The Contract : A Steamy Dark Lawyer Romance: An Age Gap, Forced Proximity, Alpha Hero Standalone

by Elyse Thomas

Twelve months. Total submission. One million dollars.

I spent six years in a convent, preparing for a life of silence and service. I never expected my new life to begin under the ruthless control of Stephan Marek—my boss, my temptation, and the most dangerous man in Chicago’s most elite law firm.

Stephan is a brilliant, untouchable predator in a thousand-dollar suit. When he discovers I’m a virgin—untouched in every way—he makes a deal only a monster would

One year of complete sexual submission in exchange for one million dollars.

The money will save my sister’s life. The price will cost me my soul.

The contract is airtight. The rules are absolute. But nothing about Stephan Marek is simple.

As I’m drawn deeper into his world of dominance and control, my shame collides with a dark, awakening desire. In the shadows of his penthouse, obedience begins to feel dangerously close to freedom. I vowed never to surrender again—but what if my submission is the only thing that can set me free?

He owns my body by contract. But will he keep my heart by choice?

The Contract is a dark, emotionally intense BDSM romance that explores the thin line between possession and protection.

If you loved the religious and moral tension of Priest by Sierra Simone or the erotic depth of The Siren by Tiffany Reisz, this is your next obsession.

Fans of the forbidden workplace dynamics in Beautiful Bastard and the high-stakes legal tension of Terms and Conditions will find their new favorite anti-hero in Stephan Marek.

If you crave the raw intensity and binding sexual agreements found in Sara Cate’s Keep Me or Nikki Sloane’s The Initiation, this story of power exchange and ultimate surrender will leave you breathless.

Tropes Virgin Heroine (Former Nun), Forbidden Boss/Employee Romance, Age Gap / Alpha Hero, Forced Proximity & Power Exchange, Explicit BDSM & High-Stakes Consent, Guaranteed Happily Ever After.

Welcome to Binding Agreements—where contracts are seductive, control is currency, and desire always comes with a price.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Slow Burn

417 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 20, 2026

Reviews

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars.

"The Contract" by Elyse Thomas is a forced proximity age-gap romance between a former virgin-nun-turned-lawyer and the senior partner at the firm where she just got a job. Katie O’Shea left the convent to become a lawyer so she could afford to pay for her sister's cancer treatments. Stephan Marek has just hired her on discovery for a bombshell case against Halcyon Pharmaceuticals, who, it turns out, has just greenlit Katie's sister to receive their brand new, super expensive medication that could cure her cancer. This conflict of interest puts Katie in a horrible position, but Stephan has a solution: he has drawn up a contract where Katie will receive money to cover her sister's treatment in exchange for her complete obedience and subservience to him for a full year. This book was... fine, I guess. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. I feel like this is the tale of two books. The first third is mysterious, tension-filled, dramatic, and intriguing, but the latter portion feels rushed, lacking chemistry, and "throw it at the wall to see what sticks." Once the contract is in play, it becomes a fairly bland, not all that well-developed BD$M book with a generic bit of suspense and familiar drama thrown in. I didn't necessarily believe the relationship between Katie and Stephan once they agreed to the contract. It felt kind of "Fifty Shades"-ish. I liked the first bit because of the push and pull between Katie and Stephan and their desires for each other, but once they had free rein due to the contract, well, it got a little repetitive and plodding. They repeat their physical interactions, they repeat their legal obligations, they repeat the consequences of their actions, and the religious allegories are repeated A LOT a lot. It got to be a bit much. The book also felt a little long to me. Like I said, the beginning is really good and thrilling, but the rest? Not so much.

Thank you to Happily Booked PR and Elyse Thomas for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[Emmy Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a workplace romance that’s a little taboo, a little fiery, and a whole lot of slow burn tension! This is advertised as a lighter BDSM romance, as there is not smut until the second half of the book, and the first half is pure slow burn tension, forced proximity and chemistry that knows no bounds. From the second Katie walked into that interview, Stephan fell; really damn hard. He tried so hard to mask it under the guise of control and subtly found ways to spend more time with her, but the man was obsessed from the start, and his control was slipping by the minute. Katie is a force to be reckoned with too, I love how she’s a loving sister who just wants to help her sister but also this fierce girl boss lawyer. There’s so much tension, as the department of justice starts suspecting things and sniffing around thier new case, and gosh the plot twists had me gasping in shock, screaming in horror and crying my eyes out. They fought for thier happy ending tooth and nail, and gosh, it was so satisfying and deserved. Just a little note that there’s so much blasphemy in this book, like one second she’s praying the rosary and next she’s getting railed within an inch of her life? But I honestly found some of the jokes (intentional or not) quite funny. My one thing is that I wish we got a little more time to explore more of Stephans past trauma and also Katie’s past life in the convent. However, everything else in this book was amazing, especially the burning heat between them when they had to work late nights on a case together. I loved Elyse’s writing and I can’t wait for the next book in this series. I give this a 4.5/5

[Sue Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐
A dark romance that is equal parts spice, romance and legal machinations. The legal portion was unexpectedly well crafted, so much so that I feel I gained a more complete idea of what happens when a law practice suspects unethical behavior by the client that leads to a DOJ investigation. Actually,it was fascinating. The other two parts held up equally well. Overall, well-done! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 ⭐️

This story really dragged on for me. It was such a slow burn, and over analytical. It felt overly descriptive and not enough plot happening. I enjoyed the concept, with the FMC leaving the convent to become a lawyer for her sister who has cancer and becoming entangled with her boss. The small references of Chicago were a nice touch too.

Thank you Elyse Thomas for providing this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

#TheContract #ElyseThomas #ARC

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars!
Once I started this book I could not stop. The story line, rich boss engaging to have a full time submission is now new. However, the character development and a real story line. There was no erotic seens until half way through the book. The author built up tension and developed solid characters.
I will definitely read more by Elyse

[Siobahn Carter-Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ ARC REVIEW ✨

I received an ARC of this one and honestly… it surprised me in the best way.

An attorney + ex-nun romance? Say less. The tension alone had me hooked.

