Page 28 of Marking Micah

He left the stall and came back a few moments later with a pair of large bristle brushes and handed her one before moving to China’s other side. They were quiet as they brushed the horse. Micah watched and followed his lead, using long strokes. She started on China’s long neck, then worked her way over her back and sides, and China blew out satisfied puffs of air as Arrow did the same on her other side. The brushing became almost meditative, and Micah’s body began to relax. By the time she’d finished brushing the horse’s back end, she had no idea how much time had passed.

As Arrow took the brush from her, she asked, “Why does it almost feel as if I just took a long, lovely nap?”

“It’s that connection. There are studies that have shown a dog and their person actually pass oxytocin back and forth to each other by staring into each other’s eyes, just like people do with someone they love. I think what happens here is something like that, even though China can’t see. She feels you, and you feel her.”

As she looked up into his beautiful brown eyes, she thought she knew just what he meant.

But she didn’t love him. Notlovehim, love him. Not like that.

“I-I really had no idea how amazing this could be,” she stuttered.

He smiled again, his dimple flashing in his cheek, and she melted a little. Damn it.

“I had a feeling this would help you, just like it did me.” He patted China’s neck. “And you did great, too, pretty girl.” Then he grabbed Micah’s hand in his. “Come on. Time to rest, then lunch, then you need to get ready for tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“We’re going back to the Dungeon. I have plans for you, darlin’.”

“Oh…”

How the hell could she simultaneously be so nervous and so turned on at the same time? She didn’t even know exactly what she was nervous about, but she was damn sure he’d show her tonight, whether it was pain play, or another damn trust exercise, or… what? The man was a sadist, but that didn’t scare her nearly as much as knowing at some point—maybe tonight—he was going to get her to really start digging deep into her feelings, and that was going to hurt more than any flogger or paddle possibly could. Especially since her emotions now included her feelings for him, feelings that were blossoming and bursting from the shadows, where she’d kept them tightly boundfor the last few years. But this man could open her up like no one else in the world. And once he did, how could she hold that back?

Fuck.

Arrow securedthe leather cuffs around Micah’s wrists, then helped her get onto the purple and black spanking bench. As he helped her settle into position and snapped the carabiners on her cuffs to the eyebolts set into the bench, he couldn’t help but breathe in her scent: her light floral perfume. Her nervous anticipation. All of it mixed with the heady scent of leather.

She was wearing just a bra tonight, along with her cheeky panties, garters, and lacy stocking. He knew she was self-conscious about all her scars, so going without the long-sleeved mesh top she usually wore to cover the ones on her forearm and collarbone was a good sign.

How could he convince her how beautiful she was, despite her scars? But no, the truth was, her scars were part of her bold beauty.

But tonight’s play—every play session while they were here at the Ranch—was about allowing her to process the fears that held her back from fully embracing life, and that included the way she viewed her scars. He just wished she could see herself through his eyes for even a single moment: so lovely, so strong and sensual.

Calm down, buddy.

He’d have to get her to move forward when it came to her scars. She’d already made that first step tonight, but the stockings had to go, too.

“Micah, darlin’, you know everything I do is for your own good, don’t you? You can answer.”

“Yes, Sir. I do.”

“Okay, then. You’ll know this is for you, too,” he said as he unhooked her garters and slipped the lacy stockings down.

She let out a small gasp and her body went a little rigid, but overall he thought she was handling it well.

He bent over her and asked her, “You okay, Micah?”

“I… yes, Sir. I’m okay.”

“I will tell you a thousand times how lovely you are to me, if that’s what it takes. You’ve seen my scars. Yours are every bit as much a medal of courage. Battle scars. And I treasure them because of what you’ve endured. Because of how bravely you’ve come out the other side. These scars are nothing to be ashamed of. Try to remember that.”

“I’ll do my best, Sir,” she said, her voice quiet, but her muscles went loose again.

He took a deep breath before stroking a hand over each of her calves, then he secured the leather shackles that were attached to the bench around her ankles. She only flinched a little as he swept his fingertips over the thick scar on her left ankle that ran several inches up the side of her leg. He’d have to go back and explore that more, get her used to it being touched, acknowledged. But later.

“Micah, same rules as before. You speak only when I ask you a question, or if you need to safeword. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir.”

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