Page 16 of Misfit (Starshine)

W hen Arlon entered Fawn’s office two days later, she took one look at him before her face split into a smile.

“Those don’t look like clothes for sparring practice,” she said as she stood from behind her desk.

Heat creeped up his neck as he looked down at the outfit he’d picked out today.

Clothes were his armor, and this outfit wasn’t too far removed from what he normally wore—black trousers, a white linen shirt.

The only real additions he’d made were the black leather harness that hugged his chest and black boots that reached halfway up his calf.

He’d polished the leather of both to a shine.

“Do I look ridiculous?”

“No,” Fawn chuckled as she stepped towards him, her fingers teasing lightly down his chest. “You look like a caster.”

Arlon’s lips quirked into a grin. “Is it alright if we use the dungeon today?”

“You’ve never needed to ask before,” Fawn pointed out.

“That was when we were sparring, and today is… not that,” Arlon said .

Fawn fixed the fold of the collar of his shirt. “Whenever the dungeon isn’t in use, it’s open to you. Whichever way you wish to use it.”

Arlon took her hand before he pressed a kiss to her fingers. “Thank you.”

“I take it that you talked through things with Garrett and Bridgette?”

“We did,” Arlon said. “We’ve… talked a lot the past couple of days.”

Fawn’s smile only widened. “And do you feel good about those conversations?”

Arlon was fully aware that his blush had traveled to his face. He rubbed his cheek as if it would do anything to get rid of it. “I do.”

“I’m glad,” Fawn said. “Is there anything you need from me?”

Arlon looked at her in wonder, gratitude welling up inside of him like a fountain.

He cupped her face before pulling her into a fierce kiss, trying to pour all of his appreciation into her through the simple contact of their lips.

When he finally pulled away, Fawn’s face was a little flushed, her eyes bright.

“What does a’marra mean?”

Fawn beamed at him before she pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. “It means ‘my love’.”

Emotion spread through him like a balm. He tried to think back when she first started calling him that, and realized it was months before he’d earned his freedom. Long before they’d been intimate.

She had known for so long, and maybe on some level, Arlon had known it, too. But now, for the first time, he wasn’t afraid to say it.

“I love you, too, Fawn.”

Fawn’s smile lit up her face. As if she’d just been waiting for him to say those words.

She leaned up to kiss his lips one last time before she pulled something from her pocket and slipped it into his hand.

Arlon looked down, and he couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of the metal cock cage, wrapped with a key on a chain.

Fawn gave him a sultry wink. “Have fun, a’marra. ”