Katie is fighting for her sister’s life—her only hope lies in a trial drug tied to a pharmaceutical company wrapped in a messy lawsuit. Enter Stephan and the firm… where conflict of interest isn’t just a technicality—it’s a ticking time bomb.

What starts as calculated damage control turns into something deeper, darker, and impossible to hide. Because secrets? They don’t stay buried.

This story walks the line between faith, morality, and desire so well. Katie’s innocence feels raw and real, while Stephan’s defiance slowly unravels everything she thought she stood for. And somehow, through all the chaos, they find something that feels almost… divine.

It’s messy. It’s emotional. It’s forbidden in all the right ways.

Yes, there’s a bit of repetition, but the storyline and character dynamics made it easy to overlook.

💔 Innocence meets temptation
⚖️ Love vs. loyalty
🔥 Faith tested in the darkest ways

This one exceeded my expectations and I genuinely loved the ride.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick Summary: A forbidden workplace romance

My Review: The Contract by Elyse Thomas is book #1 in the Binding Agreements series. It was released on 4/20/26.

About the Book: "Welcome to Binding Agreements—where contracts are seductive, control is currency, and desire always comes with a price."

In My Own Words: A lawyer and his new associate cross the lines of propriety and get too close to the sun, as they burn for each other and set their world on fire.

About the Characters: I cannot say that I cared for these characters. They lacked depth and integrity. They were inconsistent. They lacked control, even as they sought to have it. Impulsivity made them reckless. For all the rigid, iron-sharp intelligence they had, they made foolish choices without regard for anything other than the obvious. I was not convinced of their relationship, despite the actions taken and the conclusion presented. How authentic can anything be when born of deception?

About the Conflict: The conflict in this story boiled down to ethics, personal codes of conduct and morality, and the sense of self related to a compromising of values or not. I could not help but to walk away from the book thinking what would a person truly be willing to sacrifice for (I won't say love) their heart's desire?

About the Things That Worked:

- the loss of a loved one
- the illness of a loved one
- the family struggle
- the background of dysfunction
- the found family brotherhood & friendship
- the building tension related to the company being investigated


About the Things That Did Not Work:

- the ongoing use of certain metaphors (it got old after a while)
- the mentioning of content that was not fully flushed out (dangling threads but not in a good way)
- the desperate move that negated the sacrifice (why even...?)
- the unnecessary familial play on truth (necessary or not???)
- the time lapse (still trying to figure this one out)

My Final Say: I have a lot of thoughts about this story. Quite frankly, it's rather difficult to put into words just yet. In the end, I will simply say that it is a mixed bag read. I think it will hold an appeal for some readers but not so much with others.

There is a detectable setup for other stories to come.

Although the PR notes relate the book to Terms and Conditions, I did not find that to be the case.

Other: Listed tropes include... "Virgin Heroine (Former Nun), Forbidden Boss/Employee Romance, Age Gap / Alpha Hero, Forced Proximity & Power Exchange, Explicit BDSM & High-Stakes Consent, Guaranteed Happily Ever After."

Note: Potential readers should read any and all author/publisher notes.

Rating: 2.5/5
Recommend: ~
Audience: A
Status: ⭐⭐1/2
Level: 🌶🌶
Format: 📱
Series: Yes
Listing: "General Fiction (Adult) | Romance"

Thank you to the author, to the publisher (Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op | Ink & Iron Books), and to NetGalley for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate the opportunity.

[Emily Knaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I started, I could not stop. This book hooked me from the first chapter and refused to let go. I loved the age gap component (42/32), workplace setting, and emotional transformations that we see from both MC’s. It’s the kind of romance that thrives on tension and not just romantic tension, but moral tension, spiritual tension, and the razor‑thin line between surrender and salvation. The raw power that Stephan emotes is magnetic and the curious hunger we see from Katie is highly addictive.

“She has just unleashed a forbidden hunger, and I am the monster patient enough to take what remains.”

At the center of it all is the dynamic between, Stephan, an attorney who lives by control and precision, and his legal assistant, Katie, who is a former nun whose quiet strength and willingness to trust him becomes the story’s heartbeat. Their connection is built on a profound emotional power exchange always grounded in consent, communication, and an unshakeable sense of safety. Elyse Thomas handles the dynamic with nuance, showing how trust can be both a refuge and a revelation.

“She isn’ an idea I can control from afar. She’s flesh and consequence, standing in my office with my ruin written under her signature. The want doesn’t vanish; it sharpens, edged with fear.”

What makes this story unforgettable is the way it balances sin and absolution, authority and vulnerability, discipline and devotion. Stephan’s dominance becomes a language of devotion, and Katie’s obedience becomes an act of courage. Together, they create a bond that feels both forbidden and holy, an intricate dance of between conflicting emotions. Katie is a virgin, with little experience entering into a D/s contract relationship that turns into more than both of them ever expected when she signs on the dotted line.

“You’re something else entirely. You’re a saint—one to be worshiped, not bought.”

The suspense threaded through the plot adds a sense of intensity. Secrets, threats, and hidden motives keep the pages turning, and the stakes, emotional and otherwise, rise with every chapter. The intrigue never overshadows the romance; instead, it sharpens it, giving their relationship a sense of urgency and inevitability.

“You are my ruin, Katie. My beautiful ruin.”

By the end, I wasn’t just invested in their love story, I was invested in their healing. This is a romance about trust earned, redemption sought, and two people finding absolution not in perfection, but in each other. Stephan finds a place to lay down his burdens, and Katie discovers a freedom she never allowed herself to imagine. Their journey is dark, tender, and utterly consuming.

A huge thank you to Elyse Thomas and Pen Pinery for the early copy!

[Mandy BunBun · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Impressions: Katie, former nun now attorney, takes a position at a prestigious firm under the tutelage of boss, Stephan. Together they embark on a tumultuous journey about faith, discipline, and penance.

Pacing: According to my notes, this story takes place over a year or so. The plot moves quickly, and there is a constant sense of urgency that propels the story forward. It's a nice contrast for the solo scenes of reflection and prayer.

