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Her grin is infectious, but I don’t replicate it. That sounds dangerous. “What do you want from a Domme, Ira? Or have you even thought about it? You can’t come in here and assume I tap your ass a few times, rub your clit until you can’t come anymore, and call you a whore. What I do isn’t devoid of humanity any more than yours is.”

“I know.” Unbuttoned, my shirt opens to show her my physical vulnerability.

She steps forward, arms still crossed, chin still pointed up. “Do you love me, Ira?”

An earnest question.

“I mean… truly, madly in love with me?”

I brave touching her arms. She doesn’t shrug me off. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”

For all my misgivings, my apprehensions, and my inability to process what may happen tonight, my heart is incredibly still in my chest. It’s not afraid. If my heart and my body aren’t afraid of what Katie will do to me, then why should my head be?

This Kathleen has been with me all this time. Lurking. Waiting. But there.

If I can’t trust her, then I can’t trust anyone.

“I’m not doing anything unless you want it. What it is you want… that’s up to you.”

“That’s easy.” I don’t need her to tell me to take off my shirt. I can see it in her icy blue glare. You know, the same one keeping my cunt prime in my pants. “I want to feel so in love with you that nothing else in the world matters.”

The moment my shirt hits the chair, I’m sinking to my knees, eyes up and meeting hers. Kathleen takes an unexpected step back.

I take her hand. My finger entwines the one next to her pinky, the one rumored to have a path directly to the heart. “I’d ask you to marry me, Kathleen Allen, but I know I can do one better. I want to entrust you with my body, my soul, and my heart. Just as you have given me yours time and again. It’s only fair.”

She opens her mouth. I interrupt her.

“And I want it. I want to show you how much I love you. I want to worship you.”

Her eyes narrow. Is she happy? Is she disappointed? It’s hard to tell from down here.

“Since you can’t possibly buy me a ring that impresses me, I suppose this will do.” Kathleen puts her hand on top of my head, petting me like a loyal dog. “Get up. I’m making love to you, not turning you into my pet.”

Did you hear that?

I’m getting what I want.

Chapter 75

Ira

The moment I’m on my feet again, Kathleen kisses me, her strength pushing through my body as she takes my face into her hands and works her fingers down my neck. I’m stirring. Not merely from lust and my desire to have her, but from the thumps in my chest, coming from my stupid heart that’s in love.

“Did you leave your ego at that door?” she asks, nails biting my skin. “Are you in control of your dominant tendencies? Because if you’re not, I will make your life hell tonight.”

Oh, boy. “I did. I am yours.” As long as she keeps touching me, she can do whatever she wants. Well, within reason.

She’s looking at my chest, at my golden zipper sticking out because you’d think my clothes had minds of their own. “I’ve thought a lot about what I want to do to you. You may be surprised. I don’t want to punish you for anything… unless that’s what you want.”

“Not tonight.”

“No, not tonight. Tonight is about something else.” She unzips me, tortuously. Heaven forbid she go for it like if we were vanilla. “Tonight is about sharing something tender. Wholesome.”

She’s not smiling. She’s 100% serious.

“If I feel your sincerity tonight,” Kathleen continues, lowering my zipper and getting a gander of my black silk boxers, “then I will not only give your family the money you need, but I will give you me.” Her lips press against mine. “Forever.”

Death is about to claim me. Did she say she would be mine… forever? Does that mean she would also… you know…debut for me?