Page 87 of The Jaded Notes

“Harder.” My voice low, almost a growl. “You’re sure?”

“Yes, sir.”

The title, the way she says it like she’s giving me a gift, makes my chest tighten. I’ve always been in power, always the one to set the rules and enforce them.

But with her, it’s different. With her, it’s not just about submission. It’s about trust. It’s about the way she lets me see her, all of her, even the parts she’s afraid of, like those terrible scars on her wrists.

I lean in, my lips brushing her ear. “Then you’ll get it.”

My movements are calculated, but inside, I’m anything but grounded. Every thrust, every sound she makes—it’s undoing me.

I’ve always been good at compartmentalizing, at keeping my emotions locked away. But with Livianna, she’s breaking through every barrier I’ve built.

I pull back slightly, my eyes tracing the curve of her body, the way her skin flushes under my gaze even though she’s blindfolded. She’s beautiful like this, raw and unfiltered, and it’s all I can do to keep my heart intact.

“Tell me again, Livianna. Tell me what you want.”

For a moment, she hesitates. Then she whispers, “You, sir. Harder.”

It’s not just the words. It’s the way she says them, like she’s giving me permission to take what I need, even as I’m giving her what she wants.

It’s the way she trusts me, even when I’m not sure I trust my growing attachment to her. I focus on the scene and I oblige, my movements sharper now, more intense.

Her breath catches, and she arches against me. Her body responds in ways that make my head spin. But even as I push her, as I give her what she’s asked for, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m the one being unraveled.

Her moans fill the room, each one a reminder of the power I hold but also of the vulnerability I feel. I’ve never been this emotionally close to anyone, never let anyone in like this. And yet, with her, it’s natural. It’s right.

“Jax,” she breathes, my name a plea as she begins to shatter.

It hits me like a punch to the gut because I love my name on her luscious lips. My hands falter for a moment, and I have to brace myself.

My thrusts come in harder now. I’ve got to keep my feelings out of this.

“I’m here, Livianna.” My voice, softer than I intend. “I’ve got you.”

Her body tenses, and she falls apart in my arms. Her cries are muffled against me.

I hold her through it with my own release following close behind. But even as the physical intensity fades, the emotional weight of it lingers.

I stay in place for a moment with my forehead pressed to hers and our breaths mingling. My heart is still racing, but it’s not just from the physical exertion. I

t’s from the realization that’s been creeping up on me, the one I’ve been trying to ignore.

I’m falling for her.

The thought is terrifying and exhilarating. I’ve spent so long building walls, keeping people at arm’s length. But with Livianna, it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced. With her, I don’t want to hide.

I pull back slightly, my hands cupping her face. “Are you okay?”

She nods as her breathing returns to normal. “Yeah. More than okay.”

I brush a strand of hair from her face. “Good.”

There’s so much I want to say, so much I’m feeling, but the words stick in my throat. Instead, I press a soft kiss to her lips, a silent promise that I’ll be here and that I’ll keep her safe.

When I finally remove the blindfold and release the cuffs, she collapses against me, weak from the scene.

I wrap my arms around her. “You’re mine, Livianna. And now you know exactly what that means.”