Chapter 5 Under Her Roof

Sierra woke sore and satisfied.

She was still naked, her legs tangled in the sheets, her thighs sticky with evidence of the night before. The plug was gone he had removed it with care, whispering that she'd earned the privilege. His hands had worked her over with clinical precision, drawing pleasure from her body until she'd cried into the pillow.

And then... he left.

No kiss. No lingering words.

Just silence and the distant sound of the door closing.

She'd lain awake for hours, trying to slow her pulse. Trying to remember who she was before this started.

She couldn't.

She didn't want to.

Downstairs, the smell of cinnamon rolls drifted through the air, along with the faint hum of her mother's usual playlist. Vanessa was at the stove, hips swaying to Billie Holiday as she flipped bacon.

"You're up late," she said over her shoulder. "Rough night?"

Sierra nodded vaguely. "Headache."

Vanessa turned, her face filled with sudden concern. "Still?"

"Just a little."

"Well, sit. I made something sweet."

Sierra sat at the island counter and poured herself a cup of coffee. Her body still hummed with memories. Her lips were raw. Her inner thighs tingled every time she shifted.

She was so deeply filled with him mentally, physically that her mother could've said she'd dyed her hair pink and Sierra wouldn't have noticed.

"What are your plans today?" Vanessa asked, handing over a warm plate.

Sierra blinked. "I might run errands."

Vanessa grinned. "Take Damien with you. He needs to get out of the house. He's been holed up in that study since Tuesday."

Sierra nearly dropped her fork.

"He's......he's busy," she stammered.

Vanessa shrugged. "Still. You two used to be so close. You should hang out again."

Her heart pounded. Her skin flushed.

You have no idea, Mom.

She avoided Damien the rest of the day, terrified of doing exactly what Vanessa had just suggested.

Hang out.

Like siblings.

Like friends.

Like they weren't breaking every moral law under her mother's roof.

By sunset, Sierra was in the backyard alone, staring at the pool. The wind rustled the trees. The patio lights buzzed faintly. She tried to breathe, to ground herself, to pretend she wasn't unraveling.

Then his voice came from behind her.

"Nice swim idea, princess."

She turned sharply.

He was in gray slacks, barefoot, sleeves rolled up, eyes dark.

"You shouldn't sneak up on me."

He stepped closer. "I didn't. You just don't want to admit you were hoping I'd come."

Sierra swallowed hard. "My mom..."

"Is in the bath," he cut in. "I ran it for her."

The implication made her stomach twist.

"She loves you," Sierra whispered.

"And I take care of her."

He circled her slowly, stopping at her back. His fingers brushed the hem of her sundress.

"You think that means I don't want you too?"

"I think it means you're dangerous."

He leaned in, lips grazing the curve of her neck.

"I am."

Then he stepped away.

She didn't know what made her follow him. Maybe it was his calm confidence, or the scent of his skin still clinging to hers. Maybe it was the dull ache between her legs that no longer responded to her fingers.

Whatever it was, she found herself in his study minutes later.

He shut the door.

Locked it.

Turned toward her with slow precision.

"Strip."

The word wasn't a request.

It was a trigger.

Her dress hit the floor. Her bra joined it. She didn't wear panties anymore unless told to.

He watched silently, then motioned toward the rug.

"Kneel."

She obeyed, body already anticipating the rhythm, the rules.

But this time, he didn't touch her.

Instead, he opened a drawer and retrieved something: a black velvet pouch.

He knelt beside her and opened it.

Inside were three lengths of silk rope.

Her pulse spiked.

"Ever been tied before?" he asked.

She shook her head.

"You trust me?"

"Yes."

"Say it."

"I trust you, Sir."

He smiled, dark and approving.

"Then hold still."

He bound her slowly.

First her wrists, then her thighs. The ropes were firm but not cruel, soft but inescapable. She watched the way his fingers moved methodical, focused. He wasn't doing this for himself.

He was doing it to her.

By the time he finished, she was kneeling in perfect submission arms behind her back, legs spread, torso exposed.

She felt like art.

Like property.

Like something sacred and profane.

"You'll stay like this," he said. "Until I return."

Her eyes widened. "You're leaving me?"

"For ten minutes."

"Where ?"

"To check on your mother."

Her breath caught.

"You're not serious."

His smile was cold.

"You'll stay silent. Or I won't untie you for an hour."

Then he left.

Sierra stayed still.

Every second was agony.

Not because of the ropes.

But because she could hear her mother's voice upstairs, faint and sweet.

Water running.

Laughter.

The sound of Damien's low voice responding soft, gentle. The husband. The caretaker. The perfect man.

And downstairs, she knelt bound, wet, open, waiting.

It was wrong.

All of it.

She should've screamed. Should've torn herself free and run.

But she didn't.

She stayed.

And when he returned, eyes blazing, she felt relief flood her chest.

"Still," he said.

"Like you told me."

He stepped behind her and dragged two fingers down her spine.

"You've earned a reward."

He didn't take her.

Not completely.

Instead, he used her body like an instrument fingers between her legs, mouth at her throat, tongue over the ropes. She arched, moaned, begged. Her orgasm came in waves, so violent that it made her sob.

He untied her afterward, gently, carefully.

Held her for a moment.

Then dressed and left again.

By the time Sierra crawled into her bed, every part of her felt raw. Touched. Owned.

The pillow smelled faintly of him.

She buried her face in it and cried not from shame or guilt.

But from how badly she wanted to do it all again.

The next morning, Damien was already at the table when she came down. Vanessa was sipping coffee, flipping through her iPad.

"Look who finally decided to wake up," her mother said.

Sierra offered a weak smile. "Long night."

Vanessa snorted. "Damien and I both passed out by ten."

His gaze flicked up. Met Sierra's. Held.

Only for a second.

But it was enough to make her thighs clench beneath the table.

She sat in silence.

Her mother talked.

And the man who belonged to both of them sipped his coffee like it was just another morning in paradise.