Dominant & Submissive | 18+

18: The jealousy

Brielle's POV

"What would you like to drink?" Jace's voice pulls me from my thoughts as he slides into the booth across from me, his eyes gleaming with something unreadable. At least he's asking.

"I'll have what you're having, please," I reply with a small, sly smile. See? I can play nice.

He orders another glass of moët, and I sit back, feeling the electric charge between us intensify the longer I look at him. He seems so effortlessly confident, so in control of everything around him. And yet... there's that faint, unfamiliar tension in his posture. My heart picks up its pace as I try to stay cool under his gaze.

"They have an excellent wine cellar here," he says, leaning forward, elbows on the table, fingers steepled in front of his lips. The pose makes him look like he's deep in thought, but I know better. I can feel the pull between us, the way it tugs at something deep inside me, something I'm trying desperately to ignore.

His eyes flicker to mine as he observes me with a quiet intensity, and I shift uncomfortably, my pulse quickening.

"Are you nervous?" His voice is softer now, almost teasing.

I blink, caught off guard. "Yes."

He leans in closer. "Me too," he whispers, a conspiratorial glint in his eyes.

I stare at him for a long moment, disbelief flooding through me. Nervous? Him? Never. I'm the one who should be nervous. But then, he smiles that crooked, irresistible smile, and all the air in the room seems to disappear for a moment.

The waiter arrives with my wine, a small dish of mixed nuts, and another olive. I'm grateful for the distraction, though my mind is still spinning. I take a sip of my wine, trying to steady myself.

"So, how are we going to do this?" I ask, setting the glass down and folding my hands on the table. "Run through my points one by one?"

"Impatient as ever, Ms. Damara." Jace's lips curve into a teasing grin. He reaches for an olive, popping it into his mouth slowly, eyes still on me, making me more aware of every tiny movement he makes.

I force myself to look away, trying to concentrate. "What about the contract?" I ask, trying to steer this conversation toward the thing I came here for.

He smirks. "The contract. Well, we could always start with the weather," he quips, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Are you smirking at me, Mr. De Leon?" I can't help but raise an eyebrow, half-amused, half-irritated.

"I am, Ms. Damara," he replies smoothly. "But I'm also fully aware that the contract is legally unenforceable."

I pause, my mind running through his words. "Were you going to tell me that at any point?" My voice is sharp, laced with frustration.

Jace frowns slightly, his gaze darkening. "You really think I would coerce you into something you didn't want, and then pretend I had some legal hold over you?"

"Well... yes," I reply without thinking.

"Not exactly the highest opinion of me, is it?" He looks almost disappointed, though his voice remains calm. "But I'm serious, Brie. This isn't about legality. It's about an arrangement. What I want from you, and what you can expect from me. If you don't like it, don't sign. If you sign and then change your mind, there are enough exit clauses for you to walk away without a problem. Even if it were legally binding, do you really think I'd drag you to court if you decided to leave?"

I stare at him, unsure how to respond. His words are so... measured, so confident. It's clear he's thought about this carefully.

Taking a long sip of my wine, I try to steady my breathing. My subconscious is practically screaming at me—*Don't drink too much*. I can't afford to lose my composure right now.