"Yes. That's okay."
"Color?"
"Chrome. Definitely chrome."
He ties my wrists, the silk soft against my skin.
Not tight enough to hurt.
Just tight enough that I can't free myself easily, that I’m helpless.
The word should scare me.
Should trigger memories of the Sanctuary where I was helpless against Elder Jacob's plans.
Should trigger memories of being bought at an auction where I was helpless against Vaughn's control.
But it doesn't. Because this time, I chose this helplessness.
This time, I can say red and he'll stop immediately.
This time, I'm surrendering instead of being conquered.
There's a difference. Amassivedifference.
"Beautiful," Vaughn breathes, looking down at me tied and spread out on our bed. "You're absolutely perfect, Eden. Thank you for trusting me with this. For letting me have you like this."
He strips off his own clothes with less patience.
Then he's on the bed beside me, his hands starting to explore my body with deliberate intent.
"During training, I touched you to condition you. To make your body respond to me whether you wanted it to or not. To train automatic responses I could use to control you."
His hand cups my breast, thumb circling my nipple. I gasp.
"Now I'm touching you because I love you. Because I want to give you pleasure. Because your pleasure is the goal instead of a tool. Do you feel the difference?"
"Yes," I breathe. "I feel it."
"Good. Because tonight is about reclaiming what we had then and transforming it. Making it healthy. Making it ours instead of just mine."
His mouth replaces his hand on my breast.
Hot and wet and perfect.
I arch into him involuntarily.
"You're so responsive," he murmurs against my skin.
"I do want it. I want you. All of you."
He moves lower, kissing down my stomach, making me squirm against the restraints.
"During training, I made you beg. Made you use explicit words. Made you ask permission for everything. Remember?"
"Yes. I remember."
"I'm going to do that again. But this time, you're begging because you want to. Because you're choosing to play this game with me. Not because you have no other option. Understand?"
