The Controlling Lover (ON HOLD)

Chapter Forty One

"Why didn't you take me in your playroom," Khushi asked.

They were laying down in bed, Khushi on Arnav's front, their fingers twisted in with the other's.

Arnav didn't reply and Khushi was curious. She turned in his hold to look at him and found him staring at her.

"Well," Khushi pushed on.

Arnav sighed heavily. "Because things are different now."

"What do you mean?"

Arnav turned them over and he laid her beside him. "I've changed, Khushi. I'm not the same man I was before I met you."

Khushi caressed his face and Arnav snuggled into her embrace.

"I want to though."

"Want to what," Khushi asked, her eyebrows scrunched.

"Have you in that room. Do with you as I wish. But...."

"But what?"

Arnav didn't say anything and looked down.

"You can tell me Arnav," Khushi said softly.

Arnav remained quiet for a moment and then looked up at her. "I'm scared."

"Why," she asked softly.

"Of being the man I once was with you."

"What do you mean?"

Arnav sighed. "Khushi, before you came into my life, I was nothing more than a ruthless business man and a domineering Dominant. I was cold and I was rough."

"But-"

"You were right, when you asked me if it was harsh of me to put my subs in the closet. And the truth is that it was. It was meant to be because I would get very irritated. Because it was in our contract, I had the ability and every right to do it. They wanted that and that's what they got.

"Khushi, I've not only locked women up in the closet, but in cages, boxes, dungeons, you name it."

Khushi's eyes widened. Holy crap.

Arnav sat up and looked down at his lap. "There was time when I was very proud of all of this. In our hidden society, I was the best Dom around. Women were at my feet, desperate to be my sub, but I didn't just take anyone. I was hard and rough and I needed a woman who could do that. One that would tolerate all the shit I gave them. Though it never surprised me by the number of women that could actually take it," he scoffed lightly.

Khushi blinked and then she sat up beside him. Arnav glanced at her and took her hand in his and placed it in his lap.

"Telling you these things now... it's just... I feel embarrassed. With you... everything's different now. After my mother's death, the idea of love became completely fake to me. It was all bullshit to me. But then you came into my life," he said, looking up at her.

"The moment you stepped into my life, I could see myself changing. I stopped smoking weed, stopped with the excessive drinking... I wasn't the ruthless Dom I once was. But the moment you told me you loved me...."