’ve spent together. Tonight isn’t about what you want. It’s about proving who you are.”

I didn’t tell him our destination. He didn’t need to know. What mattered was whether he trusted me enough to follow blindly.

Now, as I fastened the buttons on the sleek leather vest tailored perfectly to my torso—the silver clasps catching the light low on my chest, harness straps crossing in an intricate pattern—Noah lingered behind me, eyes wide with a mixture of awe and something deeper. His gaze was like a second skin, prickling against mine, tightening with unspoken anticipation.

I slid into slim leather pants that clung like a second skin, then pulled on a matte-black trench coat draped over a rare silk shirt—subtle, yet soft enough to hint at a wild edge beneath. Finally, I slipped on gloves—smooth, fitted—the last piece completing an ensemble that whispered authority and daring in the dim light of my bedroom. Each element was precise, designed for a high-end leather event but bold enough to scream who I truly was. The air around me shifted as the outfit came together, my presence settling like armor.

“So…” Noah drawled with a teasing tone, “judging by your outfit, we’re either heading to a Godfather convention or you’re about to publicly execute someone.”

I shook my head, suppressing the twitch at my mouth. “I’m going to execute you if you don’t stay quiet.”

His eyes locked on mine, unwavering. I stepped aside, letting him help adjust the thick leather belt with its silver buckle sitting just below my waist. His fingers brushed my hip and recoiled as if burned. A fierce heat surged up my spine, undeniable and sharp. His mouth parted slightly, eyes trailing down me like he couldn’t stop himself even if he wanted to.

“Fuck…” he breathed, then caught himself, voice softer, reverent. “Sir… you look—Jesus—you look incredible.”

There was awe in his tone, that magnetic pull between devotion and desire, and for a moment, I had to look away. The rawness of his admiration, the worship laced with hunger—it stripped me bare in ways no spotlight ever had.

Eventually, his shoulders slumped in reluctant acceptance. “Are you sure I should come? I don’t have anything that’ll ever match what you’re wearing.” His voice softened, the bravado stripped away, replaced by genuine concern.

“Don’t worry,” I said gently, running my thumb over the collar. “Where we’re going, you won’t need much else.”

He swallowed hard. That simple thought tightened something deep inside me. No destination. Just trust.

I grabbed a slim, unmarked leather satchel and packed inside two dark masks and a leash. He didn’t see. I wanted the night to unfold without expectations; surprises would be our currency.

Then I turned back to Noah. God, he looked so stunning—so utterly mine. I offered a warm smile, though my heart hammered with a mix of anticipation and fear. “We leave now. This will be your first real challenge.”

“No pressure, then,” he whispered, steady but with a tightness in his throat.

I pulled him close, brushing his hair back from his face, feeling the tremor of nerves beneath his skin. “This is what you wanted, Noah. We start tonight—with this. It’s on my terms, and only you and I know how it begins.”

He met my gaze, a quiet understanding flickering in his eyes. Yes, nerves. But also trust—and an unspoken readiness. I wanted to break down every wall, strip him bare until only the truth of who he was beneath me remained.

It was time.