The next morning, Reese walked confidently around the expansive Melrose mansion, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble floors as she guided a potential buyer through the property. The 15,200-square-foot estate exuded luxury from every corner, with its grand staircase, intricate crown molding, and walls adorned with tasteful artwork. Private showings like these were Reese's specialty, a chance to generate buzz and excitement ahead of the big marketing event she had planned. Christian lingered in the background, his presence a subtle yet palpable force. He listened intently to her polished sales pitch, cutting in occasionally to share details he deemed important for the buyer to know.
Reese tried to maintain her composure, but the tension between them was unmistakable, a lingering awkwardness from the night before that neither had yet to address. Every so often, she would glare at Christian, her icy stare warning him to back off. He would respond with a smirk or a subtle nod, acknowledging the unspoken tension without actually engaging it.
"Feel free to wander," Reese said with a soft laugh, her professional smile never faltering. "If you have any questions, just let me know."
"Thank you," the man replied, his eyes lingering on her a moment too long, sizing her up before heading up the grand staircase to the second floor.
As soon as he was out of sight, Christian stepped closer, his voice low and amused. "He wants to fuck you, you know?" he said, his words dripping with a casual arrogance.
Reese spun around to face him, her expression a mix of shock and irritation. "That's wildly inappropriate," she snapped, her eyes narrowing.
Christian shrugged, unbothered. "What? It's true," he said, a playful smirk curling on his lips. "He's undressing you with his eyes. I can't blame him; you're doing a good job selling yourself. I'm impressed."
She rolled her eyes, exasperated by his audacity. "You seem better this morning," she noted, tilting her head slightly as she studied his demeanor.
"Yeah," he replied with a soft smile, his tone surprisingly genuine. "Sorry about that. I was out of line."
Reese crossed her arms, her gaze piercing. "Which part?" she asked coolly.
Christian's expression shifted slightly, a hint of regret flashing across his features. "Telling you to leave the way that I did," he admitted, his voice firm.
"And pressing me up against the wall?" Reese pressed, her tone challenging. "How about that? Don't you think you were out of line?"
A spark of amusement danced in Christian's eyes. "No, I actually enjoyed it," he said, his voice low and teasing. "I think you did too."
"I didn't," she shot back quickly, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and anger.
"Your body was saying otherwise," Christian replied smoothly, his gaze never wavering.
Reese opened her mouth to retort, but before she could speak, the potential buyer's voice floated down from the second floor.
"Ms. Sutherlin," the client called out.
Reese turned on her heels, her professional demeanor snapping back into place. "Yes?" she answered, moving toward the staircase.
"There's a room on the top floor, towards the back of the hallway, that's locked. Is there a way to get that unlocked?" the man asked, his brow raised in curiosity.
Before Reese could respond, Christian interjected firmly, "No."
Reese's jaw clenched, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Christian," she snapped, her tone sharp with irritation.
"This house isn't for you," Christian stated coldly, his gaze fixed on the buyer. "You should go."
The buyer looked taken aback, his mouth opening to protest. "I—"
"Now," Christian insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Reese's eyes widened in disbelief. "Christian! What the fuck?" she exclaimed, moving to follow her client, who was already making his way back downstairs, clearly unnerved.
"Let him go," Christian said through gritted teeth, his eyes narrowing at her. "I want to show you something."
Reese glared at him, her temper flaring. "This couldn't wait?" she demanded.
Without another word, Christian turned and headed for the stairs leading to the top floor. Reese hesitated for a moment, frustration boiling within her, but then quickly followed him. Whatever this was, it had better be worth it.
They reached the top floor and walked down a long, dimly lit hallway. At the end, they approached a large, sunken door set into the corner. It was different from the rest of the doors in the house, heavier, more imposing.
"What's in here?" Reese asked, a mix of curiosity and apprehension in her voice.
Christian paused, a wicked smile playing on his lips. "Now, before I show you, I want you to know it's going to take a... special type of person to buy this house," he said, his tone almost taunting.
"Okay," Reese replied, her confusion growing. "Can you open the door?"
Christian smirked, pulling a key from his pocket. "As you wish," he said, sliding the key into the lock and turning it with a soft click.
As soon as the door opened, a distinct smell of leather filled the hallway. Reese's eyes widened as she stepped inside. The room was dimly lit, with soft, atmospheric lighting that barely illuminated the space. The walls and ceiling were painted a deep maroon, creating a sense of intimacy and secrecy. Her gaze moved across the room, taking in the suspension ropes hanging from the ceiling, a swing, and an unconventional massage table with restraining cuffs at all four corners.
Reese gasped as her eyes landed on a large canopy bed in the center of the room, its black leather mattress adorned with black and red satin pillows. Restraints hung from each of the four posts, swaying gently. Along the far wall, a table was lined with an array of whips, paddles, vibrators, and feathers, neatly arranged like an arsenal of desires.
"This room was a work in progress," Christian said, breaking the silence, his voice almost wistful. "I didn't get to use it."
Reese turned to him, shock and confusion etched across her face. "What the fuck is this?" she demanded.
"It's my playroom," he answered nonchalantly, glancing around with a hint of disappointment. "Well, an unfinished one."
"Why didn't you show this to me when I first toured the house?" Reese asked, still trying to process what she was seeing. "Are you a sadi—"
"Sadist," Christian interrupted with a soft grunt. "No. What I am is a dominant."
Reese's eyes darted around the room, her mind racing. "Did your wife know about this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course, she did," Christian replied with a wicked smile. "She was my submissive."
Reese shook her head, trying to wrap her mind around the revelation. "This is—"
"What?" Christian prompted, his eyes glinting with a dark amusement.
"A lot to wrap my head around," she admitted, her gaze shifting away from his intense stare. "Did you... did you hurt her in here? Is that why she left you?"
Christian's expression darkened, his jaw clenching. "I never hurt my wife," he said defensively, his voice low and firm. "Not in the way you're thinking."
Reese took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "Then why did she leave?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Christian looked away, his gaze distant. "She left because I couldn't give her what she wanted," he said quietly. "Because I am who I am, and I won't change that for anyone."
Reese studied him for a moment, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. "And what about now?" she asked softly. "What do you want now?"
Christian turned to face her, his eyes boring into hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. "I want to sell this house," he said with a smirk, but his eyes told a different story, one filled with pain and longing.
Reese nodded slowly, trying to steady her breathing. "And after that?" she pressed.
Christian's expression softened slightly, a hint of vulnerability creeping into his features. "After that," he said slowly, "I want to find someone who understands."
Reese felt a pang in her chest, her breath catching. "Understands what?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Christian stepped closer, his gaze locked onto hers. "Understands me," he replied, his voice low and earnest. "All of me."
For a moment, they stood in silence, the weight of his words hanging in the air between them. Reese's heart raced, her mind reeling with possibilities she hadn't dared to consider before. She took a step back, trying to regain her composure.
"Well," she said finally, her voice steadier than she felt, "we should probably get back. We have a lot of work to do."
Christian nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Yes, we do," he agreed, his tone lighter, but his eyes still held that same intensity, that same unspoken promise.