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“When your body and mind are conditioned a certain way, you need to break that routine in order to heal. You do that by introducing something different to it—something unconventional. Something unexpected. This is how the body and mind will remember the lesson.”

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this photo session, but it excited me.

Once I was dressed in the most risqué red lingerie set I’d ever worn, he asked me to sit in my office at my desk and pretend to read a book. The red color reminded me of blood, which I knew was a detail he’d thought of. He’d purchased the latest DSLR camera for this photo shoot, and I said he could’ve just asked to use mine.

“This camera is for you. I’m just borrowing it for this session.”

More gifts for me.My heart swelled. I’d never been pampered like this, and I loved it.

I got comfortable in my chair and opened the journal. I never got to finish it like I’d planned to. Reading a book in sexy lingerie had never occurred to me.

He stood to the side of the room and clicked away. I didn’t know what the pictures would look like, but I trusted his vision.

The next pose was on a chaise, where he had ten poses for me to do. He’d actually printed them for me to reference. As I lay there for him to place the floral props, my skin flushed under his scrutiny. He held a big rose in his hand, ready to cover my center.

His eyes darkened as he surveyed my body. “I love seeing you like this. You’re bare to me in every way.” His palm caressed me before he covered it with the flower. “I see your soul and your heart.”

I was lost in the wildfire of his eyes and had nothing to hide from this man. Love billowed in me as I let myself surrender to the thrill and wonder of being my authentic self in front of him.

At first I didn’t understand how this photo shoot could heal me. The photography and the poses had nothing to do with my fear of blood, or any trauma. But that was it—that was the magic. I had fun doing this with him. The joy in itself was healing me from the inside. I didn’t need to know the exact spot of healing. All I knew was that my body and mind found an indescribable calmness—a balance within that I could only attest to a holistic healing in process. It was something that was felt and not explained in words.

I’d never forget this moment.

More joy emanated from me when he prepared the tripod and set the camera on the timer. He stripped down to his red boxers and became a prop, covering my breasts with his head while he adored my nipple. His palm rested lovingly over my sex while his talented tongue did amazing things to my breasts. From this angle, the camera would only catch the back of his head.

“You’re being incognito,” I breathed.

“This photo album is about you, not me.”

“That just means there’s going to be more photo sessions where I get to photograph you.”

“That’s the plan, Kitty K.” He smirked as he slid a finger into me just as the camera snapped an image of me gasping with lust.

CHAPTERSIXTY

KIERA

By the time the photo session finished, Forrest had gotten over a thousand images ofus.Insane, I tell you!It would take me forever to develop these pictures in the darkroom. I’d be sure to take my time and relive every moment.

After a late lunch, we lounged in the living room, looking outside the window at the setting sun. It was a simple evening, yet it fulfilled me. Forrest told me that Bruce had died, and that he’d left the dead raccoon on the cabin porch to scare me. I couldn’t believe Bruce worked for a crime organization.

Forrest also informed me Hank’s sister had been found.I was happy for Hank because he’d gotten the answers he needed. He deserved a second chance. But I was also sad for all the other bodies that were discovered. One of those bodies could’ve been me.

I could now understand why Hank had been protective of me.He had known something wasn’t right.

“I’d like to visit him the next time we’re in Texas,” I said.

“We can certainly do that. He’ll be working at the BaMBu center.”

“That’s wonderful. Do you know who sent the bomb yet?”

“The truck was found in a parking lot with no fingerprints. The authorities aren’t spending time and money to look for the criminals. We’ve set up extra security around the premises. I’ve set it aside for now to deal with other pressing issues.”

Forrest had a lot on his mind. Though the explosion damaged the property, it was not as important as searching for the man who had killed his father. On top of that, he was working with the Brazilian authorities to find my attacker.

I feared for Forrest going after Red Venom, but I knew he needed closure. Nerves stirred in my stomach, sensing an impending storm. Whatever it was. I’d weather it with him.

He’d done so much for me to ensure I was well in body, mind, and spirit. My mother was on her way to full recovery because of him. His love healed more each day as though he was the fresh air giving me life. It wasn’t just the phobia that was healing, but also my sense of self-worth. It had taken a detour but found its way back on the right path. I’d been searching outside of myself, believing that I needed someone else’s validation to feel worthy. He made me realize the opposite.