The late afternoon light slanted across Adrian’s study, dust motes drifting lazily in the golden beams. I stepped inside, my heartbeat erratic, anticipation coiling in my stomach like a tightly wound spring. Adrian was already there, standing by the large mahogany desk, the air around him charged with his usual, intoxicating presence. The faint scent of his cologne—rich, smoky, dangerous—clung to him, and I could feel my body responding even before a word was spoken.

“Sit,” he commanded softly, his eyes locking onto mine. There was no anger this time, only that controlled intensity that always left me simultaneously terrified and enthralled. I perched on the edge of the leather chair, hands clasped in my lap, acutely aware of every inch of the distance between us.

“I wanted to see you alone,” he began, pacing slowly, each measured step making the floor creak faintly. “There’s something you need to say. I can see it in your expression.”

I swallowed hard. The truth was no longer avoidable. My body had already decided long before my mind did, but the words still hovered uncomfortably on the edge of my lips. “Adrian… about Cassian.” My voice was tentative, unsure at first, but steadying as I drew in a deep breath.

His gaze sharpened, eyes narrowing slightly, not in anger, but in that precise, measured scrutiny that made me feel utterly exposed. “Tell me what about him.”

I shifted in my chair, nervously adjusting the hem of my blouse, though I knew it meant nothing to him. “I… I want him to be part of… us. Part of what we have. I’ve thought about it, and I can’t… I can’t ignore what I feel for both of you. I need both of you, Adrian. I… I want to explore this, not just with you, but with him as well.”

Adrian stopped pacing and leaned against the desk, arms crossed, studying me. The silence stretched, heavy with tension, making my pulse pound in my ears. I could feel the heat rising in my chest, the shiver crawling down my spine. He exuded the same dominance that had claimed me before, but now there was something new in his gaze—a flicker of curiosity, a flash of challenge, and an undeniable trace of restrained desire.

“You want him involved… with us?” His voice was low, rough, carrying that dangerous lilt that always made me want to obey. “Are you sure you understand what that means? The intensity, the jealousy, the consequences?”

“Yes,” I whispered, my fingers tightening around each other in my lap. “I do. And… I’m not just thinking about him. I want you both. I want the challenge. I want… to feel both of your control, both of your desire. I can’t choose between you, and I don’t want to. I… I need this. I need you both.”

Adrian’s eyes softened momentarily, though the intensity never left his gaze. He stepped closer, standing just in front of me, so close that I could feel the heat radiating from him, smell the rich scent of his cologne, and feel the subtle, vibrating power in his presence. “And you understand,” he murmured, leaning down slightly, “that I’m not a man who shares easily. You know what that means. You’re putting yourself in dangerous territory… and you want it. Is that right?”

I nodded, my lips parting slightly, heart hammering. “Yes. I want it. I need it. Both of you.”

A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved his lips, a flash of something tender, possessive, and undeniably aroused. “Very well,” he said finally, his voice a low growl. “If this is what you want… if this is truly what you need… then we will explore it. But you need to understand one thing, Sophie.”

I tilted my head, meeting his gaze without flinching, though my pulse raced. “What is it?”

“I will never allow your safety or sanity to be compromised,” he said firmly, tracing a slow line down my cheek with his fingers. “You are mine, and I am yours. But this… inclusion of Cassian… it doesn’t change that. You have to obey me. You have to trust me. And in return, I’ll… guide this. I’ll keep it within boundaries. But I expect you to be honest. Every desire, every hesitation, every boundary must be stated. You will not hide anything from me.”

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