Ren's breath hitched in his throat. The warmth of the sauna was nothing compared to the sudden, suffocating heat of Axton's gaze or the gentle, yet insistent, pressure of his hand on his thigh.
"You're asking me to be a weakness to the man who nearly broke me," Ren whispered, the tremor in his voice raw and unconcealed. He shifted slightly, trying to move away from the touch, but the small space and Axton's proximity made it impossible.
"You say you can't risk letting your father see how much I mean to you—but what exactly is that, Axton? What do I mean to you when we are outside this room? A punishment? A subordinate? A possession?" He finally lifted his gaze, tears of pure frustration brimming in his eyes.
