Her spine loosens, and her shoulders ease against me.
“I appreciate that. Really, I do. But I need to turn my brain off from work sometimes. Tonight is one of those times.”
Something in me locks into place and settles. My fingers lace around hers, pulling hercloser into my arms.
“Then that’s what I’ll give you. You asked for safety tonight, and I’ll make damn sure you have it.”
Tonight isn’t about shadows or hunger or limits. It’s not about control or the chase.
This is about being her safe place.
I rest my head on her shoulder, breathing her in again. “Turn off all your worries and let me take care of you.”
She melts into me, quiet and trusting. All soft limbs and silent permission.
And for the first time, it hits me. It’s her strength that anchors me. Not the darkness or the hunt.
Her.
My hands glide up her sides, satin beneath my palms. Her warmth soaks straight into me.
No edge. No rush.
Tonight, I don’t want obedience or resistance.
She needs a safe space.
The blindfold slips away, soft as breath, settling between us. I tip her chin up, my mouth brushing her ear. “Did someone threaten you today?”
The silence lingers for a moment, then her voice comes out softly. “I don’t want to talk about that. I don’t want to talk at all.”
“Okay. The night is yours. You’re in control.”
She turns to look at me, eyes adjusting to the soft light, and she sees the mask on my face.
“You wore it.”
I nod once. “You need the lights on tonight. No blindfolds or darkness.”
I reach up, brushing her cheek with my knuckles. “I want you to see everything. To know where I am and what I’m doing. No surprises tonight.”
Her eyes soften, and her shoulders ease. One hand comes up, her fingers ghosting over the jaw of the mask.
“That’s why you’re wearing it?”
“Foryou. To make sure you feel safe.”
She leans in, mouth brushing mine through the skeleton mask.
“Thank you.”
Her hands go to the bottom of her top, but I stop her. “Let me.”
My palms glide up her sides, the satin warm from her skin. I peel it off, and she doesn’t flinch. This woman trusts me to undress her and see all of her.
My hands drift lower and dip into the waistband of her thong. She shifts, turning onto her back, eyes finding mine through the cut of the mask. She lifts her hips in silent permission.
I ease the thong down, baring her inch by inch.