Character development: Katie (FMC) and Stephan (MMC) are both fascinating, complicated, flawed, but entirely redeemable people. Over the course of the book, Katie must confront her strengths and weaknesses, set against an intense trial and her playtime contract with Stephan. Stephan is forced to really consider how his inner demons have become an excuse to keep people at bay, and that distance is what almost becomes his unraveling. Together, she learns freedom through physical submission, while dominant Stephan, finds freedom in submitting to love.

World Building: This feels like a hard, cold, stainless steel world. Unlike other books og this tone, Stephan is not the hard juxtaposition to Katie's softeners. In fact, there is as little softness about her as there is of him. The grey, cold, and hard nature of the world makes their evolving relationship all that much more precious.

Romance: The romance between Katie and Stephan extend beyond their physical attraction and shared proclivities: they also have a deep intellectual and
spiritual connection (in the Cartesian sense, rather than religious). It's beautiful, stark, mature, and primordial.

Spice: It's a B.DSM book. There is spice, but it's tasteful, relatively ethical, and the power exchange largely happens between the lines. The spice is really just a vehicle for larger, emotional, ethical, and spiritual aspects of the book.

Errors and Consistency: I was a little unclear who Veronica was (employee or employer) early on, and I think it was a prepositional issue. There were a few spelling errors, but I'm sure they will get tidied before the final release. Both MCs have clear and consistent voices throughout.

Overall experience: This was a fabulous experience. This is tied in first as my favorite ARC this year. It was slick but messy, sweet but intense, and the trial intrigue set against the baring of souls was truly mesmerizing. The duality of the characters and the tropes wove a great tapestry for a story without stumbling into unnecessary clichés. The book definitely left me satisfied, but also yearning for more. Simply wonderful.

⭐️ 5
🌶 4

[Britt DS · Rating 1 out of 5]

Based on the blurb, I was expecting a story about a boss who becomes obsessed with his employee and makes her an offer she can’t refuse because she needs the money. In reality, they’re basically already in love before the contract is ever mentioned.
The blurb also suggests that the offer is triggered by Stephan finding out that Katie is a virgin, yet the contract is drafted before this is mentioned. The contract is only given to her afterwards, but her virginity doesn’t actually influence the contract itself or Stephan’s attraction to Katie, which is the impression I got from the aforementioned blurb.

The contents and purpose of the contract also remained unclear to me throughout the story. It is repeated multiple times that it is meant to protect them… But from what? Initially I thought they meant it would protect their jobs - seeing as how they’re a senior partner and an associate at the same law firm and starting an affair could have grave consequences if anyone found out, though I didn’t get how that would work. Only after Katie signed the contract it was clear to me that that wasn’t the case. Then, I thought it was to protect Katie from Stephan’s ‘sexual preferences’, since he is a Dom and she’s very inexperienced - to set some boundaries and also protect Stephan from taking things too far by doing so. Yet, by the end of the book I was still unsure what the contract was really meant to accomplish.

The contract isn’t handed over to Katie until halfway through the story. Since ‘The Contract’ is the title of the book, I expected it to have a much bigger role than it did. Before that, we get a story about the legal case they’re working on together. While it adds plot, it’s not the story I signed up for. During this time, there’s a lot of internal back-and-forth between Stephan and Katie about how their desire for each other is forbidden, that they should ignore it and keep their distance - without much real progress in their ‘relationship’. It gets quite repetitive.

There were quite a few inconsistencies in the beginning of the book, which completely pulled me out of the story. For example: Katie’s name being halfway down a list in one sentence and being the second one from the top a couple of sentences later, Katie talking about how her coworker’s wardrobe is slowly changing but it’s her first day so they only just met, dropping her notebook on her desk while she already did that in the previous paragraph. Because of this, I think this book and I started off on the wrong foot, and because I was already annoyed, I kept finding small issues that irritated me through the story.

Though I read exclusively in English (my first language is Dutch), I’m not ruling out the possibility that my understanding of the English language had something to do with the fact that I found this book very confusing. A lot of legal terminology is used, but there were also a lot of comparisons made that were kind of vague and cryptic in my opinion.

Combine those two last points with the fact that I had completely different expectations for the story, and I have to admit that I personally simply didn’t enjoy it.

One last point that I would like to add is that while this book is advertised as a steamy romance and a BDSM romance, there really isn’t that much spice in the story. This didn’t affect my enjoyment personally, but other readers who are expecting a lot of smut might be disappointed.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 5/5
🔥 5/5
🌶️ 5/5
💧 4/5

The Contract by Elyse Thomas is a dark romance that blends power dynamics, emotional tension, and character exploration into an engaging and immersive story.

The story follows Katie, who has spent years focused on rebuilding her life and career. Now working as a lawyer, she finds herself in a high-stakes environment under Stephan—her boss and a man whose presence immediately shifts the tone of everything around her.

When he offers her a contract that could ultimately save her sister’s life, the story takes a turn into a much more complex dynamic. What begins as an agreement rooted in necessity evolves into something deeper as Katie is drawn further into his world.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is how it explores control, trust, and personal boundaries. As the story progresses, Katie is not just reacting to Stephan’s world—she is also confronting parts of herself she hasn’t fully understood before.

The dynamic between them is intense, driven by both tension and curiosity, and it carries the story forward in a way that keeps you engaged.

This was a reminder of why I enjoy this subgenre. The combination of strong character dynamics and emotional intensity made this a standout read and one I would revisit. ⭐️ 5/5
🔥 5/5
🌶️ 5/5
💧 4/5

The Contract by Elyse Thomas is a dark romance that blends power dynamics, emotional tension, and character exploration into an engaging and immersive story.

The story follows Katie, who has spent years focused on rebuilding her life and career. Now working as a lawyer, she finds herself in a high-stakes environment under Stephan—her boss and a man whose presence immediately shifts the tone of everything around her.

When he offers her a contract that could ultimately save her sister’s life, the story takes a turn into a much more complex dynamic. What begins as an agreement rooted in necessity evolves into something deeper as Katie is drawn further into his world.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is how it explores control, trust, and personal boundaries. As the story progresses, Katie is not just reacting to Stephan’s world—she is also confronting parts of herself she hasn’t fully understood before.

