Chapter 44: I swear..

James stood up from the floor, while Kai still knelt at his feet. The air in the apartment was heavy with something unspoken. The shift in their dynamic clear. Angel was at his feet right now, tired and almost broken, her head bowed, eyes downcast, waiting for his next words. The softness in his gaze had vanished, replaced by the sharp, commanding presence of Duke—the Dom who would not tolerate her pushing him away and shutting herself down.

“Training is in an hour,” Duke said, his voice low and controlled. “You can choose to go or not. But know this: if you go, we continue this conversation after. It’s going to involve you being punished for lying to me.”

Kai’s heart raced, her body responding to the authority in his tone. She had been dreading this moment—the inevitable confrontation that had been building for days. She looked up at him briefly, gauging his expression. There was no doubt in his eyes. This was his promise, and he always followed through.

“I’ll go,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. The decision was made. As much as she wanted to retreat, she couldn’t hide from him anymore.

Duke nodded, his jaw tightening. “Good. Go get ready. We’re leaving in twenty.”

Kai obeyed without hesitation. She rose to her feet, turned on her heel, heading to her room to change. The weight of her emotions had been almost too much to bear, but giving up control right now was keeping her sane. She needed to go to training. She needed the space, the routine, the sense of normalcy. And she knew she needed to face lying to Duke.

When she returned, fully dressed in her gi, she grabbed her bag and knelt in front of him, eyes trained on the floor, it was almost as natural as breathing. She could feel Duke’s eyes on her, watching her every move. Her chest tightened with anticipation, but she held her position.

Duke let the silence stretch, taking a moment to observe her before he stood. He walked over, lifting her chin gently but firmly with one hand. His eyes bore into hers, his thumb brushing over her jaw as he spoke, his voice low and commanding.

“You’re not to think about any of it tonight. You can worry about on Monday. Tonight, you listen and obey everything i say. Understand?”

“Yes, sir,” she replied, her voice steady, even though her heart was pounding. The affirmation wasn’t just about obedience—it was about trust. Trust that Duke would guide her through this, just like he always had.

“Good girl,” he murmured, his thumb grazing her lower lip before he helped her rise to her feet. “Now, let’s go. We’ll finish this later.”

At the dojo, Kai slipped into the familiar routine. Her body moved through the stretches, the warm-ups, the techniques, all while she was acutely aware of Duke’s presence by her side. She could feel his eyes on her every time she adjusted her stance, his gaze burning through the back of her gi. It was both comforting and unnerving. He was there—her anchor—but he was also a reminder of the conversation they’d only postponed.

As the class continued, she returned to her role. She interacted with the other students, exchanging words, sharing smiles. Her mask was back in place. But every time she looked at Duke, she felt the weight of what was coming. His presence loomed over her, a constant reminder of the power he held over their relationship.

After training, as they walked to his car, Duke’s hand brushed against hers. The touch was brief, but it felt like a tether, pulling her back to him.

He stopped suddenly, turning her so her back was against the car. The movement was swift, but there was no urgency—only a deep, controlled intensity that held her in place. Duke stepped closer, his chest nearly brushing hers. His hands gripped her arms, pulling her in, forcing her to meet his gaze.

“You’re coming back to my apartment,” he said, his voice low and thick with authority. “We’re finishing this conversation. And you’d better tell me the whole truth. If you don’t...” His eyes darkened. “You won’t be sitting properly all next week.”

Kai’s breath caught, her pulse quickening. The words hung in the air, heavy with promise. She didn’t dare to look away, knowing better than to defy him when he was like this. He had already warned her. She could feel the weight of the punishment in his words, but there was something else there, something deeper. It was care wrapped in dominance, protection wrapped in control.

She nodded slowly, her voice trembling with the truth she had been holding back. “Yes, sir.”

Duke’s lips curled into a slow, possessive smile as he leaned in and kissed her. It was not gentle, nor was it soft. It was raw, urgent, a mark of ownership. And as they parted, he didn’t let go of her, keeping her close.

“Good,” he murmured. “Let’s go.”

And as they drove back to his apartment, Kai knew that no matter how much she tried to fight the emotions coursing through her, she was safe in his hands. Whatever came next, they would face it together. But tonight, she would face it head on.

Back at his apartment, the mood shifted the moment the door closed behind them.

James—no, Duke—walked into the living room and sank into his favorite armchair, legs spread, hands resting on the arms like a king upon his throne. His expression was unreadable, his control absolute.

