The cold, unforgiving hardwood pressed against Cade's cheek as consciousness slowly returned. For a blissful moment, disorientation clouded his mind before reality came crashing down. His eyes snapped open, darting to the plush bed looming above him. Lila's soft breathing reached his ears, a cruel reminder of his place.
Shame burned through him as he gingerly sat up, muscles protesting from a night on the floor. He gazed at Lila's sleeping form, her golden hair splayed across the pillow. Even in slumber, her beauty took his breath away.
"What have I become?" he thought, disgust and desire warring within him.
With a silent sigh, Cade rose and padded to the kitchen. The routine was ingrained now - coffee brewing, eggs whisked, bread toasting. Each action precise, driven by the need for perfection. For her.
As the aroma of breakfast filled the air, Cade arranged everything on a tray with meticulous care. A single rose in a crystal vase completed the picture.
Heart racing, he returned to the bedroom. Lila hadn't stirred. He set the tray on the nightstand, then knelt beside the bed.
"Lila?" he murmured, voice barely above a whisper. "Your breakfast is ready."
She shifted slightly, a small frown creasing her brow. Cade's breath caught.
"I hope everything is to your liking," he added softly. "Is there anything else you need?"
Lila's eyes fluttered open, unfocused at first. Then her gaze sharpened, landing on Cade with a mixture of satisfaction and disdain.
"You're learning," she said, voice husky with sleep. "Now pour my coffee."
Cade complied instantly, hands trembling slightly as he lifted the delicate porcelain cup.
"Thank you for waking me gently," Lila continued, sitting up. "Perhaps you're not entirely useless after all."
The words stung, but Cade felt a perverse thrill at her backhanded praise. "I live to serve you," he replied, hating himself even as the words left his mouth.
Lila's laugh was musical and cruel. "I know you do, pet. I know you do."
Cade settled at Lila's feet, his eyes fixed on the plush carpet beneath him. The tension in the room was palpable as Lila savored her breakfast, the clink of silverware against china punctuating the silence.
"Mmm," Lila hummed, her voice dripping with feigned nonchalance. "I'm meeting Jake later today."
Cade's shoulders stiffened, but he remained silent, his fingers digging into his thighs.
"Look at me when I'm speaking to you," Lila commanded.
Reluctantly, Cade raised his eyes, meeting Lila's smirking gaze.
"That's better," she purred. "I think I'll wear that little black dress Jake likes so much. What do you think, pet?"
Cade swallowed hard, his voice barely audible. "I'm sure you'll look beautiful, Lila."
"Of course I will," she laughed, setting aside her empty plate. "Now, be a good boy and help me get ready."
As Lila sauntered to her closet, Cade trailed behind, his heart heavy. He watched as she selected the dress, holding it up to her body with a satisfied smile.
"Zip me up," Lila ordered, slipping into the form-fitting garment.
Cade's fingers trembled as he complied, his breath catching at the scent of her perfume.
"Now, sit there and watch," Lila instructed, gesturing to a nearby chair. "I want you to see exactly what Jake gets to enjoy."
Cade obeyed, his eyes a mixture of longing and despair as Lila applied her makeup with precise, practiced strokes. Each sweep of mascara, each dab of lipstick was a silent taunt, a reminder of what he could no longer have.
"What do you think?" Lila asked, striking a pose. "Will Jake approve?"
"He'd be a fool not to," Cade murmured, hating the truth in his words.
Lila's laugh echoed through the room. "Oh, Cade. You're so right."
The door slammed shut, leaving Cade alone in the suddenly oppressive silence of the apartment. He slumped against the wall, his mind a battlefield of conflicting emotions.
"What am I doing?" he whispered to the empty room, running his hands through his hair. The memory of Lila's perfume still lingered, tormenting him.
Cade paced the room, his fists clenching and unclenching. "I should leave. I should pack my bags and just... go." But even as the words left his mouth, a shiver of excitement ran through him at the thought of Lila's return, of her dominance.
"God, what's wrong with me?" he groaned, sinking onto the couch. His body trembled with a mixture of shame and arousal.
Meanwhile, across town, Lila sashayed into the upscale bar, her eyes immediately locking onto Jake's athletic form.
"Well, hello there, handsome," she purred, sliding onto the stool next to him.
Jake's eyes roved appreciatively over her figure. "You look absolutely stunning, Lila."
She leaned in, her lips brushing his ear. "And you haven't even seen what's underneath yet."
Jake chuckled, his hand finding her thigh. "I can't wait to unwrap my gift later."
Lila took a sip of her martini, a smirk playing on her lips. "Mmm, and the best part? Knowing my little pet is at home, probably imagining exactly what we're doing right now."
"You're wicked," Jake grinned, pulling her closer. "I love it."
"Oh, darling," Lila laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief and power. "You have no idea."
Cade's hands trembled as he scrubbed the kitchen counter, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The rhythmic motion of cleaning offered little solace from the images plaguing his thoughts.
"Stop it," he muttered to himself, but the vivid picture of Lila and Jake together refused to fade. His body betrayed him, responding to the humiliating fantasy even as his heart ached.
He moved to the living room, straightening cushions with unnecessary force. "This is pathetic. I should be furious, not..." He trailed off, unable to admit his arousal aloud.