The dynamic between them is intense, driven by both tension and curiosity, and it carries the story forward in a way that keeps you engaged.

This was a reminder of why I enjoy this subgenre. The combination of strong character dynamics and emotional intensity made this a standout read and one I would revisit.

[Ariel Loper · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Contract follows Katie O’Shea and Stephan Marek. Katie O’Shea, an ex-nun after devoting 6 years of her life, is a lawyer who is trying to provide for her sister’s cancer treatments. Stephen Marek is a Senior Partner at Marek, West, & Roth, and he hires Katie. However, this isn’t a typical hire. Stephan is attracted to Katie, and Katie is too. They are Senior Partner and an associate, so anything between them is forbidden. The firm starts a case with Halcyon Pharmaceuticals, and Katie is assigned to Stephan’s discovery team. As time goes on, Katie and Stephan work alongside each other for so many hours while desperately trying to ignore their attraction for one another. One day, Katie takes her sister to her cancer treatment appointment and discovers the current treatment is not working effectively. There is a new treatment that is available, but the treatment is expensive. This treatment is by Halcyon Pharmaceuticals. Not only will this treatment a toll on Katie financially and emotionally, this is a conflict of interest with the case she is working on. With this obstacle and the need to have Katie, Stephan creates a contract that ties Katie and him together for a year. In exchange, Katie will be given money to cover her sister’s treatments. As they explore this new found relationship, problems arrives with the case, and they are tested like no other. Will they make it out alive and thrive together?

When I came across The Contract, I had very high hopes for this book. I was immediately drawn to the blurb and was ready to dive into this new world. However, this story was just okay. I would assume the pacing for this story would be faster since a contract is used for their relationship, but this book is a slow burn in the beginning and picks up in the end. I can’t deny the chemistry Stephan and Katie had for each other. They had crazy tension in this book, but as for a dark romance, it really wasn’t enough for me. I loved the Dom/Sub concept, but I wished it was more since thats what the contract was for. I thought this book was going to be full of spice, but it really wasn’t. This book has a third act break up, and I feel like their relationship just started, so was the break up needed? I understand the concept of it, but it was a little rocky for me.

Overall, this was a decent read, and I’m not mad at it. This book has so much potential, but it didn’t go well for me.

[Kathleen Hoffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was just….ok for me.

First, let’s talk about what went right. The first half of the book was tension filled in the best ways. These characters could suck all the air from the room in 2.5 seconds. That was done extremely well. To be honest, I was almost sad when they finally got together because it was coming to an end.

The characters: they were flawed but overall I was rooting for them and I liked them.

The slow burn. This was done well. Can’t say I was expecting a slow burn based on the description of the book but that’s what it was and when I say slow burn….we are talking snails pace. That may not be for everyone but for me, it gave more time for the delicious tension.

Now, for what didn’t go so well….

This book is likened to “The Siren” by Tiffany Reisz. I read that book back in 2012 and it was a 5 star read for me. This was NOTHING like it and if I’m being honest, going in with those expectations, hurt my opinion of this book in the end.

The constant mention of being disbarred. It was constantly mentioned and if you really went through all the details presented, it didn’t make a whole lot of sense. It was like some of the legal stuff, the case with the pharmaceutical company, was trying just a bit too hard.

The spicy bits. I use bits because that’s literally what they are. There really isn’t much spice in this book which while it wasn’t a bad thing….the premise really just leads you in the wrong direction. I thought this was going to be a BDSM romance and while there were slight elements in there, it really in my opinion, shouldn’t be classified that way. I would just put this under romance in general. That said, if you’re looking for less spice, more romance, this may be the book for you. Be prepared though…some of the spice even had me questioning some things and I’m very open minded….(when they finally seal the deal….like completely seal it….yea, I have SO many questions).

Overall, it wasn’t bad, it wasn’t great. It was ok. I don’t regret reading it but if you’re truly looking for a BDSM romance, there are much better ones out there.

3 stars.

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am actually unwell after finishing this book. Like… someone check my pulse because absolutely wrecked me in the best, most obsessive, sleep-deprived way.

This is not just dark romance. This is devotion wrapped in danger, temptation stitched into every page, the kind of story that sinks its claws in and just… stays there.

First of all—Stephan Marek??? Sir. SIR. This man walked straight out of a morally grey fever dream and said “sign here” and I would’ve handed over my soul, my schedule, and probably my WiFi password too. He’s cold, calculating, terrifyingly controlled… and yet there’s this undercurrent of something deeper, something almost reverent in the way he sees her. Predator energy, yes, but with layers that slowly peel back and leave you spiraling.

And HER. A former nun??? The restraint, the innocence, the internal conflict?? I was eating it up like it was my last meal. Watching her go from silence and suppression into this awakening that’s equal parts terrifying and empowering was EVERYTHING. The way her shame and desire collide… it’s messy and raw and so human it hurts.

The contract itself?? Unhinged. Diabolical. I was side-eyeing every clause like “this is a terrible idea” while also turning pages like my life depended on it. The power dynamics are intense, but what really got me was how it never felt hollow. There’s weight to it. Consequences. Emotion. Every moment of control comes with tension that simmers just under the surface until it boils over.

And the chemistry??? I need a moment. It’s not just heat—it’s pressure. Like the air before a storm. Every interaction feels charged, dangerous, like one wrong move could shatter everything… and you want it to.

Also can we talk about the emotional damage??? Because I did not expect to feel this much. Somewhere between the rules, the restraint, and the unraveling, this story digs into something deeper about choice, agency, and what it really means to surrender. Not in a weak way—but in a powerful, reclaiming way that completely flipped my brain.

By the end I was just sitting there staring at the wall like… what just happened to me.

If you love dark, taboo, high-stakes romance with a hero who makes questionable life choices but somehow still owns your entire heart, this is it. This is the one.

[Mary Kirkland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Katie is a former nun. She left the church when her sister got sick and needed cancer treatments that their mother couldn't pay for. Katie is smart so it was no big deal to get her lawyer's license and get a job at a large firm.

