Chapter 3: The Velvet Leash

The penthouse was silent except for the soft hum of the city below, the distant sounds of life moving outside the walls. Inside, the tension between them was palpable, a thick, suffocating energy that neither of them seemed willing to break. Sienna stood still, feeling the weight of his presence like a shadow that wrapped around her, pressing against her skin. She could feel her pulse pounding, each beat a reminder of how far she’d already fallen under Colson’s control.

Colson Sinclair wasn’t just a man—he was a force of nature. Tall, commanding, with eyes that seemed to pierce through her very soul, he was the kind of man who made the world bend to his will. He was the storm, and she was the helpless prey caught in his winds.

His gaze never left her, not for a moment. His eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that left her breathless, as though he were reading her, seeing every secret, every hidden desire. The silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable. She tried to keep her composure, to hold onto the last thread of control she had left. But Colson was relentless, his presence suffocating, like a storm slowly rolling in.

"You're trembling," he murmured, his voice rich with satisfaction. He took a step forward, closing the distance between them, and Sienna’s heart skipped a beat. His breath, warm against her skin, sent a shiver down her spine. "Why is that, Sienna? Are you afraid of me?"

Her throat felt dry, and her words came out barely above a whisper. “I’m not afraid of you,” she lied, the truth burning in her chest. She couldn’t admit how his presence affected her, how his proximity made her heart race. She couldn’t let him know just how much power he held over her.

Colson’s lips curled into a knowing smile. It was the kind of smile that made her feel like he was privy to some dark, dangerous secret. “Liar,” he said softly, his voice like velvet, smooth and intoxicating. “You’re afraid of what I can do to you. Afraid of how much you want me.”

Sienna’s breath hitched. She could feel the heat rising in her chest, her face flushing with a combination of frustration and something far more dangerous. Desire. The last thing she wanted was to be consumed by him, but already, she could feel herself slipping.

He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. “You can lie to yourself, Sienna. You can pretend all you want, but deep down, I know the truth. You want me. You’re drawn to me, whether you like it or not.”

Her heart slammed against her ribs, a tight, suffocating rhythm that echoed through her body. She wanted to push him away, wanted to scream at him, tell him that she wasn’t some toy for his amusement. But as much as she wanted to resist, the pull toward him was undeniable. Her body, betraying her every command, leaned closer to him, as though it recognized something she couldn’t yet see.

Colson reached out, his hand brushing a strand of hair from her face. His touch was soft, almost tender, and it made Sienna’s breath catch in her throat. It was a dangerous mix—this softness, this care—and the power he exuded. It made her feel small, insignificant, and yet, it awakened something inside her that she couldn’t ignore.

“You can try to run from this,” he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. “But the truth is, Sienna, you’re already mine. You just don’t know it yet.”

She flinched at his words, the truth in them cutting deeper than she cared to admit. He was right. She’d already crossed a line, and there was no going back. The moment she set foot in his world, she was already tangled in his web. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she was already a part of his game. And he was playing for keeps.

His hand traced the edge of her jaw, his touch gentle, almost reverent, as though he were claiming her, marking her as his own. Her breath caught, and she fought to control the tremble that had overtaken her body. His fingers moved lower, brushing against her neck, sending sparks of heat rushing through her veins.

“You’re so beautiful when you fight me,” he whispered. “But deep down, you want to surrender. You want to let go, let me take control.”

Sienna shook her head, the words caught in her throat. “I don’t,” she said, the lie tasting bitter on her tongue.

Colson chuckled softly, a dark sound full of amusement. “You don’t have to lie to me, Sienna. I can see it in your eyes. You want this. You want me. And the sooner you stop fighting it, the easier it will be for both of us.”

Her heart was pounding now, the sound deafening in her ears. The heat between them was unbearable, the tension so thick it felt as though the room itself was closing in. She wanted to break free from his grip, to step back and demand her space. But when she looked into his eyes, she saw something dark and irresistible. A promise. A challenge. A danger she couldn’t look away from.

“I don’t want you,” she whispered again, though the words felt hollow, meaningless. She could see the smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, the way he knew—just knew—that she was lying.

Colson stepped closer still, their bodies almost touching now. “We’ll see about that, Sienna,” he said, his voice low, just above a whisper. “I’m going to teach you what it means to truly submit. And once I do, you’ll never want to leave.”

His lips brushed against her ear, his breath sending a thrill through her that she couldn’t deny. He was too close. Too intense. Too much. Yet, she couldn’t move. She couldn’t pull away.

“You’re mine now, Sienna,” he whispered, his voice so quiet, so intimate. “And there’s nothing you can do to change that.”

The words echoed in her mind as he stepped back, leaving her standing in the middle of the room, breathless, heart racing. He was right, she knew it. She was already caught in his web, already owned in ways she didn’t yet understand. And no matter how hard she tried to resist, she couldn’t deny that the pull to him was already too strong.

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