Page 62 of Breadwinner

Sarah blinked. She had to blink again to believe what she was seeing as she turned to Nell, shocked and breathless.

Nell was glowing like she’d just watched Sarah walk on water.

“I—”

Nell didn’t let her finish. “Again,” she whispered. “Same amount. Your choice. Trust yourself.”

Sarah didn’t even remember what number she called next. She only remembered the way Nell was watching her—every whisper of encouragement, every hot brush of breath against her ear, every tiny purr of pleasure as the wheel landed in her favor. By the time the final bet was placed and the wheel stilled for the last time, Sarah felt like she was floating.

The room was loud with celebration, but all she could hear was Nell’s praise.

At the end of the evening, they stepped into the private elevator for the penthouse. The ride was silent for exactly one second before Nell was on her, pushing her back against the mirrored wall, hands finding her waist, her jaw, the soft edge of her exposed collarbone.

“You wereexceptionaltonight,” Nell breathed, trailing kisses down her neck. “Do you have any idea how hard it was not to drag you away the second you made that first bet?”

Sarah barely managed a breath, her head tipped back, mouth open with something between a moan and a laugh escaping her parted lips.

“And when you won? God, I was so proud of you.”

“It was luck,” she gasped, as Nell’s fingers tangled in her hair, lips brushing below her ear again.

“It wasn’t just luck.” Nell lifted her chin, and Sarah met her kiss with greedy, open-mouthed heat, her arms winding around Nell’s waist, and this time, she noticed, Nell didn’t stop her hands from coming to rest on her hips.

“You did it,” Nell whispered between kisses. “You took the risk.”

“You made me.”

“No.” Nell pulled back enough to look into her eyes. Sarah had never seen her eyes like this: dark steel and blown pupils. “I gave you permission.Youmade the choice.”

Sarah melted under the weight of that praise. Felt the control she’d held on to for years unraveling slowly, safely, and beautifully.

“Fuck the money, right?” Sarah whispered, dizzy with the feeling.

Nell smiled against her mouth. “Exactly.”

The elevator opened with a pleasing chime, revealing a private foyer bathed in warm light. The city stretched out beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, a horizon of sparkling diamonds spilled across the darkness of the desert.

She followed Nell in silence, their fingers laced together as Nell pulled her across the polished marble floors.

They passed through the living room and into the bedroom. That’s when Sarah saw it. Three items lay purposefully on thebed: a stack of money—$10,000 in clean, unbent bills—a small, compact vibrator, and a strap-on with gleaming silver hardware.

Her breath caught high in her throat as she tried to piece together what Nell had in store for her. An excited thrill shot through her as anticipation built, only causing the heat to spread even more.

Nell stepped behind her, guiding her gently forward until she stood in front of the bed.

“Heels off,” Nell murmured, her voice like smoke curling along the edge of Sarah’s spine. She obliged, sliding her heels off so that, with Nell’s still on, they were at the same height. “I promised you that I would make this trip worth your while. Just like you made it worth mine.”

Sarah didn’t move. She was a live wire, every inch of her alert, waiting, wanting, and wondering what Nell was going to do next.

“You wereperfecttonight,” Nell continued, hands finding the zipper of Sarah’s gown. “I watched you from across the room all evening. Your poise, your confidence, the way you carried yourself... you’ve come so far since August. You’re more comfortable being in spaces that challenge you than when we first met.”

Nell slid the zipper down tantalizingly slow, making her sit in her desire. The cool air of the room kissed her skin as the straps slipped from her shoulders, velvet pooling at her feet as her dress fell to the ground.

Nell stepped back to appreciate the sight of Sarah’s naked body before her, her expression nothing short of adoration. That look surged through Sarah, tightening her shoulders ever so slightly.

“You looked extraordinarily beautiful tonight, and you knew it.”

Sarah turned her head as Nell spoke, following her words as she moved and picked up the stack of money, removing the band that secured the bills.