Stephan has been a lawyer for 20 years, people know he's intimidating, organized and thorough. His orderly life is thrown for a loop when he interviews Katie for a position at his firm and he gives her the job.

The pull Stephan feels towards Katie is instantaneous. They work closely together on a huge case that they cannot afford to lose. But there are things about the case that are getting them into hot water if anyone finds out about it. As they work together for the case, it becomes harder and harder for them to not act on their feelings. They both make some decisions that are very questionable. Decisions that would ruin their lives if anyone found out but they do it anyway? It just wasn't very smart or believable to me that they just decided to risk it all for the reasons they came up with.

Stephan was not the hero that I wanted. He has some emotional damage that makes him a bit strange. So instead of just falling for Katie and having a normal relationship with Katie when they admit their feelings for each other, he brings out a contract he's been working on for them. It's a Dom/sub contract. If she signs it, she agrees to be his submissive for 12 months and she'll get paid One Million dollars, which is more than enough to pay for her sister's cancer treatments.

Stephan thinks he's saving her, protecting her or something. He could have just told her that he likes a little BDSM in the bedroom instead of drawing up this contract because at first, she was hurt by it, but she did agree, which I seriously doubt a former nun would do. But what do I know.

The funny thing is, there isn't a whole lot of BDSM in the book, sure there's a little bit but it wasn't anything over the top like I was expecting. They don't even act on their feelings until almost half way through the book. The first half of the book was a bit slow but it does pick up a bit.

Disclosure: I was given an e-ARC copy of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Stephanie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

O-M-G!! Absolutely INCREDIBLE!!

🥰❤️📖🖤⚖️🖤📖❤️🥰

A dominant Alpha male and an innocent yet sharp ex-nun caught up in a scandalous relationship that could cost them both their bars...? PERFECT!!

Stephan Marek (MMC); broody, intelligent, and s*xy senior partner in one of Chicago's most successful law firms, has it all...expensive designer suits, luxurious penthouse, money to boot, and his choice of any number of women he wants...until one interview with a prospective new associate changes everything...

Katie O'Shea (FMC); beautiful, smart, dedicated and newly graduated from law school has only one goal: to support both her mom and sister and most importantly, pay for the treatments necessary to save her sister who is battling cancer...

Landing the job of a lifetime at Chicago's lead law office of Marek, West, and Roth...though she never expected to fall for her boss, the notorious Stephan Marek himself.

The attraction is almost instant from the very first page...but a relationship between a senior partner and junior associate is strictly taboo...

Stephan, however, doesn't care...he knows what he wants and it's the forbidden fruit that sits at her own desk just outside of his office...and the fact that she's a former nun and untouched only adds to his dark desire...
Katie can't deny her attraction to Stephan either...playing a dangerous game soon catches up to them, looming heavy.

The solution? A Dom/Sub contract drawn up by Stephan...giving him full control in training Katie and slowly stripping her of her innocence...the stakes?

One Year -----> One Million Dollars...

Katies plays the role of his sub while he dominates and trains her for one year...doing everything he says, asks, and teaches her...by the end of the year, he'll pay her one million dollars to help cover her sister's treatments...

...but getting caught in the web of lies and danger weaves out of control as the two of them find themselves facing disbarrment...and even worse...

It's then a race against time for Stephan to save Katie from the interrogation of the DOJ...and a sacrifice for Katie in order to save the man she's fallen head-over-heels for from humiliation and losing everything he's ever worked for...

Absolutely ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+ and definitely recommend!!

🥰❤️📖🖤⚖️🖤📖❤️🥰

[Allie Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

"To all the firstborn daughters with a praise kink. This one is for you."

Hey. Hi. That's my story - it's me.

So, let's talk about how slow this burn is. You know how antsy you get watching water you're trying to boil and it's just simmering for seemingly forever? This book was that. Anticipation and "JUST DO IT ALREADY, DAMN THE CONSEQUENCES!!!" was the vibe for the first 30% of this story. And then you get a moment where the edging you were experiencing turns into a ruined orgasm. Super rude. The edging starts over again, and you remind yourself that there is an entire case with a mystery leak you're supposed to be paying attention to at the same time. But then you finally get the first real move between Stephan and Katie that can't be ignored or explained away, and you need to know what's going to happen with them and their jobs. Spoiler: it's a whole lot of quiet chaos and big feelings and constant wondering of how everything is going to go down.

But the relationship between Stephan and Katie sizzles. You can feel how hard it is for them to stay focused on work because they are so attuned to each other. When they are together, you can feel the heat. Their fire builds and builds until they (may or may not) burn from it. I wish there were more scenes between them as Dom and sub, but the ones that are in there are great. I think my only issue with the book as a whole is that there are too many church and legal terms/ references used outside of the actual jobs themselves. I know the church and legal words were used to tie in their former/current jobs, but it was overdone and became a bit redundant. Sometimes, the references were very creative and perfect. Other times, it was overkill.

As far as other characters go, I'm so glad that Mary had a positive ending. The friendship between Stephan and Cassian is so strong and so wholesome to read about. And the fact that Cassian has a book coming at some point in the future thrills me because there has got to be a super structured Dom in that man. I'm making a formal request for more scenes if that story involves another D/s relationship!

