Page 59 of Double Down

“That was one, Princess. Get up. Bring us each a bottled water from the mini-fridge. Then come back, ready to take notes.”

I watch her delicate, shaking steps across the room, debating whether keeping her in my office like this will help or distract. She’s smarter than anyone gives her credit for. Under different circumstances, I could see her as a Titan in her own right. But right now she’s a liability. I’m going to make her choose me—not to get rid of her, but to make surethistime she’s the one destroyed. She’ll feel the pain and loss.

She’ll feel her entire existence stripped down to nothing.

I’ll prove she is the one lacking, not me.

Something to discuss with the others.

She returns with the waters, rounds the desk, and I catch her wrist, pull her into a kiss.

“That was your first punishment. Make it through all of them, and I’ll reward you. Understood?”

She nods.

“I’m calling Ashley. You’ll be silent, take notes, and flag me by writing and raising your hand if there’s anything I should know.”

“Yes, sir,” she says, dipping down for a surprisingly sweet, chaste kiss.

She’s perfect, and I hate her for it because she should be mine. She should have been mine this entire time.

During the calls she listens, takes notes, and fills in what I’m missing to squeeze more waste from the budget. Between calls, I deliver the punishments she’s earned—ramping her pleasure and denying relief, right to the edge of pain—then easing off the second she’s about to break.

By the end of the third hour, she’s endured all but the last punishment with near-perfect grace and obedience, and I’ve slashed vendors and negotiated better deals.

All in all, it’s been a good day.

I hang up with our lighting guy and finally turn to Phoenix.

“Ready for me?”

She braces—hands on the desk, shoulders back, head high—and nods.

“Good. Come here.” I close the laptop, slide it into the top drawer, and swivel the leather chair.

She stands before me, gloriously naked.

My cock aches against my zipper, demanding satisfaction, but this isn’t for me. It’s for her. It’s about taking her apart and hooking her on my touch at the same time.

I grab her hips and set her on the desk, spreading her thighs. I remove the toy and set it aside to clean and charge. That little three hundred dollar device is probably the best toy I’ve ever bought.

Mental note: look up the company, see what else they make—maybe buy some stock.

“What’s my next punishment?” she asks, the thinnest thread of apprehension in her voice.

“No more punishments today, Princess. You did so well for me.” I brush a damp lock from her forehead. “I’m proud of you.”

She sucks in a breath; for a second I think she’ll cry, but she leashes it. Phoenix really is like us—same trauma, same need, same anger turned into fuel.

If I’m not careful, she’ll bury her claws deeper into my soul than she did the last time.

She flinches at the wordproud, and I’m certain no one’s ever told her that. I make another mental note… this one to make sure that I show her exactly how much I see in her work. Maybe tell the others to do the same. She should be praised every single day. Even if it’s only for the fact that she’s the best fuck any of us will ever have.

We may enjoy tearing her down, but we’ll rebuild her too—even if it kills me.

I swallow past the lump in my throat, roll the chair between her knees, and spread her wider. “Lay back for me, sweet girl, and come as much as you like.”

Starting at her knees, I kiss up her salty-sweet skin to her aching core. Her clit looks painfully swollen; I know what she needs—whenIdecide to give it.