Sleeping Beauty
Asha
I couldn't stop thinking about the way he said it.
"Tomorrow. Same time. Same place. On my bed."
I hadn't slept last night—not really. My sheets didn't smell like him. My fingers couldn't mimic the pressure of his hand on my hip. My body was aching, humming, restless. I should have felt guilty for wearing his clothes as though it were mine and cuddling up in his silk sheets. But his gaze on me was all I could think of. How still he was. How his voice made me wet without even touching me.
And now… I can't wait to go back.
I stared at myself in the mirror. Lips swollen from chewing them. Hair refusing to behave. My thighs were slippery with anticipation beneath my immaculate uniform. Stupid. I was being stupid. But my feet moved anyway—out the door, down the hallway, my heart full of anticipation.
Mira caught me in the hallway of the staff quarters. She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes as if she already knew.
"You're glowing," she said, folding her arms. "And don't lie. I've seen that look before."
She grabbed my wrist as I attempted to brush by her.
She remarked, "You did something, what happened?"
I swallowed. "Nothing."
She arched her brow. "That nothing had you walking like your knees are jelly."
"Mira…"
She stepped closer, her voice dropping. "Tell me it's not what I'm thinking."
I rolled my eyes, avoiding her gaze. She hissed.
"Shit, Asha. You're playing with fire. He's not just a client. That man could snap his fingers and make you disappear. You think this is a joke?"
"It wasn't like that," I murmured.
"Then how was it?"
"I fell asleep. That's it."
She blinked. "In his bed?"
"…yes."
Mira stared like I'd grown horns.
"Was he mad?"
I thought of the way he stood in the doorway. The way he made me stay. His voice. That whisper.
"No. He was… calm."
"That's worse," she said. "Cold men don't stay calm for no reason. He knows what is he doing, Asha. If he keeps you there, it's because he wants something."
I already knew what he wanted. And worse, I knew I'd give it.
"He told me to come back," I whispered.
Mira's eyes widened. "And you're going?"
I nodded.
"You're insane."
Maybe I was.
But hours later, I stood at the edge of the penthouse door, buzzing myself in with shaking hands. I'd cleaned dozens of suites for men like him—powerful, demanding, untouchable. I was invisible to them. A ghost in their marble kingdoms.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, I could smell the scent of cedar and bergamot. I bit my lip, already wet between my legs, and stepped in.
His penthouse was quiet. Lights dimmed low. The skyline beyond the windows looked painted. It was warm, too—warmer than usual. The air felt thick, like it knew what was about to happen.
I didn't see him right away.
So I moved carefully, cleaning kit still slung over my shoulder for appearance's sake. I made it halfway across the marble floor when I heard his voice.
"You came."
I stopped, turning to the direction of the voice.
He was leaning against the doorframe of the master bedroom, shirt unbuttoned, eyes locked on me like a wolf watching prey walk willingly into its jaws.
"Yes," I breathed.
He said nothing. Just stepped back into the room.
I followed. My pulse drummed like a war beat in my chest. The bedroom was exactly the same. Except the bed was turned down. Silk sheets waiting. And him, seated at the edge now, fingers steepled.
"I want to see you," he said. "Take off the uniform."
My hands trembled as I obeyed. The shirt came off first, then the trousers. I stood there in black lace, nipples hard against the cool air. My mind racing with anticipation and want.
He didn't touch me. Not yet.
"Come here," he ordered.
I took a step forward.
Moving closer.
He caught my wrist and pulled me gently between his legs. His mouth hovered just above my navel.
He whispered, "I thought about your scent all night." "You have my shirt on. Dozing off in my bed... and you think that I will simply let you go untouched?"
I gave a headshake. I was unable to talk. It was extremely dry in my throat.
My thighs tightened and my knees shook at the sound of his voice before my mind could catch up. The air between us throbbed like a live wire even though he hadn't touched me. I was kept firmly in place by his greedy gaze, which appeared to be able to see every unsaid thought behind my wide, unsure eyes.
His lips parted gently and he exhaled sharply and deliberately.