“Angel,” he said, the edge in his voice a command, not a request.

She stepped in front of him, her breath caught in her chest.

His finger pointed directly at the floor between his feet. “Kneel.”

No hesitation. She dropped to her knees, her back straight, palms flat on her thighs, eyes fixed on the ground before his boots. She couldn’t see his expression, but she could feel his gaze searing into her skin.

“Start talking,” Duke said. “What haven’t you told me about your businesses? What’s causing all this chaos?”

Kai swallowed, trying to control the tremble in her voice. “It’s… just some operational issues. Susan’s team missed a few compliance markers with the new production line, and Anita’s been struggling with the new café manager schedules. A couple of orders got delayed. I have it under control.”

Duke didn’t move. He didn’t speak.

Silence stretched until it stung.

“Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not lying,” she insisted, heart pounding faster.

In a flash, he reached down and pulled her to her feet. Before she could take a breath, her pants and panties were tugged down to her knees, exposing her fully.

“Wait—” she gasped, but he’d already pulled her across his lap, belly down, ass up, her hands bracing against the carpeted floor.

“You don’t lie to me, Angel,” he said, voice low and full of dangerous calm.

Then came the first crack. Her breath hitched.

Another. And another.

Ten sharp, firm spanks, alternating between her cheeks and her upper thighs, just enough to sting, just enough to draw the truth out.

“Tell me what’s really happening.”

Kai whimpered, biting her lip. “Okay! I—Susan’s team didn’t just miss markers. They falsified one of the compliance reports. I found out Wednesday. That’s what the meeting with D.A.R.E. was about.”

Duke didn’t say anything. She couldn’t see his face, but she knew she’d only scratched the surface.

“I didn’t want you to worry,” she whispered.

“And Beast?” he asked next, his voice like a blade.

She went still.

Kai hesitated. “He’s… been reaching out.”

Duke’s hand stilled on her back. “What’s his real name, Angel?”

She clenched her eyes shut. “I can’t—”

CRACK.

The next series of spanks came faster, harder. Her breath shuddered as she began to cry, her legs trembling under the weight of her emotions and the burning in her skin. She counted at least ten before he paused again.

“Name.”

“Lucas,” she sobbed. “His name is Lucas Ward.”

Silence.

Then his voice again, steady and controlled. “The gifts. The ones you didn’t tell me about.”

She sniffled. “The first was that red dress I wore to that gala with him, back in Melbourne. It showed up Wednesday morning with no note. And today… the orchids. The bouquet was from Lucas. Of all of them I know for sure.”

Duke leaned in closer. “You just told me the first gift and the last flowers. What about the rest?”

“I… I meant those and the rest—”

The moment the words left her lips, she knew the mistake she’d made.

CRACK.

The third round was brutal. Twenty in total. Her ass, thighs, sit spot—all reddened and throbbing, each spank breaking down the walls she’d tried so hard to keep up. By the end, she was crying freely, not from the pain alone, but from the release of all the fear she hadn’t admitted, even to herself.

“List them,” he said when she was finally still.

“The dress… the flowers each day… chocolate truffles from that place in Montreal. A bracelet. And a note. A single line: You looked better in red. It was unsigned. That’s all of them. I swear.”

He waited.

And when he was sure she’d told him everything, he helped her up with slow, careful hands, standing in front of him.

His palms cupped her cheeks, thumbs brushing away her tears. His touch, though firm, was reverent. Then he slipped one hand lower, wrapping around her tender, burning ass and pulling her into his lap. She gasped—both at the sting, and the overwhelming safety in his arms. He pressed her head against his shoulder, arms wrapping around her like steel.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured. “You’re mine, Angel. All of you. He won’t ever touch you again. And I’ll protect every piece of you. That means you never lie to me again or try to shut me out.”

She nodded against his shoulder, tears still falling from the corners of her eyes, voice shaky. “Yes, sir.”

He pressed a kiss to her temple. Long moments passed in silence, Duke’s hands rubbing up and down her back as her tears stopped and her breathing evened out.

“I know we haven’t gone through all your limits,” he said firmly. “And I’m really not trying to rush this. But I need you. And I know what you need right now. In every way and i can’t wait any longer. You can pick some things for tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll go through it properly.”

Kai looked up, her heart full despite the soreness in her body.

“Yes, sir,” she whispered. “I want that too.”