“Fuck.” The sight of her spread out on my kitchen table—completely naked, ready to be my dessert—made me so fucking hard. Every curve of her body glistened under the dim light, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her moaning face as I began to eat her out. The taste of her drove me wild, and the best part was yet to… come.

I had to admit, my first reaction to that sparkling pink card where she asked me to be her Valentine kind of freaked me out. Had it been any other girl whose holes I’d buried my cock in, I’d have laughed it off. I don’t do Valentine’s Day. Ever. At least, not until now.

Heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, red roses, and all that romantic bullshit? Just the thought of it instantly killed my hard-on. Not even a few pills of Viagra could revive my soft cock once the vanilla virus hit. It was my way or the highway.

Astrid sipped her red wine, moaning softly into the glass as I fingered her teasingly slow on the table. I wanted nothing more than to slam my cock into that wet pussy of hers, fast and hard, but here I was, trying to make this night special. Romantic. Or as close to that sweet and bubbly feeling as I could come without losing my dignity.

“Open it,” I said, smirking as I handed her the present I’d bought yesterday. She looked up, confusion flickering across her face as she opened the black velvet box, revealing a white candle and a key on a beautiful golden chain.

“A candle? How romantic. But Alex, you already gave me a key to your apartment months ago,” she teased, arching an eyebrow.

“Light it and put the key around your neck,” I ordered, holding out a box of matches. The wax quickly started melting into a hot liquid as soon as the flame lit up. I took the candle from her. “And you’re right, Sunshine. It’s very… romantic. But don’t thank me just yet. Let me show you first.”

As the first burning drop of wax hit her soft skin, she arched her back and gasped.

The mix of pleasure and pain flooded her senses as my thumb found her clit at the exact time as the hot liquid from the candle spread across her breasts and belly. I watched as she trembled, exploding into shaking and moaning as the orgasm temporarily took control of her body. “I’m… coming,” she cried, shaking violently.

“Good girl,” I murmured, feeling my own desire pulse hard at the sight of her. “That’s just the beginning.”

“Okay, enough of this. Time to move, Sunshine.” I carried her to the bathroom and slowly cleaned her up, making sure those trembling legs would hold her up before dressing her in one of my tailored white shirts. The slim fit hung loosely on her, the fabric brushing against her curves, teasingly oversized. The gold chain around her neck glimmered in the candlelight, a perfect touch of elegance contrasting with the slutty red lace underwear I made her wear under that crisp white shirt.

I blindfolded her, wrapping the soft fabric around her eyes to heighten her senses and keep our destination a secret for a little while longer. “You’re in for a ride, Sunshine,” I whispered, my breath hot against her ear. I led her to my black Aston Martin parked just outside the entrance. “It’s not far.”

I helped her into the passenger seat and slid in behind the wheel. One hand gripped the steering wheel while the other caressed her bare thigh, my fingers teasing the soft skin. She let out a low moan, the sound sending a thrill through me.

When we arrived, I exhaled, feeling my body relax at the sight of my second home, a private club—a hidden sanctuary for those who craved more than just spiced-up vanilla.

The old Victorian building stood dark and imposing, its windows casting warm light into the darkness. I parked and led her inside, the dimly lit hallway enveloping us in shadows.

"Mr. Alaric." Marcus nodded from his station. "It's been a while."

"Indeed it has."

I guided her further in, to my private wing of the building. The familiar path brought back old memories. The security here was state of the art—it had to be, given my position.

"Welcome to my world, Sunshine. To outsiders, it's Chateau Rouge—one of the city's most exclusive private clubs. But to us, it's The Crypt," I said, removing her blindfold in front of an ornate iron door. Behind its vintage scrollwork and brass details lay serious security—exactly how I liked it. "Go ahead, Princess. Use that key of yours."

Fuck. It's been months, maybe even half a year since the last time I was here. Before Astrid came into my life, this was more like my primary home outside the office walls. My way to de-stress, wind down. Relax.

I pushed the door open, revealing my private sanctuary. Dark wooden panels lined the walls, while strategically placed lights cast a warm glow over the leather furniture. A massive four-poster bed dominated one end of the room, its black sheets a stark contrast to the other more earthy tones. Various implements hung from custom-made racks—floggers, crops, and ropes, each promising its own kind of pleasure. This was my playroom. My true self. And I just gave her the key.

“Tonight, I’ll let you choose. If you don’t want to set foot in here ever again, just return the key and walk away. I’ll understand,” I said, stepping closer, my hands roaming over her curves, igniting every nerve in her body. I had never let a submissive choose when it came to pleasure or punishment before. This was my gift to her. “You are in control, Sunshine. Just say the word and I’ll stop. Are you ready to explore?”

“Yes,” she breathed, a mix of trust, fear, and arousal shining in her eyes.

“Good. Let’s begin.” I guided her to the center of the room. “Just breathe, Sunshine.”

“Tell me what you want,” I commanded, my voice dripping with authority.

“I want you, sir. Please...” she gasped, her desire palpable.

“Good girl,” I growled, taking control, guiding her through every sensation, every gasp, until the world outside faded away and this room—the two of us—was the only thing that existed.

I reached for the flogger she picked earlier and smirked. “You could have gone with a vibrator or something. Are you sure about this, Sunshine?” The leather strands were soft, not revealing the slightest hint of their capacity.

“I’m sure, sir. I’m the one in control here, remember?” My cock twitched at her words.

“Watch that smart mouth of yours, Sunshine,” I warned, but the truth was, I welcomed her brattiness.

I couldn’t wait to punish her, to mark her beautiful skin. Bind her perky breasts and paint them with different kinds of bruises. Nothing damaging, not permanently anyway. They’d fade away after six to eight weeks, changing color like autumn leaves.

An exclusive painting for my eyes only until all that’s left was smooth skin once again, a blank canvas. But that was for another day. When we came back. If...

I cleared my throat, focusing on the now.

I started with slow, teasing strikes, letting the leather kiss her skin, each hit drawing a sharp gasp from her lips.

“More,” she whispered, her voice thick with need.

I increased the intensity, the flogger making contact, sending ripples of pain coursing through her. I reveled in the way she surrendered, her body responding instinctively, arching toward each strike.

“Tell me how it feels,” I commanded, my heart racing as I watched her.

“Intense,” she gasped, her voice trembling.

“Good,” I growled, feeling the heat radiating off her. I pushed her further, the line between pleasure and pain blurring beautifully. The sounds of her filling the air, intoxicating me as I lost myself in her submission.

“Let’s see how much you can take.” The next toy she chose was a riding crop. It might look innocent, but trust me...

This was the kind of Valentine’s Day that definitely would leave a mark.