She exhaled. “Good. Last thing we need is you accidentally killing the Dragon.”
Two nurses sat along the wall with headphones on. Their gazes remained lowered. Beside them, two of Kenji’s men waited, also in headphones.
This might have been the oddest assignment they’d probably ever had. None of them had been given any clear instruction from Hiroko or me. They’d just been told to be on call and listen to some music. Even crazier, I hadn’t even asked Reo if I could do this, but. . .now that everyone knew I was the Dragon’s Heart. . .people just listened to me.
That worked great for this surprise.
Hiroko studied me. “Did you wash his stress away?”
“I believe so.”
“How doyoufeel?”
A shaky laugh left me. “High. Powerful. Horny. And. . .jittery. Is that normal? My hands are—” I held them up and showed the slight tremor. “They’re shaking. Am I okay?”
“You are. You’re just in domspace.” She smirked. “People never truly talk about it. Most focus on subspace, but domspace is just as real and potent. Almost as encompassing as subspace. And there’s nothing like it. You’re lucky.”
“Why?”
“It can take several scenes before a true dom can even reach that euphoric feeling that you are experiencing.”
“Okay. . .now I get it.”
“Did he reach subspace?”
“Oh yes. He said he is high too.”
“Good. The point was to have him hit subspace.”
I bobbed my head. “Kenji said he is on Mars.”
“Well.” Hiroko blinked and then chuckled. “Mission accomplished.”
Cold sweat prickled at the nape of my wet neck. Blood rushed in my ears. A thrill of fear and power coursed through me, and like Hiroko had said it was a very potent cocktail that made my palms sweaty, my heart race.
I flexed my fingers, watching the tremor some more. "This feels sooooo good. But it's also. . .terrifying."
"That's the point. It's that dance between pleasure and terror, control and surrender. It's what makes this all so. . .addictive."
Addictive.
The word echoed in my head. The euphoria was still lingering. A soft hum buzzed under my skin, drenched in adrenaline and arousal.
Hiroko pressed a cup of water into my hand and I didn’t even remember her getting it.
“Go ahead, Nyomi. Sip. Then answer me.”
I nodded and drank. The cool liquid slid down my throat. A little bit of clarity followed.
She gave me a warm smile. “Did he remember the safe word?”
“Yes.”
“Did you check his pulse and color each time you lifted him out of the water?”
“Yes.” I could still feel his pulse in my palm—his heartbeat an answer to my very soul. “It was always either steady or responsive.”
“Did you have your hand by his for the squeeze code?”
