~Alexander's POV~
I tried to return the smile, the earlier jealousy fading as the air in the room suddenly grew thicker with a different kind of tension.
"Come on, babe," Alis urged, patting the spot on the bed next to him. "Let's unbox them."
Alis leaned forward, his excitement palpable as he watched me pull out a pocketknife to slice through the tape.
As the flaps opened, the sleek, high-end packaging of the collection was revealed. These weren't just any "toys"; they were elegant, medical-grade silicone and polished steel, designed for the kind of deep, intense sensations we both craved.
Alis reached in, pulling out a weighted, vibrating plug finished in a deep midnight blue. He turned it over in his hand, a slow, wicked smirk playing on his lips. "This looks like it's going to be a problem for me," he whispered, looking up at me through his lashes. "A very good problem."
I reached in and pulled out a set of silk-lined leather restraints and a high-tech, remote-controlled stimulator. My mind flashed back to our conversation at the breakfast table. Part of me wanted to dive into this right now, to claim him so thoroughly with these new tools that he wouldn't even think about leaving the house later.
"So," I said, my voice dropping an octave as I ran my thumb over the smooth surface of the stimulator. "Which one do you want to try first?"
Alis crawled closer, his hand resting on my thigh, his touch light but burning. "I want to try them all. But maybe we should start with the ones that will keep me... occupied... while I'm getting ready for my friend."
He was testing me, and I knew it. He saw the flicker of jealousy still lingering in my eyes. He picked up the remote-controlled toy and pressed it into my palm.
"You keep the remote, Alex," he murmured seductively. "That way, even when I'm out, you're the one in control of how I feel. If you're worried about me being with a friend, you can just... remind me who I belong to. From right here."
I looked at the remote in my hand, then at my beautiful, devious husband. The idea of him sitting across from someone else while I controlled his pleasure from miles away was incredibly possessive, and incredibly tempting.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Alis," I warned, though I was already gripping the remote tighter.
"I'm not playing," he murmured, leaning in to brush his lips along my jaw, his scent clouding my judgment. "I'm giving you exactly what you want, Alex. Total assurance."
He took my hand, guiding my thumb to the sync button. "You can connect it to your phone. That way, you can control the vibrations from anywhere."
I looked from the device to his dark, challenging eyes. A slow, possessive smirk curved my lips. "Fine. Then here's the deal. You'll insert it before you leave the house. While you're out, if I decide I've had enough of you being away, I'll turn it on. And when you feel it, you'll know exactly what it means, it's time to come home to me."
Alis shivered slightly, the implication of my words clearly hitting home. "Okay, baby," he whispered, though a hint of caution tempered his voice. "But remember... I'll be in public. Only do it once to signal me. Don't go turning me into a mess in front of my friend. I have a reputation to keep."
I pulled him closer by the waist, my gaze dropping to his lips. I wasn't making any promises, but I gave him a curt nod. "Okay, baby. We'll see how well you behave."
~Alistair's POV~
I finally arrived at the location Roman had sent me a chic, open-air rooftop bar with a sweeping view of the city. I was late, mostly because Alex had spent the last hour finding every excuse to keep me within arm's reach before finally letting me go.
Just as I settled into my seat and the waiter took our order, my phone vibrated. I didn't even have to look at the screen to know who it was.
"Have you made it there yet?" Alex's voice came through, sounding a mix of protective and restless.
"Yes, baby," I said, a little smile playing on my lips.
"Good. Don't stay out too long, okay? Don't forget your baby is waiting for you at home."
"I know, babe."
"I love you," Alex said quietly.
"I love you too, love," I murmured, a smile on my lips as I hung up.
Roman, who had been watching me with a curious tilt of his head, raised an eyebrow. "Was that your partner?"
"Yes," I said, tucking my phone away. "That was my husband."
"Husband?" Roman repeated, his voice laced with a surprise he couldn't quite hide.
"Husband," I confirmed firmly.
We spent the next few minutes wading through the usual "it's been a while" small talk, reminiscing about high school and the years we'd lost contact. Eventually, the conversation turned to the present.
"So, what do you do for a living these days, Alis?" Roman asked, leaning back.
"I don't really work," I admitted casually. "Sometimes I accompany my husband to his office or help with certain projects, but that's about it."
Roman whistled, looking me up and down. "Wow. I've seen your Instagram, the vacations, the clothes, the cars. How are you pulling that off without a nine-to-five?"
I smiled, a flash of pride warming my chest. "My husband handles everything. He takes very good care of me."
Our drinks arrived, the cold condensation on the glass soothing against my skin. Roman took a sip of his beer before pressing further. "So why isn't he on your page? You never post him, never tag him. It's like he's a ghost."
"He's just not the social media type," I explained simply. "He prefers his privacy."
Roman smirked, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Or maybe you're just scared someone will see him and snatch him away from you."
I paused, my glass halfway to my lips. I didn't laugh, not at first. Then I let out a low, dark chuckle that never reached my eyes. I leaned forward, my voice dropping into a cold, lethal calm.
"No one dares to take my husband from me, Roman. It doesn't matter who they are or what they think they can offer. He wants only me. He belongs to me, and I belong to him. There isn't a single person on this earth capable of coming between us."
Roman held up his hands, his smile faltering slightly as he felt the sudden drop in temperature at the table. "Whoa, relax, Alis. I was only joking with you."
I didn't lean back. My gaze remained fixed on his, sharp and unwavering. "Don't," I said, the word cutting through the air like a blade. "Do not joke with me when it comes to my husband. I don't care how long we've known each other; that is the one line you never cross. I don't find it funny, and I don't tolerate it."
Roman studied me for a long moment, clearly caught off guard by the depth of my reaction. Then he exhaled and gave a small nod.
"Alright," he said quietly. "I get it. No more jokes."
After a pause, his expression eased. "But if he means that much to you, you should introduce him to me someday. I am your old friend, after all."
I took a slow sip of my drink, finally leaning back into my chair. I allowed a small, polite smile to return to my face so I wouldn't seem entirely hostile, but my words remained firm. "My husband doesn't really 'meet' people, Roman. If it isn't me, he usually has no interest. He's very particular about his circle, and he definitely doesn't feel the need to vet my friends. So I wouldn't get your hopes up about an introduction."
Roman chuckled, though he seemed a little more cautious now. "It's okay, Alis. I understand. You've got him all to yourself, and you want to keep it that way. I get it."
"Exactly," I murmured, feeling the slight weight of the device I was wearing, a constant, secret reminder of the man waiting for me at home.
The silence that followed at the table thickened for a moment, stretching uncomfortably between us. Then a woman in a shimmering dress approached, her heels clicking softly against the floor. She offered a bright, practiced smile, her gaze lingering on me a second longer than necessary.
"Hello," she said smoothly. "Would you mind if I joined you? Everywhere else seems to be full."
"No," I said instantly, my tone flat and unwelcoming.
"Actually, yes, go ahead," Roman interrupted, pulling out the chair next to him.