Pausing by the window, Cade's gaze drifted to the driveway. "She'll be home soon," he whispered, a mix of dread and anticipation coursing through him.
He hurried to the bedroom, meticulously making the bed. His fingers lingered on Lila's pillow, bringing it to his face and inhaling deeply.
"God, Lila," he groaned, his body shuddering. "What have you done to me?"
Shaking himself, Cade returned to his tasks with renewed vigor. He polished every surface until it gleamed, vacuumed every inch of carpet, and arranged fresh flowers in Lila's favorite vase.
As twilight approached, Cade stood in the center of the immaculate house, his heart racing. "Everything has to be perfect," he murmured, eyes darting anxiously around the room. "I can't disappoint her. I can't..."
The sound of a car pulling into the driveway made him freeze, a cocktail of emotions threatening to overwhelm him.
The front door swung open, and Lila breezed in, her perfume filling the air. Cade's breath caught in his throat as she glanced at him, offering only a curt nod before her attention returned to her phone.
"Welcome home," Cade said softly, his voice barely audible over the rapid tapping of Lila's manicured nails on her screen.
Lila's sudden laughter pierced the air, making Cade flinch. "Oh, Jake," she giggled, her eyes never leaving her phone as she moved to the couch. "You're terrible!"
Cade shifted his weight, unsure what to do with himself. He watched Lila, drinking in the sight of her - her flushed cheeks, her slightly tousled hair. His mind raced with possibilities of what she and Jake had been up to.
"Cade," Lila's sharp voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Kneel."
Without hesitation, Cade dropped to his knees before her. His heart pounded as he looked up at her, awaiting further instructions.
Lila's lips curled into a smirk. "Tell me about your day, pet. I'm sure it was absolutely riveting."
Cade swallowed hard. "I... I cleaned the house. Did some laundry. I made sure everything was ready for your return-"
"Fascinating," Lila interrupted, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Want to know what I did? Jake took me to that new fusion restaurant downtown. Then we went back to his place and..." She paused, savoring Cade's visible discomfort. "Well, let's just say we worked up quite an appetite again."
Cade's cheeks burned with shame, but he couldn't look away from Lila's triumphant gaze. "I'm... I'm glad you had a good time," he managed to choke out.
Lila laughed, the sound both beautiful and cruel to Cade's ears. "Oh, I did. Jake knows exactly how to please a woman. Unlike some people I could mention."
Cade's stomach churned, a nauseating mix of arousal and humiliation coursing through him. He struggled to maintain his composure, his hands trembling slightly as they rested on his thighs.
"I... I'm sorry I can't please you like Jake can," Cade stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Lila's eyes glinted with malicious delight. "Oh, don't apologize. It's not your fault you're so... inadequate." She stretched languidly, a cat-like smile playing on her lips. "Now, be a good boy and massage my feet. They're sore from all the... activities Jake and I enjoyed."
Cade obediently shifted position, gently taking Lila's right foot in his hands. As he began to knead the sole, Lila's phone chimed. She giggled, quickly tapping out a response.
"Jake says he can't wait to see me again," Lila purred, watching Cade's face intently. "He's already planning our next date."
Cade's fingers faltered for a moment, but he forced himself to continue the massage. "That's... that's nice," he mumbled, his heart racing.
Lila's phone chimed again. She read the message, her laughter filling the room. "Oh, Cade. If only you could see what Jake just sent me. It's quite... impressive."
Cade closed his eyes briefly, trying to steady his breathing. When he opened them, he focused intently on Lila's feet, desperately trying to ignore the ache in his chest and the unwelcome stirring in his groin.
Lila's voice cut through the tense silence. "You know, Jake and I have big plans for this weekend. We're thinking of taking a little trip to that beachside resort I've always wanted to visit."
Cade's hands stilled momentarily on Lila's feet, his chest tightening. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to resume the massage. "That sounds... nice," he managed, his voice strained.
"Oh, it will be," Lila smirked, leaning back on the couch. "Jake's already booked the honeymoon suite. Can you imagine, Cade? All that space, the luxurious bed, the private hot tub on the balcony..."
Cade's cheeks burned with shame and arousal. "I'm... I'm happy for you," he whispered, his eyes fixed on her perfectly manicured toes.
Lila laughed, a cruel, tinkling sound. "Are you really, though? I bet you're imagining all the things Jake and I will do in that suite, aren't you?" She leaned forward, running a finger along Cade's jawline. "Tell me, does it turn you on to think about it?"
Cade trembled under her touch, his breath coming in short gasps. "I... I don't know," he admitted, hating himself for the truth in those words.
"Of course you do," Lila purred. "That's why you're here, isn't it? On your knees, where you belong."
As the night wore on, Cade found himself sinking deeper into his submissive role, Lila's words cutting him to the core even as they ignited a perverse fire within him. Finally, she dismissed him with a wave of her hand.
Lying on the cold floor beside the bed, Cade stared at the ceiling, his mind a tumultuous sea of conflicting emotions. Shame, desire, self-loathing, and a twisted sense of belonging swirled together, leaving him dizzy and confused.
"This is where I belong," he whispered to himself, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. "This is the only way she'll ever want me."
As sleep finally claimed him, Cade clung to that thought like a lifeline, finding a perverse comfort in his complete surrender to Lila's dominance.