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Ella stared at her, feeling the world narrow She didn’t knohat Cora did for a living, but she had suspicions Cora was too drawn in Asking too many personal questions Too focused “Are you a therapist?”

“Is it that obvious?” Cora laughed “I’m actually a social worker for teens But I’ve dealt with teen abuse situations It’s not soet”

Ella took a big gulp of the dry red wine, wishing they’d be more on her side She wanted to find a way back from this hell, not continue to live stuck in the past With all eyes focused on her, she lowered her glass “I know I can’t ignore the abuse But why on earth is it so important to sit and talk about it all the time? What he needs to know is that I’ve accepted it and o Isn’t it tio?”

Presley sently and pointed to her heart “He needs to know you’re okay in here”

Cora added, “And while the abuse happened nearly a year ago, Rory was just here, right in your face Kyler needs to know that what he’s doing is helping, not hurting”

Kenzie said, “Yep And it’s what you’re doing right now that’s stopping him Sure, you know Rory was a dick Sure, you kicked hi, Ella But you downplay the effect it had on you”

Ella sed, regretting that she’d started this conversation First, she wasn’t nearly drunk enough Second, she figured they would side with her, not dig up emotions that she didn’t want to face

Cora rose from her seat and came to sit on the coffee table in front of Ella She placed a hand on Ella’s thigh “Let me ask this: When you first saw the stitches on your face, what did you think?”

Staring into Cora’s eyes and trusting her intentions, Ella drew herself back to that time in the hospital When she went into the bathroohtened “I felt heartbroken”

Cora’s gaze softened, as did her voice “Have you ever told Kyler that?”

She looked froht in her chest lift—one she hadn’t known had been there No one here would judge her They all weren’t looking to her with pity, but with love

Maybe she hadn’t shared what she felt then, because no one cared to listen No one actually asked that question—and within that knowledge, a cold part of her soul war that with hi it’d been since so her how she should feel, or telling her she needed to get over soh

Love …

Kenzie gave a firlass at Ella “Want a red ass, then start sharing, sweet cheeks!”

Cora chuckled at Kenzie, then added more softly to Ella, “Doms need vulnerability It’s what makes them a Dom Just as you crave to experience a deeper level in a scene, he craves your heart How can Kyler be the Dom you want him to be if you’re not eet close?”