Shadows surrounded her, squeezing her lungs.
Mouse.
She was underwater, opening her mouth to scream, allowing water to pour in and she was drowning.
Iyana!
Bright blue broke through the haze of water and shadows, and Azazel’s chambers fell away.Iyana was back in the bedroom, Emmeric hovering over her with her face in his hands.His eyes were wide, searching her face.
“I’m sorry,” she said, a tear slipping free and running down her face into her hair.“I’m so sorry.”
“No, Iyana, no,” Emmeric murmured, gathering her into his arms.He hauled her onto his lap and held her close as sobs racked her body.“Shit, I’m sorry, Mouse.I saw.I—” His voice broke.“I didn’t think about it.I won’t do it again.I’m sorry.”
Emmeric continued to whisper soothing words while she cried into his chest.Eventually, she calmed, and the sobs stopped.
“I’m so sorry, Mouse,” he whispered again into her hair.Iyana looked up to see tears swimming in his eyes, and she hated that her trauma had this effect on others.
“It’s not your fault, Emmeric.I want—” She paused, considering her next words and making sure it was actually what she wanted.Needed.“I want you to do it again.”
“I—what?”
“I don’t want that to be my reaction.It can’t be for practical purposes—what if someone restrains my hands during battle—and IknowI’m safe with you.What better way to replace that past pain than with pleasure?”
“Iyana…” Emmeric rubbed the back of his head.“I’m not sure that’s the best idea.”
“Please?”Iyana pleaded with him silently.Honestly, she wasn’t sure this was the best idea, either.But the thought slightly excited her, even as it terrified her.She trusted Emmeric.She knew he would never hurt her.Not on purpose, at least.And she hadn’t been lying when she told him it was impractical for her to panic when her hands were restrained.She’d need every weapon in her arsenal possible during their upcoming fight against the stars, and she wouldn’t allow their enemy any advantage if she could help it.
Her Kanaliza sighed, and Iyana knew she’d won.
“Fine,” he said.“But think of a safe word.”
“Safe word?”
“A word that you can say at any time to let me know that you need to stop.”
“And it can be any word?”
“Yes.”Emmeric paused.“Well, it should be something you wouldn’t normally say.That way, it’s clear and obvious when you need to stop.”
Iyana frowned as she thought about it.“Plantains.”
Emmeric huffed a laugh.“Why plantains?”
“Because I don’t like them.”
A full grin split Emmeric’s face.“Plantains it is, then.Lie down, Mouse.”He nodded towards the bed.
Swallowing roughly, she did as she was told.
“Arms above your head.”
Iyana lifted her hands and watched Emmeric as he sat there with an intense expression on his face, hunger shining brightly in his eyes.Gone was the man who was on the verge of crying for causing her any pain.Here was a man who thrived on situations where he could take charge.Iyana found she loved it.
Emmeric leaned over the edge of the bed and retrieved his shirt, which had been discarded on the floor the night before.Straddling her he brought the fabric to her hands, then stopped.
“What’s your safe word, Mouse?”he murmured.
“Plantains,” she whispered.
