Page 94 of Vital Signs

This was what I needed. I craved not just physical release but control. The ability to make choices. To have someone trust me enough to surrender when I needed it most.

I sat up straighter. "You wanted to come fast? Cool. Now lie down. Face down."

Hunter froze. His eyes widened. "Face down?"

"You don't have to," I said softly, giving him an out. “If this is a hard limit…”

"It’s not," he said, voice rough. "Just... don't make me regret trusting you again."

The words carried weight beyond the bedroom. We both knew what he meant. This wasn't just about sex. It was about putting himself in my hands after I'd already broken that trust once before.

With a shaky exhale, he turned over. He rested his cheek against the pillow, eyes still on mine, exposed and open in a way that made my heart stutter.

"Like this?"

I couldn't speak for a moment. My breath caught in my throat as I took in the sight of him. My heartbeat thundered in my ears.Hunter Song, willingly exposed and waiting for my command. My fingers trembled as I reached toward him, stopping just short of touching his skin.

"Perfect," I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper. "Just like that."

I reached out, my hand hovering just above his back. "If you want to stop at any point—"

"Will you?" Hunter cut in. "If I say stop, will you stop?"

The real question was clear: Would I respect his autonomy this time? Would I listen where I hadn't before?

"Yes," I promised. "Without hesitation. Your body, your choice. Always."

The tension I hadn't even noticed released from his shoulders. He nodded once, a small gesture that carried the force of absolution.

"I trust you," he said simply.

Three words that shouldn't have been possible, but were. After everything—the DNR violation, the forced withdrawal, the endless arguments—he was choosing to trust me again. With his body. With his boundaries. With parts of himself he'd kept guarded from everyone else.

I couldn't speak past the tightness in my throat. Instead, I placed my palm against his back, a gentle promise of my own.

"Arms above your head," I instructed softly. "Legs spread."

He complied immediately, positioning himself as instructed. The sight of strong, capable Hunter willingly making himself vulnerable for me sent a surge of power through my veins.

I noticed his eyes tracking my movements as I pulled open the bottom drawer. Inside lay an array of toys and supplies, neatly organized. I selected a bottle of lube, tossing it onto the bed beside Hunter's hip. His breath hitched at the sound, but he remained still, waiting.

I positioned myself behind him, hands gentle on his hips. "You're safe," I promised, pressing a kiss between his shoulder blades. "I've got you. We’ll take it slow."

His whole body shuddered beneath me, a soft groan escaping his lips. The tension in his muscles began to melt away as I continued my path of kisses back down his spine, taking my time, letting him experience my reverence for his body.

When I reached the curve of his ass, I spread him open. "Let me help you relax," I whispered before leaning in and tracing my tongue around his rim.

Hunter's entire body jerked, a strangled cry torn from his throat. "Fuck, Misha!"

"Too much?" I asked, pulling back slightly.

"No," he gasped, pushing back against me. "Please don't stop."

I smiled against his skin before diving back in, using my tongue to work him open with slow, deliberate circles. His thighs trembled under my tongue, caught between need and overstimulation.

As he trembled beneath me, I thought of Wright’s demands. The deadline made every touch more precious, more desperate. This might be our last night together before the system tried to tear us apart.

"I'm scared," I admitted against his shoulder.