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His eyes hardened, right before his pain worsened.

“Next time, I’ll just bring you with me,” he said. “Violate you whenever I can’t stand it anymore… lock you to fixtures in random cabins on the ship.”

“For more of your friends to find me?” I snorted. “Great. I’ll alert the media.”

He paused, right as he’d been lowering his mouth.

Staring at my face from an inch away, he frowned. “Do I want to know?”

Seeing the suddenly much less amused expression on his face, I sighed, wishing I’d kept my mouth shut. “I’m sure you’ll hear about it, soon enough.” I pressed my free hand to my forehead. When his eyes narrowed, I pushed at his chest with the same hand. “If you unlock me, I’ll tell you. How about that?”

His pain worsened. That time, it felt a lot less like separation pain.

Feeling the change in his light, I grasped hold of his hair in my hand.

I gripped him harder when he avoided my eyes.

“Hey.” Worry flickered through my light, and my voice. “Come on. What? We were kidding around, right? Nothing happened, Revik. Nothing like that. No one saw me really.”

“But you were going to let me think they did?”

I sighed, exasperated. “I didn’t say that. I was teasing you, for fuck’s sake.”

He clicked at me, his accent abruptly worsening. “I told you I’m not fucking kidding about some things. Not with us. Remember? Not kidding. Not entirely. Those were my words. I said it more than once, that I wasn’t going to be rational right now––”

“Okay,” I said. “Hey, calm down. I hear you. And I’m sorry.”

His voice turned harder. “The fuck you are. You’re not sorry. And you’re not hearing me, Allie. Or you wouldn’t be doing this. You wouldn’t be…”

Stopping himself, he let his words trail.

I was still staring up at him when he shook his head, his eyes distant.

I felt his light close more and swallowed.

“Revik––” I began.

He shook his head. “No. Let me say this.” I felt his muscles clench, just before he slid off me. “Jesus. You’re going to make me have a serious fucking conversation right now. When we’re both in so much pain we’re going to be irrational assholes about it.”

He leaned back on his side. I released his light. More worry flickered through me, but when he met my gaze, I didn’t see any real anger there.

“Allie.” He exhaled. “You have to know this. I’m really not kidding about wanting to know where you are… and yes, who you’re with. I know it’s controlling. I know it’s fucked up. But Iaskedyou to humor me on this, wife, at least for a little while. Iaskedyou. You said you would. You said you understood. I told you I’d do it for you… anytime you want.”

“Only to chain me to your bed,” I said, clicking softly. “…and leave me here.”

“I left a note!” He stared at me, frowning. “We have a fucking safe word. You never used it. You knew where I was. You could have contacted me any time. I’m not saying you can’t do what you want, wife, with whoever you want… just tell me! Just fuckingtellme for a little while, all right? Ease my fucking mind!”

Feeling my shoulders unclench, I nodded, caressing his jaw.

“Okay.” I slid my hand down his body. I felt him shiver as I massaged his chest. “But I didn’t go anywhere, Revik,” I reminded him. “You knew exactly where I was.”

“Fuck, Allie. Don’t screw with me on this. Did someone really come in here?”

I hesitated, then gave a noncommittal shrug. “I suppose it’s possible.”

Exhaling in frustration, he stared at me. After another pause, his eyes hardened. “Gods. I’m going to kill that fucker. This time, I really am.”

I blinked at him. “Did you just read me? Seriously?”