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Will it?

Confusion ith the darkness inside as I reach for her wrist, tugging her against ainst hers in a kiss I think I’ve been waiting for my whole life

She tastes like freedoood enough, I think as I tilt her chin forward and invade withher in A surge of lust soars through my body when she reaches out and presses a hand on my chest

Mine

Ours

A fiery heat pulses between us Have we created it? Caused it? I don’t care as I break the kiss and stare at her mouth

It’s swollen just hoant it

Her eyes are dilated, just like mine

The same

I sink tothe red ropes that were just tied around me “Intimacy isn’t always about sex, Izzy It’s about a connection—Shibari is aboutthem secure, comfortable It’s not a short experience, so tell me now if you don’t want this”

“I didn’t think you would ask nicely” She shivers above me

I actually frown “Just because I’m my father’s son—just because I like to spill blood—doesn’t mean I want to spill yours or would take that choice away from you”

I shake as I twist the red rope intied, you’re the bottoer What ertips and let out a deep breath—“is it can be as si the person doing the tying” I stand and tilt her chin with the rope Her eyes sparkle like diamonds “Do you trust me, Izzy?”

“Whether you’re Maks or you’re Sim”—her lower lip trembles—“you’re still Maksim And you’re both mine You’ve both always been mine; I just didn’t know it”

I exhale as if I’ve been holding a breath for decades My vision clears a bit, and I realize I am in control I don’t feel shame I don’t crave blood I just know that this part of me exists, and I like it

And she accepts it

And while I will never deserve it

I will fucking earn it

“How—” My voice cracks as I take a step backward “How do you co is painful? When the rope is too tight?”

“I’ll tell you it’s tight”

“And I’ll tell you to breathe,” I whisper “Hoill you tell me if you feel unsafe?”

She ss, her eyes light up “I won’t”