I lie awake, the sound of Dallas’s soft, steady breathing the only thing grounding me to reality. A stark contrast to the chaos that pulsed through the Admiral’s room just hours before. My body feels heavy, and the soreness in my muscles is a lingering reminder of the night’s intensity. The air is cool against my bare skin, but there’s a slow burn beneath that coolness—an ache that stretches deeper than just physical exhaustion.
What am I doing?
I roll onto my side, careful not to disturb Dallas, who is still fast asleep beside me. His arm drapes loosely across my waist, his breathing steady and calm. There’s a part of me that wants to snuggle closer to him, to bask in the warmth and comfort of his familiar presence, but something holds me back. It’s not him. It’s me.
The Admiral’s voice still echoes in my head, his final words a lingering thread that pulls at my thoughts: “You just got upgraded from my baby girl to my bitch.” The way he said it—possessive, raw—sent a jolt through me then, but now, in the stillness of the early morning, I feel something else. A creeping uncertainty.
I slip out of bed as quietly as I can, throwing on one of Dallas’s oversized T-shirts. My feet touch the cold floor, and the sensation grounds me, cutting through the haze of lust and exhaustion. The house is still. The Admiral is nowhere to be seen.
I move toward the window, peeking through the curtains. The sky is a muted black, the darkness feels close enough to touch. I stare out at the quiet landscape, my mind a tangled mess of thoughts I can’t quite unravel.
Is this what I want? To be caught between two men, both vying for control in their own ways? To be pushed and pulled between desire and dominance, my body a playground for their power?
I swallow hard, pressing my forehead against the cool glass. The truth is, I don’t know. Part of me is exhilarated by the idea—by the way they make me feel, the way they take me to places I’ve never been. But another part of me—the part that’s always in control, always planning, always thinking—feels a pang of guilt, of doubt.
Where does this leave me? Where does this leave any of us?
I came here with the intent of spending a fun weekend hiking, fishing, and playing board games. A simple, carefree escape. But now everything feels complicated, twisted in ways I hadn’t anticipated. What started as innocent plans has unraveled into something much deeper, and more consuming. The lines between fantasy and reality have blurred, and I’m not sure how to pull them apart anymore.
I feel like I’m teetering on the edge of something—something I can't fully comprehend, and what scares me most is that a part of me wants to fall.
How was I supposed to just go back to normal life after this? How was I supposed to go back to school and just pretend like I’m not a completely changed woman? I had experienced something I was sure most other girls my age could never even fathom. I doubt most of them would even entertain the idea of being with a man who’s old enough to be their father. But I also doubt any woman could resist a man like the Admiral.
I’m deep in thought when I notice a shift in the atmosphere. I don’t even need to turn to see him—his presence is commanding enough to announce itself.
“I… can’t sleep,” I say, chewing my lip.
“And yet, you were still able to put him to sleep like I told you. Mmm… such a good girl,” he praises.
I suck in a deep breath, trying not to let him rile me up. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Go ahead." His tone is almost too agreeable.
“I can’t shake the feeling that you know more about me than I do. You have control over me, and I’m letting you have it, even though it doesn’t make sense. And you keep asserting your dominance over Dallas like you’re positioning yourself above him, and I can’t figure out why. So what do you want from me—beyond this week? Is this all just some power play to you? Or is there something real here?”
The Admiral moves closer, his presence overwhelming yet calculated, his gaze locking onto mine with that familiar intensity.
“You’re right, baby girl,” he murmurs, his voice a low, velvety rumble. “I do know more about you than you think. You may not understand why you’re letting me have this control, but I do. Because you crave it. You need someone to take you to the edge, to challenge what you thought you knew about yourself.”
His fingers lightly graze my arm, trailing a path that makes my skin tingle. “As for Dallas... I’m not positioning myself above him. I’m showing you something—something he hasn’t been able to give you. And you feel it, don’t you?”
He leans in, his breath warm against my ear. “This isn’t just a game to me. I see you, Aiyana. I know what you want, what you need... even if you don’t fully know it yet. There’s something real here, but you’re not ready to admit it to yourself.”
His lips brush against my neck, barely a whisper, sending a shiver down my spine. “I don’t just want you for this week. I want you for as long as you can handle me.”
He pulls back just enough to meet my eyes, his expression both commanding and tender. “The question is... are you ready to let me in completely? To let me take you where you’ve never been before?”
The moonlight filters through the curtains, casting a soft glow on his face, and highlighting the wisdom in his eyes.
“Come with me,” he murmurs, taking my hand in his. His touch is firm but gentle, guiding me without resistance.
I follow him down the dimly lit hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. The Admiral’s room feels warmer and more intimate than it had a few hours ago. A single lamp casts a golden hue over the space, making everything feel softer and more inviting. He closes the door behind us, and the world outside seems to fade away.
He sits on the edge of the bed, pulling me close. “Sit with me,” he says, his voice a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. I hesitate for a moment before settling beside him, our bodies aligned, his warmth seeping into me.
“What you said earlier... it made sense,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “But it also scared me. I don’t want to be just a pawn in someone else’s game.”
The Admiral nods, his expression softening. “You’re not, baby girl. You never will be. Every action I take, every word I speak, it’s all about guiding you, showing you who you are, and what you can become. But I need you to understand something—sex is an exchange of energy. The person you let inside you should only have the best intentions for you. They should love and care for you with the same sincerity they care for themselves.”
His fingers trail up my arm, leaving a wake of a tingling sensation. “There are behaviors you should never accept. Disrespect, cruelty, selfishness—those are red flags. True connection, the kind we’re exploring, is built on mutual respect, trust, and genuine caring. Do you understand?”
I nod slowly, absorbing his words. “Yes, I think so.”
He smiles a rare, genuine smile that reaches his eyes. “Good. Now, let me show you what real connection feels like.”
Before I can respond, his lips find mine, soft and searching. The kiss deepens, his tongue parting my lips, inviting me to explore. My body responds instinctively, melting into him, my hands finding their way to his chest. The steady thump of his heartbeat beneath my fingertips grounds me, anchoring me in the moment.
He pulls back slightly, his eyes filled with a tenderness I hadn’t seen before. “Relax, let yourself feel,” he whispers. “Give yourself permission to enjoy this.”
I do as he says, letting go of the tension in my muscles, and allowing his touch to guide me. His hands move with purpose, peeling off my shirt, and exposing my bare skin to the cool air. His fingers trace patterns on my back, sending shivers down my spine.
“Beautiful,” he murmurs, his breath hot against my ear. His hands cup my breasts, his thumbs grazing my nipples, sending jolts of pleasure straight to my core.
I moan softly, leaning into his caress. His mouth moves to my neck, kissing, nipping, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. “Look at me,” he commands, his voice low and throaty. I meet his gaze, my breath catching in my throat. His eyes are dark, filled with desire, but also with something deeper, something that speaks of understanding, and acceptance.
“You deserve to be worshiped,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “To be cherished. Let me show you that.”
With that, he gently lays me back on the bed, his body following mine down. His weight is comforting, and grounding, sealing us together in a cocoon of warmth and intimacy. His kisses move lower, his tongue licking around my nipples, making them pebble under his attention.
“So responsive,” he praises, his hands squeezing my hips. “Such a good girl.”