"I love you," I said.
"I know."
"Come on. Let's get us cleaned up. You need to rest. Everything else can wait until morning."
He was right. I was exhausted, the adrenaline crash hitting hard. I let him pull me to my feet.
"I should go check on him."
"No." He used a firm tone, almost mimicking my voice. "You should shower, eat something, and sleep. The casino will survive one night without you micromanaging."
The role reversal was odd but not unwelcome. I nodded. "Okay."
"You're going to be okay," Pip said as he started the shower.
"I know."
"But for tonight, you get to be not okay. And I'll handle things."
The offer made my throat tight. "Thank you."
"That's what I'm here for." He glanced over at me. "Well, that and the sex. But mostly the support thing. Now get naked."
I huffed a laugh. "Good to know you have priorities."
"Always. Now get that fine ass in this shower.”
I followed his instructions with ease. He was taking care of me the way I took care of him. The balance we'd built working in both directions.
He got me under the hot water and began scrubbing my body. I relaxed into the touch, my mind shutting out all the noise of the day.
"See? Isn't it nice when someone else makes the decisions?"
He was right. It was nice. For once, I didn't have to calculate or plan or manage. I just had to follow simple instructions and let someone else carry the weight.
"This is what you feel," I realized. "When I tell you what to do."
He pulled me against his side. "Yep. It's relief. Someone else handling things so you don't have to."
I understood now in a way I hadn't before. The gift he gave me when he submitted, the trust it took to hand over control. And tonight, I was giving him the same gift.
CHAPTER 21
Pip
I knewI had to get to Henny before tracking down whatever fucker had attacked my family. The way he sounded on the phone told me everything I needed to know.
He’d been worried.
About me.
We laid in bed for a while after I got him to calm from his anxious feelings. While I wanted to stay there with him all night, there was work to do. I’d told Rel I would mobilize some of the men and review security footage.
“You’ve gone tense on me, boy,” Henny said.
I chuckled. “Just thinking about what comes next.”
“Ahhh. You’re thinking of torturing people. That makes sense.”
