Page 21 of His Prize
A few minutes later, we both had coffee and some of the complimentary pastries that came with the suite in front of us.
“How are you feeling?” Keiran asked, a look of protective concern in his eyes as he sipped his coffee.
I smirked softly. “We’re out of the scene right now, aren’t we.”
Keiran laughed, the warm sound making him seem younger again. “Yeah, I guess we are. Are you okay with that?”
I thought about it for a moment. I’d agreed to help test the omega auction format because I wanted to fall so deep into a sadistic scene that I would forget myself and my wretchedness. Instead, I’d slammed straight into the reality of my failures and what they really meant.
“I’m okay with that,” I said quietly.
Tentatively, I slid a hand across the table toward him, reaching for more than just his hand.
Keiran smiled, immediately setting his coffee down and sliding his hand to twine his fingers with mine.
“Good,” he said, meeting my gaze and holding it with so much affection.
“I really like this,” I said, still feeling too raw and vulnerable to speak loudly. “This morning, that shower, that’s what I needed.”
Keiran’s smile widened. “Not flogging and caning and forced heat?” he asked, teasing me.
I laughed bashfully, tilting my head down, then meeting his gaze again. “I need that, too, but for different reasons than I thought.”
“Ah, so you are a kinky little slut after all,” he said, eyes twinkling.
My heart swelled and danced and felt like it might burst into a million pieces of glitter. Was this what falling in love was supposed to feel like?
“Yeah, I’ve always been a bit of a pain and humiliation whore,” I confessed, feeling my face heat. “I don’t know why, but it’s always gotten me off.”
Keiran huffed a soft laugh. “You don’t have to know why. I don’t know why I love being cruel to be kind.” He shrugged a little to emphasize that.
We played with each other’s fingers for a few more seconds before my face pinched a little as reality bit at my heels.
“I still feel ashamed of what happened,” I said. I knew I didn’t have to explain more.
Keiran nodded, shifting so he held my hand tightly. “That’s okay,” he said. “You’ll probably have feelings about that day for a long time. Are you in therapy?”
I winced. “I’m supposed to be. I’ve been dragging my heels about it, though.”
“I know some people,” Keiran said. “I have a lot of connections to therapists because of my job. I could help you find someone.”
A second later, he shook his head and said, “Sorry. That’s overstepping.”
“No,” I said, tightening my grip on his hand as he started to pull it away. “No, I want your help.”
Keiran relaxed, holding my hand in both of his. “I’ll help you in any way you want, baby,” he said.
I sucked in a breath, feeling like I was about to jump off a cliff.
“This,” I said, grasping his hands with both of mine. I watched them for a minute before dragging my eyes up to look at his. “I want this. I want to continue to be your slave, your omega.”
Heat and uncertainty immediately flooded me. I’d said too much, overstepped the scene by way more than I should have. Keiran would think I was a fool. He would reject me, and I would?—
“Yeah, I’d like that, too,” he said.
I gusted out a breath and snapped straight, looking at him like I’d heard him wrong.
“I mean, I’d like to maybe continue to see you outside of the Dark Fantasies Club,” I said, clarifying. “I…I like you, Keiran. I feel a connection to you. I feel so safe and secure as your sub, and…and I think we could be friends, too.”
