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I lay with my head resting on the edge of the chair, still trying to catch my breath when I feel a warm, wet cloth press gently against my back. The soothing sensation makes me sigh softly, my body aching in the best way possible.

“I’m taking her to bed.” Blade’s assertive voice breaks the quiet, commanding as ever. I feel the tug of the bindings on my wrists and legs loosening, and soon, I’m being lifted effortlessly into Blade’s arms. His familiar scent—earthy and musky—surrounds me, grounding me. He pauses for a moment, his voice steady as he addresses the others. “Shadow, help me. Raven, you clean up and bring refreshments.”

I close my eyes beneath the blindfold, even though there’s nothing to see. Something about being cradled in Blade’s arms makes me feel safe, a surprising comfort given everything that just happened. His strong, steady presence relaxes me in ways I hadn’t expected. He carries me upstairs, and the sound of a door closing softly behind us fills the air. Then, I hear water running.

My body tenses, my mind racing as I wonder what he has planned next. I try to swallow my anxiety, but it only seems to grow as I open my mouth to speak. Before I can say a word, Blade’s low chuckle fills the room.

“Don’t worry, kitten,” he murmurs softly, his voice soothing. “I’m just going to get you cleaned up for bed.”

The reassurance sends a wave of relief through me, and I relax slightly in his arms. A moment later, I feel him lower me gently into a large tub of warm water. The heat of the water wraps around me, melting away my tension. I can’t help the soft moan that escapes my lips as I settle into the soothing embrace of the bath.

Blade’s hands move slowly and deliberately, washing away the remnants of our earlier activities with gentle strokes. His touch is firm but careful, as though he’s taking his time to care for me in this moment. The soft sponge glides over my skin, up my arms and across my shoulders. My eyes flutter, groggy, beneath the blindfold.

The water feels like silk against my skin, and as Blade’s hands move lower, brushing over my breasts and stomach in slow, careful circles, I can feel myself drift into a state of calm. My heart, which had been racing just minutes ago, begins to slow with each tender stroke.

“Shhh,” he soothes when I let out another soft moan, his voice low and steady. “Just relax.”

I do, letting the last of my tension melt away under his touch. Each pass of his hands calms me, the remnants of the night slowly washing away. By the time Blade finishes, I feel a strange sense of serenity.

“There you go,” he murmurs, his voice filled with satisfaction. “All cleaned up.”

He pulls me from the water with ease, wrapping a soft towel around my body. I rest my head against his chest, the warmth of him making me feel drowsy, content. As he carries me out of the bathroom, I hear a quiet conversation between Blade and Shadow, but I can’t make out the words. The steady thrum of my heartbeat drowns out everything else.

Blade sets me down on a soft bed, cradling me against him as he runs his fingers through my hair in slow, soothing motions. “Are you doing okay?” he asks, his voice softer now, tinged with an unexpected tenderness.

I hesitate for a moment, unsure of how to respond. “Why are you being so nice?” I finally ask, the question slipping from my lips before I can stop it.

Blade laughs quietly, moving away from me to pull a blanket over my body. “Because aftercare is important,” he replies. “I need to make sure you’re still doing okay. I’m keeping you until Sunday, so we’ve got more games planned for tomorrow. Are you ready?”

“Probably not,” I admit with a small smile, biting my lip. His laughter is low and easy, filling the room with warmth.

The bed dips as Blade leans over, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. “Goodnight, Red,” he whispers, his voice low and intimate. “There’s a water bottle on the nightstand, along with some snacks. You can take the blindfold off once you hear the door shut. Sweet dreams.”

His last words linger in the air, more like a promise—or perhaps a warning—than an endearment. The door clicks shut, and the room falls into silence. I sit up slowly, pulling the blindfold from my eyes, blinking as I adjust to the dim light.

The room is large and comfortable, a small lamp casting a soft glow over the nightstand. A tray of fruit and water sits neatly beside me. To my left, a door leads to an ensuite bathroom, and the door to the bedroom stands directly across from me.

I consider getting up to explore, but find myself too exhausted to move. Instead, I grab the water, taking a long gulp before settling back into the bed. My head sinks into the silk pillow, my body heavy with the events of the night. As sleep claims me, images of Blade, Raven, and Shadow flicker through my mind. I wonder, not for the first time, what they look like behind their masks…