Leila let out a soft laugh, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Is that what you thought of me? That I was just another admirer?"
Barış raised an eyebrow, his gaze locked on hers. "Weren't you?"
Leila leaned back in her seat, crossing her legs slowly as she let his question hang in the air. "I wasn't, actually." Her voice was calm, and her eyes met his with a clarity that caught him off guard. "I was never interested in you in the way everyone else was. You were always this mysterious guy that people wanted to figure out, but me? I was more interested in building something for myself. I didn't have time for college crushes."
He took another sip, intrigued by the shift in her demeanor. "And what future are we talking about?"
Leila smiled, leaning forward slightly, her confidence growing. "I run a consultancy firm now. Corporate strategy for growing businesses. You'd be surprised how many wealthy families need someone to manage their affairs, to expand their ventures in the global market."
Barış nodded. "Sounds like you've made a name for yourself."
What about you, Barış? Besides...well, sitting in clubs with mysterious women like me."
Barış chuckled, setting his glass down on the table. "Real estate, mostly. Development projects, hotels, things like that. The family legacy, you know."
Leila raised an eyebrow, impressed. "I guess some things don't change, right?"
Barış shrugged. "The work doesn't change, but the way you handle it can."
Leila's eyes sparkled as she leaned in a little closer, her voice dropping to a more intimate tone. "You know, it's funny. I always wondered what it would be like to actually have a real conversation with you, instead of just hearing stories about you from everyone else."
Barış's smile faded slightly as he noticed the way her fingers began tracing patterns on his arm. She was close now, her perfume filling the air around him. He didn't move, letting her inch closer. "You know," she continued, "maybe we were wrong about each other back then. I wasn't that girl you thought I was, and you're not just the guy everyone tried to impress."
Barış felt the tension between them rising, the line between conversation and something more blurring. Her hand slid down his arm, and her fingers entwined with his.
He looked down at their hands, feeling the warmth of her touch, and then back at her. Leila's eyes were locked on his, and in that moment, he knew where this was heading. A part of him wanted to stop it, to pull back and keep the distance he had always maintained. But another part of him, the part that was tired of resisting, told him to let go.
Before he could think it through, Leila leaned in closer, her lips brushing against his. The kiss started softly, testing the waters, but quickly deepened as Barış gave in. His hand moved to her waist, pulling her closer, as they both abandoned whatever reservations they had left.
The intensity between them grew as they kissed, the years of unspoken tension now unraveling in that moment. Leila pressed against him, her hands exploring his chest as he pulled her onto his lap, the heat between them undeniable.
But somewhere, deep in the back of Barış's mind, the name Joy flickered again, like a faint whisper he couldn't fully silence. He pushed it away, focusing on Leila, on the moment, telling himself that this was exactly what he needed—a distraction, an escape.
Leila broke the kiss, her breath heavy, and she looked at him with a fire in her eyes. "Let's go somewhere more...comfortable," she whispered.
Leila broke the kiss, her breath heavy, and she looked at him with a fire in her eyes. "Let's go somewhere more... comfortable," she whispered.
Barış gave her a knowing smile and led her to to his car and he drove her to his house.he opened the house with a pass code and then he led her upstairs to a hallway.
When they reached the door at the end of the hall, Barış paused for a moment, his fingers brushing over the handle. He looked at her with a seriousness she hadn't seen before, something deeper, darker. "Before we go in," he said quietly, his voice firm, "I need you to understand that what happens here is on my terms. If you can't handle that, we stop now."
Leila felt a shiver run down her spine. The intensity in his voice caught her off guard, but it only fueled her desire further. She had waited too long for this moment, and there was no way she was turning back now. "I can handle it," she replied, her voice a little breathless but steady.
Barış held her gaze for a moment longer before he opened the door and ushered her inside. The room was unlike anything Leila had expected. The walls were painted a deep, sensual red, with black accents running along the edges. The lighting was low, casting a dark, almost foreboding glow over the space. She immediately noticed the large bed in the center of the room, draped with dark silk sheets, but it was everything else that drew her attention.
The room was filled with various items—ropes, cuffs, paddles, and chains—all neatly arranged, hanging from the walls or sitting on shelves. In one corner, there was a black leather chair with straps, and on the opposite side of the room, a large mirror took up the entire wall, reflecting the scene back at her.
Leila's breath caught in her throat. She had known Barış was different, but she hadn't expected this. Still, the shock didn't outweigh the excitement coursing through her veins. Her pulse quickened, and she felt an almost intoxicating blend of fear and desire.
Barış turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "This is my playroom," he said, his voice calm but commanding. "I don't have casual sex, Leila. I don't just give in to seduction without control. Here, I'm the one in charge, and I only do things my way."
Leila swallowed hard, her eyes scanning the room again. "What exactly... do you do here?" she asked, trying to maintain her composure despite the overwhelming tension between them.
Barış stepped closer, his eyes locked on hers. "I dominate. I control. And my partners submit to me. That's the only way this works."
Leila's heart pounded in her chest, but she didn't back away. The idea of submitting to Barış, of giving herself over to him completely, was terrifying—and thrilling. She had spent years trying to catch his attention, and now that she had it, she wasn't going to walk away.
"What are your rules?" she asked, her voice soft but steady.
Barış studied her carefully, as if weighing whether she was truly ready for what he was about to offer. "First," he began, "you follow my lead. No exceptions. Second, if anything is too much for you, we stop. But if you agree to this, I expect your full trust. Understood?"
Leila nodded slowly, her mind spinning with the possibilities of what was to come. "I trust you," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly with anticipation.
Barış's eyes darkened with intensity. "Good." He stepped back, giving her space for a moment as he walked toward one of the shelves. He grabbed a pair of black leather cuffs and returned to her. "Last rule. I never touch a woman in here without her permission."
He held the cuffs out to her, waiting. Leila stared at them for a moment, her heartbeat echoing in her ears. She had crossed a line already by entering this room, and there was no turning back now.
With a deep breath, she nodded, giving him silent permission.
Barış's lips curled into a small smile as he gently wrapped the cuffs around her wrists, fastening them snugly but not painfully. His touch was deliberate, almost reverent, as if every movement carried meaning. Once the cuffs were in place, he led her toward the bed.
As he guided her to sit, Barış's gaze never wavered. "Remember," he said quietly, "this is about trust. It's not just physical. If you want out, say the word."
Leila's breathing quickened as she looked up at him, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and anticipation. She had wanted this for so long—to be close to Barış, to be the one who finally captured his attention. Now she was here, in his world, and all she had to do was let herself go.