You knew he was angry the second you stepped through the door.

Your heels hadn’t even clicked once against the marble floor before his deep voice echoed from across the room. “You had fun, didn’t you?” Adrian stood in the hallway with his arms crossed, hair disheveled like he’d been pacing. Waiting.

You tried a smile. “It was just a reunion. I texted you—”

“You texted me two hours after you arrived, and conveniently forgot to mention that half the people there were men.” His jaw tensed, eyes narrowing as he stepped closer. “You didn’t even answer my call. Or five.”

You stepped back slightly, guilty, but lifted your chin. “They’re just old college friends.”

Adrian didn’t flinch. “College friends don’t stare at my wife like that in the photos you’re tagged in.”

You blinked. “You stalked me?”

He deadpanned. “It’s not stalking when we’re married. It’s surveillance.”

Before you could sass back, he grabbed your wrist—not roughly, but firmly—and led you down the hallway to his private gym.

“Adrian, come on. I just got back—”

“Fifty sit-ups. Now.” “What?” you gasped. “I was in heels for four hours!”

“That’s for running away when you were supposed to be in this house. Count out loud.” He tossed you a bottle of water and pointed at the gym mat like a mob boss passing judgment.

You muttered under your breath but dropped down anyway. “One…”

“Louder.”

“Two…”

By the time you reached twenty, your core burned, and Adrian was crouched beside you, silently counting with those intense eyes locked on you like a hawk. You were sure it wasn’t about the punishment anymore—he was just enjoying the view.

When you hit thirty, his phone rang. He sighed, looked at the caller ID, and stood up.

“Don’t move,” he ordered, stepping away with the phone.

You sat up, glancing at the open door. Freedom.

You crept to your feet and tiptoed like a ninja toward the door.

“I knew it!” Adrian turned just in time to see you bolt. “Don’t you dare—!”

You sprinted, but within seconds, your ankle was snagged. He had grabbed your leg and yanked gently, causing you to yelp and fall back onto the mat with a giggle.

He straddled over you, one hand pinning your wrists above your head. “I said fifty. You barely made thirty.”

"or maybe, I'm starting to think you prefer punishment in bed rather than on the mattress, don't you??"