Page 103 of Governor

With my heart racing, I kneel there, straining to listen. But I hear a door close, followed by the muffled sound of Carter’s voice.

At war within me, the urge to follow and defend her. Not that I think Carter would lay a hand on her, but I just…

I don’t know what happened, what I missed.

My pulse pounds in my ears as I struggle to hear any hint of what’s going on.

Just as I’m about to break position and go after them a few minutes later, I hear a door open from down the hall, followed by the sounds of them returning.

I know it’s Carter’s hand that settles between my shoulders. He actually kneels beside me on the floor. I hear him, the soft grunt of pain as he settles, feel a gentle wash of warmth from how close to me he now sits.

“Good boy,” he softly says. “Thank you for obeying me.”

This feels…

I don’t know. Likesomethinghappened.

“Am I in trouble, Sir?” I whisper, not sure if I’m even allowed to speak right now.

“No, you didn’t do anything wrong, boy. You were perfect.” His words warm me even as he now strokes my head, slowly rubbing my scalp in that sweet, addictive way he has.

Like he knows how to short-circuit my brain and shut it down.

In a few minutes, I feel myself sinking deep into subspace, relaxing, the sweet hum filling my brain.

Quiet. Everything’s quiet.

“At Ease.”

I slowly roll up into the position. Carter’s sitting on the floor next to me, and he looks…

I don’t know. I can’t read his expression. The wall is there but it feels different, somehow. Not like he’s trying to shut me out, more like he doesn’t want me to worry about him.

Susa sits on the couch where she was, and likewise, I can’t read her expression, either.

Then she smiles at me and crooks her finger.

I go.

She has me put my head in her lap and pulls my arms around her, then folds herself over me and hugs me, her face buried in my hair.

“Such a good boy,” she softly says. “Myverygood boy.”

Boom. Subspace completely re-achieved. I no longer care what happened, because she’s tightly holding me and whispering to me that I’mHergood boy, and that I’mHers, and…

Honestly?

The world can end right fucking now and I’d be a happy camper.

I’mHers.

And I’mHergood boy.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Susa wants to be the one to put my cuffs and collar on me, and Carter allows it.

Thus, a new ritual is born. When she’s there and I’m to wear them, I’m to bring them to her to put on me.