Chapter 5 The Devil's Offer

Naomi should have left. The moment Julian touched her, the moment his voice curled around her like a silk noose, she should have turned around and walked out of that mansion. But she didn't. Instead, she stood there, letting the heat of his fingers linger on her jaw, her pulse betraying her with every rapid beat. His green eyes darkened, seeing everything she was trying to hide. "You think you're in control," he murmured, amusement lacing his words. "That you're here on your terms." She forced a smirk.

"Aren't I?" Julian tilted his head, studying her like a predator who had already decided how the hunt would end. "No," he said simply. "You're here because I let you be." The arrogance. The sheer audacity of him. Naomi bristled, stepping back. "You don't own me, Julian." His smile was slow, deliberate. "Not yet." She hated the way those words sent a thrill down her spine. The Rules of the Game Julian reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek, folded contract, placing it on the marble table beside them. Naomi glanced at it, then back at him. "Seriously? What is this?" "A contract," he said smoothly. "Outlining exactly what I expect from you." Her brows shot up. "You think I'd sign something without reading it?" He chuckled. "I'd be disappointed if you did." With cautious fingers, she picked it up, unfolding it. Her eyes skimmed the elegant script, the words sinking in like cold water: "You will belong to me. You will obey me. You will submit to my desires, my rules, my control. No other man will touch you. No other man will claim you. You are mine." Naomi's breath hitched. She should have thrown the contract in his face. Laughed. Walked away. But she didn't. Instead, she met Julian's gaze, searching for any hint of hesitation. There was none. "You really think I'd sign this?" she asked, forcing a scoff. Julian stepped closer, his presence wrapping around her like a shadow. "I think you're more curious than you'd like to admit." His fingers traced the edge of the paper, his touch dangerous, deliberate. "You wouldn't be standing here if you didn't want to know what it would feel like," he whispered. Naomi's grip tightened on the contract. "You talk a big game, Saint Clair," she said, voice steady. "But men like you always have limits." Julian's smirk vanished. And in its place, something darker emerged. "Try me." Temptation Wears a Suit Naomi swallowed hard. The room was suddenly too quiet, the walls pressing in. She could walk away. She still had that option. But Julian wasn't just offering power. He was promising complete and utter destruction. And God help her-she wanted to know what that would feel like. She placed the contract back on the table. "You want me to sign away my freedom?" His lips curled. "I want you to surrender willingly." Naomi held his gaze. Testing. Challenging. "Then make me," she whispered. The second the words left her lips, Julian moved. One hand gripped the back of her neck, tilting her head back. His other hand pressed against her lower back, pulling her against him. He didn't kiss her. He didn't have to. The sheer dominance in his touch sent a shiver through her, setting her body on fire. "You're playing a dangerous game, Naomi," he murmured against her skin. "And I don't play fair." Her nails dug into his chest, her body betraying her even as her mind screamed to run. "Good," she breathed. "Neither do I." Julian chuckled, dark and approving. "You'll sign," he murmured. "Sooner than you think." He pulled away, leaving her breathless, shaken, and completely unprepared for what was coming next. And deep down, Naomi knew-she was already his.