Chapter 53: Whimpers in Sleep
Selene didn't sleep.
She rarely did.
Night was her sanctuary, a realm she ruled without noise or movement. The world slept while she watched—always watching. Tonight, she remained by the window in her reading chair, draped in black silk, a book in her lap long forgotten. Her gaze wasn't on the words but on the silent spaces between breaths. Between heartbeats. Between Aria's moans.
Because she had heard it again.
Hours had passed since Aria had shattered beneath her control. Since Selene had let her come, not from touch but from obedience, from surrender. She hadn't even needed to touch her with her own hands—just her voice, her gaze, her presence. And Aria had broken like wet glass.
The echo of that moment lingered in Selene's chest.
But it wasn't over.
Because now—quiet, soft, almost inaudible—she heard it again.
A gasp.
A whimper.
Then—
"Selene…"
Selene stilled.
The name wasn't a memory this time. It threaded through the stillness of the house like a whisper carried by air. It wasn't a plea offered in person.
It was a moan dragged from a dream.
Selene rose from her seat in a single, silent movement. Her feet made no sound against the floorboards. The house knew her steps, knew to hush beneath her command. Down the hall, the guest room door was shut.
But not locked.
It never had been.
She pushed it open just enough to peer inside.
Moonlight bathed the bed in silver. Aria's body lay tangled in sheets damp with sweat, her breath uneven, her skin flushed.
And her hips were moving.
Slow, grinding. Desperate.
Her hand buried between her thighs.
Selene stepped inside and shut the door behind her with a soft click.
She didn't say a word.
Didn't need to.
Aria moaned again, a breathless sound that struck Selene low in her spine. Her body twisted in the sheets, hand working faster now, caught in the dream's rhythm.
"Selene," she breathed again. This time louder. "Please…"
Selene stood at the edge of the bed.
And watched.
Aria was lost to the dream.
Completely undone.
There was no conscious shame, no awareness.
Only craving.
Only need.
Only Selene's name being chanted between gasps like a prayer with no altar.
She was mimicking the pace. Selene saw it immediately. The same slow, devastating rhythm Selene had teased her with before. The way she'd denied her, controlled her, made her wait.
Even in sleep, Aria obeyed.
Even unconscious, she remembered.
Selene's gaze darkened.
She didn't touch her.
Didn't stop her.
Didn't help her.
She only watched, arms folded loosely, her robe sliding open just enough to reveal a slash of skin. And still, her eyes never left Aria.
The girl was writhing now.
Fingers working herself shamelessly.
Legs spread.
Hips arching.
A flush covered her chest.
And Selene knew—it was coming.
The edge.
The surrender.
Her whole body locked.
And with a breathless sob, she came—trembling violently, her hand stilling, her lips parting in a final cry:
"Selene—!"
The silence afterward was heavier than before.
Aria's hand dropped.
Her chest heaved.
Her body glistened under the moonlight.
And then—slowly—she stirred.
Selene took one step forward.
Just as Aria's eyes fluttered open.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Her gaze met Selene's.
She froze.
Her mouth opened.
Closed.
Color flushed up her cheeks, burning.
"Y-you—" Aria gasped. "You're—how long—?"
Dream Selene's voice was low. Dangerous. "Long enough."
"I—I didn't know—I was dreaming—I didn't—"
"You said you'd obey," Selene interrupted. She walked closer, slow and predatory. "That your body belonged to me. Even in dreams."
"I couldn't control it—"
"You came without permission."
Aria's lips trembled. "I'm sorry—I didn't mean to—"
"You didn't mean to moan my name while touching yourself?" Selene asked coolly. "You didn't mean to remember how I made you fall apart?"
Aria swallowed hard, pulling the sheets up to cover herself.
"I couldn't stop…"
"You didn't want to."
Silence.
Selene's presence loomed at the side of the bed.
And Aria—already breathless—couldn't look away.
"I'll be better," she whispered. "Please, Selene. I'll make it up to you."
Selene reached out.
And pulled the sheets away.
Aria whimpered.
Her thighs were slick.
Her skin flushed.
Still trembling from aftershocks.
Selene let her gaze linger.
Then—softly, cruelly—she asked, "Do you even know what you need?"
Aria blinked.
"I—I think—"
"You don't."
Selene climbed onto the bed, knees on either side of Aria's trembling thighs. She didn't touch. Not yet.
Just leaned down.
Their lips almost brushed.
"You think this is about pleasure?"
Aria's voice cracked. "Isn't it?"
"It's about ownership."
Selene kissed her once.
Brief.
Hot.
Final.
"Yours," Aria whispered. "I'm yours."
"Then say it."
"I'm yours."
"Say what you did."
Aria closed her eyes.
"I touched myself without permission. I came without you. I dreamed of you and broke your rules. I'm sorry."
Selene's hand slid down—finally touching.
Aria gasped.
One finger. Barely there.
But the contact was electric.
Selene didn't move it.
Didn't press.
Just held her there.
Owned her with stillness.
"And what do you want now?" she asked.
Aria's breath stuttered. "You. Whatever you'll give me. Whatever you want."
Selene smiled faintly.
Then leaned in and whispered at her neck, "You'll earn it."
She withdrew her hand.
Aria whimpered in protest.
But Selene silenced her with a look.
"No more taking. Not even in dreams. If you want me—you wait."
"Yes…"
"Say it."
"I'll wait. I'll obey."
Selene finally touched her again.
This time with intent.
Slow, steady strokes.
Each one precise.
Controlled.
Measured.
And Aria came undone again—not with the wildness of dreams, but with obedience, with tears on her cheeks and Selene's voice in her ears, guiding her every breath.
She shattered with permission this time.
And Selene kissed her gently afterward.
Pulled her close.
Whispered.
"You don't dream of me anymore, little one. You belong to me now."
And Aria, dazed and breathless, whispered back—
"I know."