[Akku · Rating 4 out of 5]

• 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 4✨

• 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - April 20, 2026

• 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
- boss x employee
- alpha hero MMC
- virgin FMC
- contract relationship
- age gap
- power imbalance
- forbidden attraction
- workplace romance
- moral dilemma
- slow burn tension

• 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 -
This story follows Katie, a young associate trying to survive the pressure of a demanding law firm while secretly struggling with family responsibilities and financial stress. When she starts working closely with Stephan, a powerful and intimidating partner at the firm, their professional relationship slowly shifts into something far more complicated.
Both characters get pulled into a dangerous legal case involving a pharmaceutical company hiding serious secrets. At the same time, their attraction grows stronger and leads them to make a risky agreement that changes everything between them. As the investigation deepens, the story mixes corporate tension, emotional struggles, and a complicated relationship that keeps pushing their boundaries.
I honestly enjoyed this book a lot. The atmosphere felt intense and addictive from the beginning. The legal case added a suspenseful layer that made the story more interesting than a typical workplace romance. I loved how the investigation and the relationship drama were happening side by side.
Katie was a character I felt really emotional about. She carried so much pressure and responsibility, yet she stayed determined and strong. Stephan came across as cold and powerful at first, but slowly his protective and complex side started showing. Their dynamic was messy, intense, and sometimes frustrating in the best way.
The tension between them stayed strong through the whole book, and I kept turning pages because I needed to know what would happen next. The mix of power dynamics, secrets, and emotional vulnerability made the story feel very gripping.
If you enjoy intense workplace romance with suspense and morally complicated characters, this one is definitely worth reading.
Thank you Hayling Bookstorm for the ARC!

[Barb Kimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Contract by Elyse Thomas completely hooked me from the very first page—I stayed up all night because I couldn’t put it down. This is a slow-burn dom/sub romance that delivers not just on spice, but on tension, emotion, and character growth.

Katie O’Shea is such a compelling FMC. After leaving the nunnery before taking her final vows due to her father’s death, she steps up to support her family—especially her sister battling leukemia. Determined to help her family the best she can, she builds a career as a lawyer and lands a position at the elite firm Marek, West, and Roth.

There, she begins working closely with Stephen Marek, a powerful partner at the firm who actually hired her. Together, they take on a case against Halcyon Pharmaceuticals—unaware of just how personal things are about to become.
As Katie learns her sister’s current treatment is failing, she discovers an alternative—but it’s incredibly expensive and tied to the very company they’re building a case against: Halcyon Pharmaceuticals. That’s where everything shifts.

Stephen offers Katie a contract: in exchange for financial support to cover her sister’s life-saving treatment, she agrees to enter a consensual dom/sub relationship with him.

What I loved most is how layered this story is. The contract isn’t just about power or control—it’s rooted in desperation, sacrifice, and complicated emotions. The slow burn leading up to it makes the tension between Katie and Stephen absolutely electric, and when the spice finally hits mid-book, it delivers.

The age gap (30s/40s) felt mature and believable, and both characters had strong arcs that made their dynamic even more satisfying. Between the legal drama, emotional family stakes, and the evolving relationship, this book kept me fully invested the entire night I read it.

This is definitely a reread for me. If you love slow burns, high tension, emotional depth, and a contract trope with real stakes—this one is a must-read.

Thanks to Elyse Thomas for this ARC!

[Kay Burrows · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book. A workplace romance, a virgin former nun fmc and a powerful lawyer mmc. Unfortunately, I struggled to get into this book.

The first half of the book felt so drawn out and repetitive. A relationship between Stephan and Katie was forbidden not only because of him being her boss but also because of the major case they were working on which doesn’t bother me. But their constant inner dialogue repeating the same paragraphs of dialogue about this being forbidden and listing all the reasons it couldn’t happen was too much for me. Once or twice okay, but it felt like every chapter it was the same inner dialogue again and again.

The second half of the book was better but it also wasn’t what I was expecting. While I overall ended up enjoying the book, I was left feeling like I’m missing something. This one just didn’t grip me the way I had hoped.

I did really enjoy the characters. Katie came off as so self assured and confident even if she was terrified on the inside. She was sharp and meticulous which really allowed her to quickly become invaluable in her work. She had a really good heart and was a genuine person just looking to take care of her family. Stephan was intense and obsessive but an overall likeable character. I also really enjoyed the dynamic between Stephan and his law partners, especially Cassian.

Overall this was an interesting read and definitely at times emotionally intense but it personally wasn’t a favorite. I did really enjoy the dynamic of a control obsessed lawyer and an associate with everyone to lose. That dynamic certainly made for a lot of tension between the characters as they struggled to ignore their growing chemistry and attraction to each other.

If you enjoy religious and moral tension, forbidden workplace relationships and legal tension, and binding sexual agreements this may just be the book for you.

Thank you Elyse Thomas and Happily Booked PR for the opportunity to receive an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie Burow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC of The Contract in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the dichotomy between our our two lead characters, Stephan and Katie. Stephan is a very powerful, yet broken man that craves control in the courtroom and in ever area of his life. He's had to submit to an abusive father his whole life and he's vowed to never do it again. However, what if his freedom rests in his ability to submit to the best thing life has offered him? Enter scene...Katie. A nun who has left the convent after her sister was diagnosed with cancer. She's sought new ways to support her family and pay for her sister's cancer treatments. In doing so, she's given up her life at the alter in favor for life in the courtroom. She's learned the art of control and deception to do exactly what needs to be done for her family. What she wasn't expecting was Stephan and their mutual draw to each other, even though it risks their entire case and careers.

I found the story incredibly interesting and our characters were well thought out. I did find Katie's journey to being a lawyer a bit extreme and maybe a little far fetched, but her history played a huge part in her connection with Stephan. My one sticking point that I couldn't get past was just how many times both Stephan and Katie mentioned being disbarred, convicted, etc. for doing what they were doing while working such a high profile case. If they mentioned it once, they had to have mentioned it over thirty times. It became so repetitive that it became annoying trigger that I would gloss over. Yes, I get it. You're aware you shouldn't be doing this. We all know that, but you've made a choice and we need to move on. Outside of that repetition, I found it to be an interesting read, even though I do not understand all the ins and outs of corporate litigation. I'm interested to see who book 2 will feature (hopefully Cass)?

[Alexandra Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Read - Releases 4/20/26
✨Summary✨
Rating: ⭐️⭐️.75
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.25
HEA: Yes, 3rd act breakup
POV: dual
Tropes: Age Gap (32/42), Boss/Employee, Former Nun, V!rgin FMC, Contract, Dom/Sub, Light BDSM, Slow Burn

Katie is an ex-nun turned lawyer whose goal is to earn enough money to pay for her sister’s cancer treatment. Stephan is a partner at a corporate law firm who hires Katie despite the immediate attraction between them. When a huge case lands at the firm, they spend long hours working together and struggling to ignore that attraction. But Stephan doesn’t do relationships. Instead, he offers Katie a contract: one year as his sub in exchange for more than enough money to cover her sister’s treatment. What happens when their feelings grow and their professional lives start to collide?

