Page 48 of Sinful Submission

He turned on the sink and squirted a clear gel into my palm.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“Hand sanitizer. Alcohol-based. It’s going to be our fuel.” His voice was steady and commanding. “Pay attention.”

He distributed the gel evenly across my palm, his finger trailing methodically over my skin. “Fire needs three things to exist—fuel, oxygen, and heat. We’re providing the fuel. The air gives us oxygen.”

I nodded, mesmerized by his lesson.

“And this—” he pulled a match from his pocket, “—provides the heat.”

“I’m going to hold actual fire?” My heart raced with anticipation rather than fear.

“You’re not just going to hold it. You’re going to control it.” Titan’s eyes locked with mine. “The flame will burn the alcohol, not your skin—if you respect it.”

He struck the match.

“Don’t flinch,” he commanded, bringing the flame closer to my hand. “Your instinct will tell you to pull away. Ignore it.”

The match touched my palm, and flames spread across my hand much like it did last night in the blue room. The scorch I expected to feel once again was not there. It was heat without burning. Power without pain.

“Oh fuck,” I gasped, staring at the blue-orange flames dancing above my skin.

“Keep your hand flat. Don’t close your fingers, or the fire will burn you,” Titan instructed.

“It didn’t burn me last night with all the folding you did.”

He smirked. “That’s because you were completely covered with my solution, except for key areas, and my solution is a bit different than this sanitizer. We’re using the sanitizer for the purposes of this lesson but when you become more confident with the flames, I will provide the pro lesson.”

Excitement and thrill raced through me. “Okay.”

“You should feel the power of the flame. Acknowledge it. But don’t fear it.”

I watched, transfixed, as fire crawled across my palm. It was alive, dangerous, and beautiful.

“Now turn your hand slowly,” he said. “The fire wants to rise. Control it.”

I rotated my wrist, gasping as the flames crawled towards my fingertips regardless of my hand’s position.

“It’s alive,” I whispered.

“Yes. It’s a living breathing thing. Its direction depends on the one wielding it,” Titan said. “In a few seconds it’ll burn out. When that happens, the alcohol has been consumed.”

Sure enough, the flames diminished, then disappeared, leaving my skin tingling but unharmed.

“Again,” I demanded, my eyes wide with exhilaration.

Titan’s mouth curved slightly. “It’s your turn to be my teacher,” he drew me close, his lips hovering over my mouth. “Then maybe we’ll circle back to this lesson.”

I puckered and kissed his lips, drowning in his mouth’s caress. A tingle slipped through my vertebrae, and I squirmed and sighed.

“Yes, Sir.”

His gaze darkened. “Santari.”

I giggled. “Okay. I’m on my best behavior.”

I led him to the bedroom, pointing to the floor beside the bed. “Sit cross-legged.”

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