Heartprints in the Void
⊰ 24 ⊱ Little Pink Dress

I scrutinize my reflection in the mirror, admiring the way the long-sleeved pink cocktail dress hugs my curves in all the right places. A smile plays on my lips as I turn, appreciating the fit. *This is so cute!*

I bought this dress almost four years ago, ambitiously purchasing it one size too small. I've only worn it once. I had all but forgotten about it until I found myself desperately trying to replace the appropriate outfit for tonight. *It took 20 pounds... How tight did it fit before..?*

After a week of diligently running through my mobility exercises, the pain in my lower back has mostly subsided, allowing me to ease back into my normal routine. Work has been hectic, leaving little time for personal conversations with Cade. My heart flutters at the thought of spending the evening with him again, just the two of us. It's been two weeks since my injury, two weeks since that night when I let my guard down and gave in to my desires. I've come to accept that I still have feelings for him, but altogether, I'm determined not to let my vulnerability cloud my judgment again.

*Be cool. This was my idea.*

...

*Well, sort of.*

Unlike him, I didn't have it in me to approach him in the parking garage at work. Instead, I did what typical me would do: I waited until we both jumped in our cars and he drove off to call him and ask him if he was free this evening. My plan was simple, familiar-smoking, music, talking. Like before, minus the physical intimacy and emotional breakdown.

Cade, however, had other ideas. He suggested dinner at an exclusive, high-end restaurant, the kind of place where privacy comes with a hefty price tag.

*I hope I'm not underdressed...*

A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts, and I reach for my nude clutch, giving myself a final once-over in the mirror. Drawing a deep breath to steady my nerves, I make my way to the door.

My composure nearly crumbled when I meet Cade's gaze. I thought he looked handsome in his usual work suits, but seeing him now, in a crispy black suit and tie, steals the breath from my lungs. His hair artfully tousled, his beard trimmed to perfection.

*How am I ever supposed to stay away from you now..?*

"You look beautiful, Elysian," he says softly, a smile playing on his lips.

*You do too...*

Heat rushes to my cheeks as I duck my head, a nervous chuckle escaping me. "Thank you," I manage, my voice barely above a whisper. "You look handsome, Cade."

*The biggest understatement of the year.*

"Shall we?" He extends his arm, ever the gentleman.

*We're really doing this. This isn't supposed to be a date. Why does it feel like a date?!*

I slip my hand into the crook of his elbow, telling myself it's just a formality as we descend the stairs. But there's no denying the electricity that courses through me at his touch, the way my body betrayed my every attempt at indifference. Like the gentleman that he's always been, he walks me to the passenger's side of the familiar gold SUV and holds the door open for me.

"Thank you," I whisper, my breath hitching as his fingers graze mine.

As he slips behind the wheel, I lean back, savoring the warmth of the seat heaters even as I silently curse them for adding to the heat pooling in my core.

In the next moment, we're driving onto the highway, and Cade leans back into his seat, one hand on the steering wheel, the other tracing his chiseled jaw. His Rolex catches the light, a glinting reminder of the world he lives in that I'm merely visiting.

*Why are you doing this to me?*

I don't notice I'm nibbling on my lip until it grows numb, swollen at my bite as I desperately attempt to distract myself from lusting over him. *Stop.*

I take shallow breaths, trying to ignore the spicy smell of his intoxicating cologne as I avert my gaze to the windshield. As if preschool counting will reignite the part of my brain that doesn't forget to work when I'm sitting so close to him, I mindlessly count the buildings that we pass.

When it feels as though I've finally created some distance between us, my ears tune into the song playing from the speakers. Rihanna's sultry voice wraps around us, the lyrics hitting me like a sucker punch to the gut. *"And you got me like oh*

*What you want from me?*

*And I tried to buy your pretty heart, but the price too high*

*Baby you got me like oh*

*You love when I fall apart*

*So you can put me together*

*And throw me against the wall"*

I swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry. It's too much, too real. The words cut too close to the bone, laying bare all the things I've been trying so hard to hide from myself, from him.

I risk a glance in his direction, my heart stuttering in my chest at the intensity of his gaze. He's watching me, his eyes dark and hungry, his lips slightly parted.

"What's on your mind?" His voice cuts through the charged silence, low and knowing.

*If only you knew.*

I flash him a smile, shaking my head as I lie through my teeth. "Nothing. Just thinking about work."

He chuckles, a sound that sends shivers down my spine. "Sure you were."

"What?" I snap my head to look at him, my heart skipping a beat as he shoots me a smirk.

*Why is he looking at me like that?!*

Suddenly, he reaches over, his hand replaceing mine, his fingers lacing through my own. His thumb traces circles on my skin, setting my ablaze.

*Oh.*

I replace myself biting my lip again, my free hand fisting in the fabric of my dress. The heat in my core spreads, consuming me whole.

*Is he toying with me?*

He holds my hand for a moment longer, but it's no more than a minute before he relinquishes his hold on me. Disorientation flashes in his eyes, his eyebrows furrowing as snaps his hand away from me, stammering, "I-I'm sorry." "No, it's okay," I rush to assure him, even as I watch him struggle to compose himself.

"Hey..." I gently touch his shoulder, my voice wary as I ask, "Are you okay?"

He doesn't respond. Instead, her veers off the highway, pulling into a darkened corner of the restaurant parking lot.

"Cade, what's going on?"

He's out of the car before I can blink, slamming the door behind him. I watch, my heart in my throat, as he stalked around to my side. He yanks open the door, pulling me out and pinning me against the cool metal. "Cade, what-"

His mouth crashes against mine, desperate and demanding. I melt into him, powerless to resist. It's always been this way between us. He's so dominant, so in control, and I can't help but submit to him, body and soul.

His tongue sweeps into my mouth as his hand roams my body, igniting a fire beneath my skin. When his lips break away from mine, it's only to trail down my throat, his teeth nipping at my sensitive flesh, prompting a gasp from my mouth. "I had you in this little pink dress," he growls against my skin. "I remember bending you over the counter and fucking you with my hand on your throat and your hands tied behind your back. I made you scream and beg me to forgive you. What did you do, Elysian? What did you lie about?"

*I shouldn't have worn this dress...*

"I lied to you," I confess, breathless and dizzy with desire.

"Lied to me about what?"

My heart beats erratically in my chest, and I risk a glance at him, noticing the darkened look in his eyes before quickly snapping my gaze downcast.

His hold on me tightens, his voice hardening as he reiterates, "Lied to me about what, Elysian?"

I could never hide things from him, not even my own thoughts. He could always see it in my face, no matter how hard I tried to hide it. And that day, three and a half years ago, after I'd seen him get jealous for the first time, I learned it in the most painfully pleasurable way.

"About what I was thinking. We were in the car on our way to your place from a club, and I...I was thinking about you...about us."

His hand firmly takes my jaw, forcing me to look up at him. "Look at me when you speak."

I force myself to meet his gaze, feeling his member twitching against me as I whimper softly. "Yes, Sir."

A dangerous look plays in his blue irises, a smirk on his perfectly shaped pink lips as he murmurs, "Good girl." His thumb teases the seam of my mouth. "Don't lie to me again."

"Yes, Sir." The words fall from my lips senselessly, as though I've been trained, my mind rewired.

He holds my gaze a moment longer before releasing me, his arm sliding around my waist as he leads me towards the restaurant, unfazed and nonchalant.

*What just happened...*