Page 191 of Ashes of Sin and Stardust

“You hypnotized me,” I whispered.

“I did. And youloved it.”

I felt my whole body flush. “Why can’t I remember?”

“The short answer is, you do. The long answer is very complicated. Can we revisit it? I have to leave in fifteen minutes. The team gets to the center in two hours. They’ve already collected the girls.”

Oh yeah. Today was the day he met the new victims that his mysterious group of vigilantes rescued. I couldn’t remember much of what he’d told me, but he’d mentioned someone named Lindsay.

“How many girls are there?”

He finished his coffee with a gulp and poured himself some more. “We were expecting twenty-five... They called me this morning right after the rescue. There areforty. We have to pull a bunch of extra beds, and I’m moving some of my girls without caregivers to hotel rooms to make more space. It’s going to be a long week for everyone. Can you bear with me?”

I smiled. “Yes. And I’ll try not to be too awful to you. Just... text me once in a while so I know you don’t hate me, okay?”

He set his coffee down and stood behind me, gathering my hair up in his hands and pulling it down, forcing me to look up at him. He’d done that a few times and there was something silly, sweet, and really dominating about the action. I loved it.

“I will.” He kissed my forehead. “And you text me if you start to feel insecure or upset, okay?”

“Yes Sir.”

“That’s my girl.” He left my side and finished his second cup of coffee as fast as he could, setting it in the sink. “Dishes before you leave today?”

“You got it, boss.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Boss Sir. Sir Boss. Eh, I don’t know about that one.”

His lips quirked once and he scoffed, the lines on his forehead disappearing for just a moment before he turned and walked out the door.

“You’re back!” Sophieclapped her hands like a happy little girl when she saw me. She ran up to me and threw her arms around me, squeezing tightly.

“Hey,” I laughed, hugging her back. “Oh my God I just realized I haven’t texted you once since I left.”

“I know! And I was worried about you!” She pulled away and looked at me. “Are you okay? Are you guys good?”

Mark and Cat were nearby, and Alex poked her head out of where she’d been working in the office. I met her eyes and smiled.

“Yeah. I’m really good.”

I filled my friends in on the drama and the shenanigans I’d managed to get myself into during my time away, minus the sex games and the explicit details. Cat seemed pleased and Sophie couldn’t stop smiling.

“How long will you be back,” Mark asked.

“Just a day, I think. I’m going to go to his house and pack some of my stuff that I left there and pick up some documents.”

Later, Alex went with me to Reuben’s house up the mountain and helped me load the boxes and pack some of my clothes.

“You seemed more like your old self over dinner,” she said softly. “The others noticed it too.”

“You know me, Alex. I haven’t been myself lately.”

“I know.” {“It’s been very hard to see you so hurt and scared. I’m glad you’re doing better. Do you feel safe with him?”}

“Yeah. I do. Mostly...” I remembered our conversation where he’d called me out on bratting instead of communicating. I still wasn’t sure if I was willing or able to open up emotionally to that level yet. Plus annoying him was just so much fun.

{“Go slow. He will guide you.”}

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