Page 56 of The Chains You Defy

Ah, she assumed she smelled. As if I minded. Even if I didn’t have plans involving water, there would be no need for her to be ashamed. Her natural scent was so much stronger than any unpleasant body odor.

“Yes, Dion, I trust you.”

“Repeat the rules for me.”

“A word of my choosing ends everything. If I say red, you’ll stop what you’re doing and do something else. Green is a good color,” she grinned. “Oh, and you won’t—defile me.”

I chuckled at her choice of words. There she was, ready for an evening of pleasure, all strictly therapeutic, of course, and in the name of friendship, but she was still stuck in her prudish shyness. Somehow, this juxtaposition was cute and endearing.

Reminding myself to hold back would be necessary, even if my cock had other ideas. “Then pick your stop word and never be reluctant to use the term. Promise me.”

How did I end up in this situation? My nerves, oddly calm during the conversation with Dion, roared to life and raced through my body with a force that left me breathless.

During the last few minutes, both Dion and I had sat up. Me, dressed in a nightgown I’d worn much too long—I only vaguely remembered how I’d changed into the garment after my breakdown—him, clothed in black silk, fit for the prince he was.

What had possessed me to ask him to make out with me? Although we’d agreed on no strings attached, this endeavor felt like dancing on a precipice, with unforeseeable consequences that scared meto no end.

His suggestion of creating new memories to combat the negative ones wasn’t without logic and was worth a try—and that was the only reason why I didn’t abort the project—although there was always the chance the whole pursuit would turn out to be a massive failure. Fidgeting with my hands, I did my best not to succumb to my usual cowardice.

“Word…which word? Oh, yes. That’s a good one. Schnapps. Because alcohol makes you powerless.” The giggle I couldn’t stifle bordered on hysterics.

“One of these days, oh tiny one, your big mouth will get you in giant trouble.” Dion’s gaze burned into me with an intensity I’d only seen a few times before, and without noticing, I toyed with one of my locks in a desperate attempt to distract myself. My reply, though meant to be flirty, was more of a squeal than proper speech. “Oh yes? And what will you do about it?”

“That’s a surprise.” Dion rose and rested his eyes on me before extending his oversized hand in a gesture impossible to misunderstand.

After a second of hesitation, I released my hair and slid my hand into his. When he pulled me from the bed, I braced myself to end up in his arms. But he surprised me because he stalked to the washroom with me in tow. “What?” Oh well, I’d never been the most eloquent person, so what if my speech deteriorated even further?

“Stop asking so many questions, Naya,” he chuckled as he opened the door, leading me to a stool in front of the vanity. “Sit.”

For once, I didn’t object to his commands. Even though we hadn’t started yet—we hadn’t, had we?—I remembered I’d been giventools to stay in control. Somehow, this was a heady feeling, one I couldn’t completely explain.

Dion spun me around so I was facing away from the mirror hanging over the vanity, and he positioned himself between the piece of furniture and me. A thousand questions lay on my tongue, and I couldn’t resist attempting to catch a glimpse of what he was doing, but he tutted and, reaching over my shoulder, directed my head straight using his finger, which he’d placed under my chin.

Moments after his touch had disappeared, my eyes widened, and the compulsion to purr held me hostage as he drew a hairbrush through my hair, taking great care not to rip at my scalp. And if there had been a spike of pain, the sensation would have dispersed as soon as it had come, since his other hand followed the brush, smoothing my locks.

“Oh.” Was it always this oddly sensual when someone else cared for my tresses? Not only was my scalp tingling, but I also had constant shivers running down my spine.

Of course, part of the effect might originate from Dion behind me radiating heat, the fire in his eyes matching his scorching temperature as well.

He shifted, and then his breath caressed the shell of my ear, his lips only inches away from my skin, never stopping to pay attention to my locks. “Do you like this?” Dion purred with audible smugness because my enjoyment must have been obvious.

Especially since my skin had started to pebble.

Oh yes, I was way over my head.

“This is very pleasant.” My voice was only a shaky whisper, and as his lips touched my jaw forjust a second, an eruption of incandescence in my veins evacuated all doubts.

After that single, barely there kiss, he straightened and concentrated on his self-imposed task again. The following minutes felt like hours, and when he placed the hairbrush back on the vanity, he’d reduced me to a real mess. Who could have guessed that this male had it in him to be so caring?

Fine, stupid question. He’d shown his doting side often enough before.

“Good.” Yes, he was definitely puffing his chest as he extended his hand to me once more. “Come, you wanted to bathe, didn’t you?”

Grabbing on to him as if he were an anchor, I rose with unsteady legs. Confusion dominated my expression as I glanced in the direction of the copper tub.

When had he started to fill the basin?

Dion must have sensed my bewilderment because seconds later, I got a prime view of his dimples, if only for a second. I lost sight of them, for his lips were close to my ear again.