I really wanted to love this book because the premise had so much potential. Unfortunately, the story didn’t quite land for me. There was a heavy focus on the legal case they were working on, which often took up more space than the relationship development between Stephan and Katie.

I also found myself getting a bit lost in the legal aspects of the story. At times it was difficult to tell whether they were representing the client or actively trying the case, and some of the legal drama felt more exaggerated than necessary.

For a story centered around a Dom/Sub contract, that element doesn’t really come into play until about halfway through the book, and the intimacy builds much later than I expected based on the premise. The spice level ended up being lower than I anticipated, aside from one scene toward the end.

Overall, this book had an interesting concept, but it didn’t fully come together for me. I was able to finish it, but there were several moments where the pacing and plot left me feeling a bit disconnected from the story. Everything just fell flat.

[Margaret Hejmanowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read anything by Elyse Thomas before, OMG this was fantastic!! This is book one in The Binding Agreement series, I could not put this down; I was hooked from page one!! Katie O'Shea is thirty two years old , and had studied to be a nun and spent six years in the convent. Now she is a lawyer and just got hired for an associate attorney position, in the corporate litigation division; for Marek, West, and Roth an elite law firm. Katie lives at home with her mother and her sister Mary who has leukemia. All Katie's money goes to paying for Mary's treatments that are not covered by insurance. Stephen a senior partner is the one who hires Katie as his associate. The firm starts a case with Halcyon Pharmaceuticals, Katie is assigned to the discovery team. Stephen and Katie work side by side for many long days and nights, they both try to ignore the attraction. Katie learns that her sister Mary's current treatment is not working. A new treatment is available, but very expensive; the treatment is with Halcyon Pharmaceuticals. Is this a conflict of interest with her job? She doesn't say anything. Stephen offers Katie a "Contract" for one year, she will submit to him completely out of the office; and in return he will pay for Mary's treatments. Does she sign the contract? Does their "relationship" be discovered at the office? Katie has so much pressure from her job, "the contract" and her sister's treatments. How much control does Stephen have over Katie? Does Katie end up telling Stephen about Mary's treatments with Halcyon Pharmaceuticals? If so is she taken off the case? Could Katie or Stephen get in trouble for him having a relationship with his associate, which is forbidden? Love the plot, great setting, and strong intense interesting characters. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!!!

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review from Netgalley
To be completely honest, I enjoyed the storyline of the law firm's corruption and their investigation a loooot more than I did the love story between Katie and Stephan. I feel like their relationship was a bit, bland for me? Maybe I'm just too used to extremely dark books, but this was just too vanilla for me. I mean don't get me wrong, I do enjoy a good virgin fmc story, but this one just wasn't really doing it for me. And i enjoy a good Dom/sub relationship, but this also just wasn't well done to me.
The contract Stephan created for Katie felt more like a business arrangement than a sexual relationship agreement. I mean, the fact that he was going to pay her, along with other things mentioned, made it seem as though he viewed her as his property, not as an equal. Yeah, it got better as the book progressed, but the relationship between them just wasn't what I hoped it would be.
Also, how are you going to have their relationship be that rocky through the whole book, then also throw in a third act break up?! Like nooooo
And the fact that both Katie and Stephan each were willing to throw away their career and ruin their life just to be with each other was a little silly.. like there had to be some other way besides one of them completely taking the fall for their entire relationship. But wait- it gets worse! They BOTH end up ruining their careers over this in the end, but I mean, as long as they're together nothing else matters right?? 😅🧐🙄
I wanted to love this book so much, but I honestly just kept going back and forth between enjoying reading it, and not wanting to read it anymore. And I hate that, because I feel like this book had so much potential :(

[Claire Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

📄 A dark promise, dangerous devotion, and a love that rewrites the rules 📄

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️

“I thought surrender would break me, but instead, it showed me where I’d been fractured all along.”

Tension hums beneath the ink on The Contract. It's not just the sharp edge of power and control, but the quieter, more devastating question of what it means to choose surrender. This book leans into that question with unflinching intensity.

Elyse Thomas crafts a story that could have focused purely on the provocative, but instead she's created something far more consuming. The premise is stark, almost brutal in its simplicity, yet what unfolds is layered with emotional conflict, moral unease, and a slow, intoxicating unraveling of both Stephan and Katie.

Stephan Marek is every inch the anti-hero you were warned about – the cold, calculating boss – he's impossible to ignore – but the cracks in his control make him unforgettable.

Katie's journey isn’t just about submission, it’s about reclamation. The push and pull between her past devotion as a nun and her present desire is handled with surprising tenderness, even in the very darkest of moments. There’s a constant, aching pull between shame and empowerment, and watching that line blur is both unsettling and utterly compelling.

The dynamic between these characters is electric – and dangerous – but threaded with something deeper that slowly builds until it feels inevitable. This is a messy, morally grey, emotionally raw love story, but that’s exactly why it lingers.

Verdict:
A bold, addictive dark romance that doesn’t just flirt with the line between control and care – it walks it, being deliberately bold and beautiful. Intense, thought-provoking, and impossible to look away from.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this expecting an intense, provocative romance centered on a contract-based dynamic, and while the book had some moments that delivered, overall it didn’t fully hit the mark for me.
The tension between Stephan and Katie in the first half is excellent. There’s this constant push and pull, a quiet awareness that crossing certain lines would change everything, and it’s electric. Their dynamic is built on restraint and emotional stakes, and it’s the strongest part of the story.
Both characters are compelling. Stephan is controlling but layered, shaped by his past, and Katie brings a quiet but strong perspective. I was rooting for them, even when their decisions didn’t always convince me.
That said, the pacing dragged at times. The build-up is slow, and some elements—especially the contract—don’t fully arrive until late, which made the story feel a little uneven. The romance and legal plotlines also felt imbalanced; the legal storyline often overshadowed the relationship, making it harder to connect emotionally.
The romance itself felt… vanilla compared to what I expected. The contract came across more like a business arrangement than a real Dom/sub dynamic, and the relationship didn’t feel equal. The third-act breakup and the idea that both would ruin their careers just to be together felt extreme and a bit silly.
In short, there’s a lot of potential here: strong emotional tension, interesting character dynamics, and a compelling legal storyline. But the romance didn’t quite deliver the intensity I hoped for, and the pacing and plot choices made it uneven. If you’re looking for a slow-burn, tension-heavy romance with a focus on characters over explicit heat, this might still work—but don’t expect a fully dark or edgy Dom/sub story.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured The Contract: A Steamy Dark Lawyer Romance and I am still thinking about it. This book pulled me in from the very first page and did not let go. It is intense, addictive, and completely consuming in the best way.

