Chapter 4: On Your Knees

Lexi stared at her phone, anger turning her vision red. The text from Rachel was brief but devastating: Henderson just pulled out. So did Cavanaugh. Something about "conflicts of interest" with Styles Industries.

Three major clients gone in one day. The timing wasn't coincidental. Julian was sending a message, one that threatened everything she'd built.

She jabbed the elevator button in the luxury high-rise, her entire body trembling with rage. The doorman hadn't even questioned her arrival, simply nodding toward the private elevator with "Mr. Styles is expecting you." Of course he was. The manipulative bastard had orchestrated this entire disaster.

The elevator opened directly into his penthouse—all glass and steel and breathtaking views of Manhattan spread out like a glittering carpet. Julian stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows, shirtless, the city lights illuminating the muscled planes of his back. He held a crystal tumbler of amber liquid, not bothering to turn as she stormed in.

She wasn’t prepared for what she saw.

Vanessa was sprawled over Julian’s desk, moaning shamelessly, her dress bunched around her hips.

Lexi froze.

Vanessa saw her first. And instead of stopping, her moans got louder.

Julian’s hand was gripping Vanessa’s thigh, but his face was impassive. Like he wasn’t even there.

Then he looked up and saw Lexi.

Vanessa gasped when Julian abruptly pushed her away.

“Get out.” His voice was ice.

Vanessa blinked. “What?”

Julian didn’t even look at her. His eyes were on Lexi.

“I said, get the fuck out.”

Lexi turned, shaking, ready to leave too.

“Not you,” Julian growled.

After Vanessa left, Lexi finally spoke up.

Lexi folded her arms. “You tell me to beg, but you’re screwing someone else?”

Julian grabbed her wrist, yanking her to him. “I haven’t touched her in weeks.”

She scoffed. “Looked like you were touching her just fine.”

Julian’s eyes were dark, wild, desperate. “You know why I did it?”

Lexi lifted her chin. “Enlighten me.”

He leaned in. “Because you were with him.”

Lexi’s breath caught.

Julian’s fingers trailed down her bare arm. “You hate me right now, don’t you?”

Lexi shoved at his chest. “You’re disgusting.”

Julian grabbed her hand and pressed it against his arousal.

“Tell me that again.” His voice was low, dangerous. “Say it while your body betrays you.”

Lexi felt disgusted and she pushed him away.

“Why are you here?” He said, his back turned to her walking back to his desk to pour himself a glass.

Lexi seethed, throwing her purse onto a sleek leather couch. "Three clients, Julian! Three!"

He took a slow sip of his whiskey before looking at her again, the hurt flashed in his eyes.

"I warned you what would happen if you kept avoiding me." His voice was calm, infuriatingly so. "You missed our dinner."

"So you decided to destroy my business?" She advanced on him, hands clenched into fists. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

Julian's eyes darkened, but his posture remained relaxed. "If you want to fight, Lexi, come here and fight."

The challenge in his voice propelled her forward. Before she could think better of it, her palm connected with his cheek in a stinging slap that echoed through the cavernous space.

Julian didn't flinch. Instead, a slow, dangerous smile spread across his face. "There she is."

His hand shot out, catching her wrist before she could retreat. Immediately, he spun her around, pressing her back against his chest, her arm pinned behind her. His lips brushed her ear, sending involuntary shivers down her spine.

"You think you can walk in here, assault me, and walk away?" His free hand slid around her waist, splaying possessively across her stomach. "That's not how this works."

"Let me go," she demanded, hating how breathless she sounded.

"No." The single word held absolute authority. "You've been running since the moment we met. Not anymore."

He walked her forward until her thighs hit the edge of a glass table, bending her slightly over it. Lexi could see their reflection, her chest heaving, eyes wide, Julian looming behind her like a beautiful, terrifying predator.

"Is this what you want?" His hand traveled up to cup her breast through her blouse. "To pretend you're fighting when we both know why you're really here?"

"You're delusional," she gasped, even as her body arched into his touch.

Julian's dark chuckle vibrated against her back. "Am I?"

His hand moved from her breast down to the hem of her skirt, sliding beneath the fabric with devastating purpose. Fingers traced the inside of her thigh, moving higher until they brushed against the damp lace of her underwear.

"What's this, then?" he murmured, applying the slightest pressure. "Your body doesn't lie, Lexi. Not to me."

She closed her eyes, mortified by her body's betrayal. "This doesn't mean anything."

"No?" He turned her to face him, backing her against the table. His eyes were midnight blue now, pupils dilated with desire. "Then tell me to stop."

The echo of his words from the museum made her breath catch. They both knew she wouldn't…couldn't say it.

"That's what I thought." He released her captured wrist, both hands now framing her face. "You can pretend all you want, but you're already mine."

"I'm not yours," she whispered, the protest weak even to her own ears.

Julian's thumb brushed her lower lip. "On your knees."

The command sent liquid heat pooling between her thighs. She should be outraged. Should walk away. Instead, she found herself slowly sinking to her knees before him, her body obeying while her mind screamed in protest.

Julian's hand tangled in her hair, tilting her face up to his. "Look at me."

Lexi met his gaze, seeing triumph and something darker, hungrier in his eyes.

"This is where you belong," he said, his voice rough with desire. "This is what you've wanted since you first saw me."

"No," she breathed, but her hands were already reaching for the waistband of his pants.

He caught her wrists. "Say it, Lexi. Admit what you want."

Pride warred with desire, a battle she was losing with every passing second. "I can't."

"You can." His grip tightened. "Or I walk away right now."

The thought of him leaving her like this—aching, on her knees, was unbearable. Something inside her cracked, then shattered.

"I want you," she whispered, the admission torn from her unwilling lips.

Julian's smile was victorious. "Again. Louder."

"I want you," she repeated, her voice stronger. "Damn you, Julian, I want you."

"Not good enough." He leaned down, his face inches from hers. "Beg for it."

Lexi's last shred of resistance dissolved under the intensity of his gaze. "Please."

His eyes narrowed. "Please what?"

"Please touch me." The words tumbled out, unstoppable now. "Please don't stop. I need—"

Julian's mouth crashed down on hers, swallowing her pleas. The kiss was brutal, possessive, his tongue claiming her mouth as his hands claimed her body. He lifted her from her knees, setting her on the edge of the table and stepping between her thighs.

"Mine," he growled against her lips, fingers finding the buttons of her blouse. "Say it."

"Yours," she gasped as the cool air hit her exposed skin. "Just don't stop."

His smile was pure sin as he pushed her back onto the glass surface. "I'm just getting started, sweetheart."

And as his mouth traced down her body, to her legs, his tongue met with her wetness causing a loud moan to escape her lips as he grazed inside her.

What had this man done to her. She'd fallen exactly where he'd wanted her all along—surrendered, begging, and completely at his mercy.

She'd never hated herself more yet she’d never wanted anything more.