Drifting forward, I held out my hand, cursing the slight tremble. I had the strangest urge to shake on our agreement even though he’d given me no such oath that he’d tell me what was bothering him.

Prowling toward me, Q ignored my outstretched hand and cupped my cheek. “Don’t ever doubt me, Tess. Never doubt us.”

My eyes locked on his mouth. “I know. And I don’t.”

He gave me a look as if to say he’d heard my previous thoughts, tasted my fleeting fear.

I dropped my gaze. “I had a second of weakness. That’s all. I love you, Q. If you need time…time is what I’ll give you. Along with whatever else you want me to do.”

His lips landed on my forehead in the sweetest sin-filled kiss. “I’m so glad to hear that, esclave.”

My nipples pebbled as he gathered me close, nipping at my earlobe. “Now go to the bedroom down the hall. Last on the left. It’s the prettiest I could find on this level.” His nose nuzzled my throat, making me listen with my heart rather than my ears. “I’ll be there soon. Take this and obey each instruction.”

His command made me wet and eager. My fingers curled around a small piece of paper as he tucked it into my hand.

The moment I’d accepted the page, he let me go and vanished out the door.

1. SILK BLINDFOLD (FROM the game last night)

2. Flogger

3. Needle

4. Black ink (all courtesy of my luggage)

5. 1934 Pol Roger Brut Champagne (thanks to Castelnaud-des-Fleurs)

6. And a present for Tess that I planned on using many nights to come (she hadn’t been the only one buying gifts secretly)

Thirty minutes after Tess left, I stalked through our temporary home and mentally ticked off the list, ensuring I had everything I required. The black satchel in my hand—that’d been hidden at the bottom of my suitcase—clinked softly with what I intended to do to Tess. What she would let me do because she was mine and tomorrow was my birthday.

I planned to spend all night and most of the early morning indulging in her.

What better way to grow a year older than spending it balls deep in my wife?

Tess knew I didn’t do puppies and petals. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t up to celebrating a night dedicated to love and connection.

By fucking her.

By marking her.

By letting my beast out to play and escorting Tess into the darkness she coveted and came alive in. My little sparrow was the kinkiest plaything imaginable, and the moment I let myself off my tightly controlled leash, she met me bite for bite.

Tonight would be no different.

Only…maybe it should?

That damn thought tormented me again. For months, I hadn’t been able to run from such conclusions. I’d always been a firm believer in doing whatever felt natural. But what if this wasn’t natural? What if I was stopping Tess from other experiences by keeping her chained to my demonous urges?

Either way, tonight wasn’t a night for reform.

My bare feet padded on the thick burgundy carpet as I passed empty rooms of our rented castle. How many other couples had indulged in fucking and degradation and every morbid, twisted delicious thing Tess and I did within these walls?

Were we the wildest or the tamest compared to the ancestors who’d once roamed here?

My cock hardened with every step. My lips smirked, thinking of Tess and my instructions.

I had no doubt she would’ve obeyed. Not because I commanded her but because she loved it. She submitted because she wanted what I did. She let me do nasty things to her because she enjoyed it just as much as me. My dirty wife begged for things that would terrify vanilla loving girls.

She wasn’t a princess.

Fuck no, Tess was my queen. My sinning, cursing, fucking twisted queen.

She still believed I held the cards in our marriage, but she couldn’t be more wrong. I’d barely managed to stop from taking her in our bedroom half an hour ago when she looked at me as if I caused her pain. Pain I could stop if only I were honest with her.

I wanted her.

No, I was beyond that. I was fucking obsessed with her.

She was more than my world. She was more than my lover, best friend, and partner. She was the blood in my heart, the breath in my lungs, the fucking marrow in my bones. Without her, I wouldn’t exist. Without her, my body would be nothingness: no heartbeats, no mind, no man…no animal.

Cutting off my thoughts, I refocused.

The instructions I’d given her came back to mind.

Dear Esclave,

If you wish to please me, you will do the following. Do not dally or disobey. Do not touch yourself or do anything to displease me. Obey me, my dear Tess, and I will reward you.

1. Shave your pussy until it’s bare and dripping

2. Tie up your hair in plaited pigtails

3. Dress in the provided blood-red lingerie you’ll find in the room

4. Then wait

5. And Tess…make sure your brand—the very one I marked you with—is visible and glowing with my possession

I’m coming for you.

Your Maître.

My breathing slowed as I stopped outside the room where she waited.

My bag brushed against my trouser leg, whispering with sinful promise. My hands shook slightly—not from fear but monstrous anticipation.

I wanted my wife.

I needed my esclave.

I loved them both.

Twisting the handle, I entered the room.

The most beautiful scene welcomed me. Tess had gone one step further. She’d swept up her hair, dressed in the sexy lingerie, and attached the diamond collar with a tag marking her as mine. The brand was covered, but the collar did the same thing—letting me know she was totally under my control.