The dynamic between Stephan and Katie is everything I crave in a dark romance. He is powerful, controlled, and absolutely ruthless on the surface, but there is something deeper simmering underneath that keeps you hooked. Watching that slow unraveling had me completely obsessed. And Katie’s journey...It hit hard. The transition from a life of silence and devotion into something so raw, so demanding, and so emotionally complex was written in a way that felt real and gripping.

What really stood out to me was the emotional tension. This is not just about power or control. It is about identity, sacrifice, and the blurred lines between obligation and desire. There were moments that made my heart ache and others that had me holding my breath because the intensity was just that strong.

The chemistry between them is undeniable and electric. Every interaction felt charged, every moment layered with tension, and the push and pull between them had me completely locked in. I loved how the story explored vulnerability in such an unexpected way, especially within a relationship built on rules and structure.

If you love dark romance with high stakes, forbidden tension, and an alpha hero who walks the line between dangerous and irresistible, this book is going to own you. It is bold, emotional, and leaves a lasting impression long after you finish.

This one is easily a five star read for me and I already know I will be thinking about Stephan Marek for a long time.

[Abbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recieved this book as an ARC and am leaving an honest review. This was my first read from Elyse.

Katie gave up her life as a nun when her sister Mary, was diagnosed with cancer. The treatments take their toll on her body. Katie was about to take her vows as a nun but instead left the convent and went to law school instead because she knew her family needed the money. The ultimate sacrifice. Now she needs a job. She interviews for a position and immediately notices her employer. He’s tall, dark and handsome. The first case she’s put on? The same company responsible for Mary’s chemotherapy treatment. They’re supposed to be defending them but what will she find out?

Stefan is held to high standards. And he would want to be considering his position with the company. He noticed Katie the second she stepped into his office, and not in a good employee/employer way. He wants her. Fantasies about her and her smell. Then he gives her an offer she can’t refuse, financially and physically.

The first half of the book starts of slow, it’s a back and forths situation where they both ‘notice’ each other but don’t want to actually do anything about it (can you say power imbalance). The second half gets a little spicier. Some of the things that happened, I seen coming and others completely shocked me. I was in fits of laughter and disbelief for most of the book. The contract part was a little confusing. I also thought there would be a lot more focus on the BDSM and spice along with a little more ‘darker’. I had high hopes for this book and as much as I’m not disappointed, I do think it could have been a little better executed. It also seemed to drag on a little and could have been made shorter. With saying that, I’ll definitely be reading book 2!

[Ally D · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️
🌶

Sooooo I really wanted to like this, I really really did but omg this fell so flat for me that I was struggling to finish it. I kept waiting for the moment where everything would click — the plot twist, the tension spike, the chemistry explosion — but it just… never came.

I was hoping that there was more to the plot and a stronger storyline, but that also fell flat. For a book built around a “contract” dynamic, I expected high tension, emotional stakes, and power imbalance done right. Instead, it felt surface level.

And listen… there was absolutely hardly any smut or spicy scenes. 🌶 Supposedly there was Dom/Sub briefly discussed, but again not much explored. If you’re going to tease that dynamic — especially with a huge age gap — I need the intensity, the control, the commanding presence. Stephan could’ve been more demanding and controlling, whether it was the way he talked or the way he carried himself. That dominance just wasn’t fully delivered.

Katie and her background was very interesting and could have taken this book very far. There was SO much potential there for depth and emotional payoff. However, the delivery of it all just went downhill. The foundation was there… but the execution didn’t follow through.

Tropes:
• Age Gap
• Contract Relationship
• Dom/Sub (lightly touched on)
• Power Imbalance
• Wealthy MMC

Vibes:
• Slow burn… but not in the good way
• More tell than show
• Missed potential

Overall, I feel this book had a lot of potential but fell short in the delivery. I wanted angst. I wanted tension. I wanted spice. Instead, I got a story that felt unfinished and underdeveloped.

[Cat.thebookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Contract by Elyse Thomas is a slow-burn romance that focuses heavily on character development and tension.

I really enjoyed the relationship and build-up between the two main characters, Stephan and Katie. Stephan is clearly a powerful man who craves control in every situation. He’s also a broken character, though I won’t go into too much detail as that’s revealed gradually throughout the story. His need for control does start to make more sense as you learn more about him.

Katie is a former nun who left the convent after her sister was diagnosed with cancer. She’s now trying to find ways to pay for her sister’s treatment, and what she doesn’t expect is her growing attraction to Stephan—something that could put both of their careers at risk.

The characters are well written overall, but one thing that stood out to me was how often they repeated concerns about being disbarred or facing legal consequences. It became a bit repetitive at times. That said, I don’t have a strong understanding of law, and it didn’t stop me from enjoying the story.

Be aware that this is a very slow burn. The story is centred around a Dom/Sub contract, but this doesn’t really come into play until at least halfway through. There are small moments of build-up leading to it, but I didn’t feel the Dom/Sub aspect was explored as much as I expected, and I was hoping for something a bit spicier.

Overall, the story has an interesting concept. For me, the pacing was a little too slow and the first half leaned heavily on the legal side. However, if you prefer romance that isn’t heavily focused on spice, this could be a good book to give a go.