"You're not afraid of me," he whispered as he ran his fingers over my wrist's inner, sending a shiver down my spine. "That's the reason you keep coming."
"I didn't mean to," I said, Whimpering
His brow was wrinkled. "Didn't mean to what? Doze off in my bed? Put my shirt on. His fingers burned my skin as they moved higher, up my forearm and up to my elbow. "Or did you mean you don't want it?"
My knees almost buckled.
"I—"
He pressed my lips with a finger.
"No lies."
Heat rushed through the room. Under the thin lace bra I had no business wearing to work, my breasts rose and fell quickly. My matching, dumb, expensive knockoff panties were already wet. Even though he hadn't removed anything yet, I felt naked in his presence for some reason.
I tried to swallow the knot in my throat.
"I wanted it," I admitted, my gaze fixed on him.
He smiled slowly, darkly, and satisfied.
"You'll say that again later. But it will sound like pleading." With a voice like soft silk, he remarked, spanking my soft butt.
I gasped.
Then he stood up.
In one fluid motion, looming above me. Casual and deliberate, he stepped in, his thumb snagging the strap of my bra and moving it down my arm till his chest almost touched mine.
His nose brushed my cheek as he bent down. His jaw was stiff and harsh against my temple, and I could feel it.
"Asha, you smell like a sin. In pretense to clean, you enter my penthouse on shaky legs. But, I am aware of what you are doing."
My heart pounded in my chest.
"I'm not pretending," I inhaled.
"Oh, you are, baby girl," he said with a gloomy laugh. I don't mind, though. I'll teach you the appropriate way to beg. How to handle it. How to take pleasure in being ruined."
Instinctively, my legs squeezed together. I could barely breathe.
He took a step back to give me another look, his eyes darting over my body.
"Remove the bra."
I paused, staring straight into his eyes.
Not because I was unwilling to. But because I was on the verge of losing it.
He cocked his head, strong but patient.
I unclasped the bra behind me and dropped it with trembling hands.
The heat in his gaze was far more intense than the cool air that made my nipples taut.
"Nice," he whispered. "Perfectly flushed and soft."
I took a breath when he leaned in again, but instead of making contact, he leaned slowly, deliberate and brushed his lips lightly beneath my breast. Just once, making me whimper at the featherlight kiss.
He didn't repeat it.
Instead, he slowly moved his hands down my stomach till he came to the band of my panties. His thumb barely touched the skin beneath it as it dipped under.
"This?" he asked, voice rough. "Is mine too?"
I nodded before I could think.
"Say it."
"It's yours," I whispered.
He smirked, pleased. "Good girl."
Then he dropped to one knee in front of me.
I braced my hand against his shoulder as he pulled my panties down slowly, inch by inch, watching them fall like unwrapping a present he'd waited far too long to touch. He didn't rush. He let them slide all the way down to my ankles, revealing my well shaved pussy.
"Step out," he murmured. And I obeyed.
Kade was still fully dressed. Black dress shirt, open just enough to see a strip of his chest. Dark slacks. Belt. Not a single button undone beyond his neck, and yet I felt like he'd already stripped me of everything.
His hands gripped my hips.
Then lower.
My breath hitched when he pressed a kiss down along my inner thigh one leg, then upwards.
Then he switched to the other leg afterwards, slowly breathed over my pussy, making me feel his warm breath. That was when I realized—
He wasn't going to be gentle.
"On the bed," he said, rising.
I turned, my knees swaying, my heart racing as I made my way over to the enormous mattress draped in silk.
Since my last visit, it has remained warm.
It was still warm from the last time I'd been in it.
I crawled up slowly, nervous. Wet.
My body trembled as I laid down on my back, hair spilling across the pillow, legs instinctively curling. I watched him move toward me like a shadow with intent, like the predator he was.
He stood at the foot of the bed, and I could feel him looking—devouring me with his eyes alone.
Then… he didn't move.
He didn'
t climb in.
Didn't unbuckle his belt.
Didn't press a single finger on me.
He just… stood there.
And smiled.
It was slow. Wicked.
He looked up at me, his gaze sharp. "Lie down, Asha. I want to watch."