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I’m taken off guard because of the plea in her voice. “You shouldn’t be alone right now. You went through something really heavy. Aftercare is…”

“I know what the fuck aftercare is!” Tears stream down her face, although for her sake I pretend that it’s water from the showerhead. “If you really wanna help, you’ll leave me alone. I need some time to think about what happened. Please.”

After a brief thought, I step away from the shower, sliding the glass door closed. “I’ll check on you in fifteen minutes.”

I leave her in my shower, crying and furiously scrubbing her body. This is a shithole of a disaster. One I should have seen coming.

As a Domme, I’m losing my edge. I pride myself in reading women so well that their first time subbing, let alone with me, is always a pleasant experience. Until now.

Or at least I thought she was having a fine time.

There’s no use obsessing over it. When I walk back into my room, the first thing I do is find some clothes to wear. Cotton boxers and shirt. My usual sleep fare when I’m not naked. After sex? I usually wanna be naked. I don’t think that’s a good idea tonight.

Fuck, what a mess.

I open the library door and pour myself a glass of something hard. It’s down my throat in two seconds. Saoirse ambles out of her bed, rubs against my leg, and wanders out into the main room with a chirp in her throat.

Kathleen.

I decide to give her the space she so desperately needs. My bed is torn up, but I crawl in anyway. Only then do I realize my brand-new prosthetic has been left unceremoniously on the other side of the bed, and I grab a towel to hide it away from Kathleen before I can clean it.

I pull the covers around my waist as I reach for my glasses and read my tablet.

My thoughts are too consumed with what happened to care about reading.

Katie… I…

Never before has that happened. Then again, never before have I taken on a Domme.

If the roles were reversed, I doubt I would have handled something like that well either. I shudder thinking about it. No way. If another Domme tried to take me like that…

How did she make it as far as she did? Let alone all the way?

I was on high alert the whole time. In tune with her body and what it was telling me. Her body wanted it all. It wanted me to finger her, to lick her open, to fuck her. Every inch of her body had begged for it. Her voice demanded it. Her scent craved it.

It was her everything else that rejected it. I’m so fucking stupid.

When she orgasmed, I thought she had finally achieved total surrender. It was liberating for me as well, Katie. I felt relieved when you moaned so loudly that my chest ached. Your flesh kneaded beneath my fingertips. Your heat beckoned me deeper. Your words, so filthy and desperate, told me how good I felt and how much you wanted me.

I saw the surrender in your eyes. You were home. We were home.

“Hey.”

I lower my tablet. Katie stands in the bathroom doorway, hair wet and body framed in a T-shirt I left in there. It’s baggy on her. Sexy. Because that’s what matters… ugh.

“Feel better?” I ask.

Kathleen takes a step toward me. She’s no longer yelling, so that’s an improvement.

“Yeah. I’m sorry, Ira. I lost my shit.”

“You could say that again.” I put my tablet and glasses back on my nightstand. “I’m worried about you. Come here.”

I pat the space beside me. She’s wearing my shirt, so she must plan on staying. Sure enough, her bare feet cross my room and bring her to my bedside.

She’s so gorgeous. The light illuminates her golden hair, her skin glowing from the aftereffects of sex. My endorphins call to hers, if she has any left. This is a time for soft kisses, laughter, and dozy eyes. Watching a sub go from high alert to totally relaxed in my arms is one of the best feelings in the world.

I had been looking forward to that with her.