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“If I tell you them, would you think less of me?” she whispered

“Cohts out!” called out Mason The room descended into a blackness only space could mimic

Jade snuggled closer to Mason, resting her head against his chest and listening to his beating heart The solid shape of his body, hardened by ility, he on strength They were unalike in so many ways, shared no co it, Mason wanted to crack her open and see what lay beneath the surface If he understood her soul, then she would be his, there would be nothing left to hide from him

“No, never,” he said in answer to her question

In the darkness, she told him her first fantasy, the one she’d had after she discovered her sexuality was born out of surrender It was the ie of herself, bound, tied to a bed and fucked She described the scene, almost ashamed of why she wanted it like that, especially when she craved love, romance, and stability

He listened without judging or co until she finished Her heart thuh or belittle her and he didn’t

“You’re a subht it, so you think it’s wrong It’s not about weakness or wantonness You crave so so innate to you that it visits you in your dreah s My first fantasy was so similar”

She perked up “Really? Tied to a bed?”

He laughed “No, sweetheart Tying a wo her come”

She giggled, then abruptly yawned The day had been long

“Go to sleep,” he said “I’ to set the autopilot to our next destination”

“Where?” she asked as he eased off the bed, returning the roohtness with his voice command

“I’ll tell you later Rest,” he ordered, accoer

He dressed, covering his tattoos and pale skin, leaving her feeling a little bereft How quickly she mourned his absence

With a swift kiss on her cheek, he was gone Alone, she wondered what awaited theitive The one that would seal his goal—freedom to leave Novador and seek a new life