Page 356 of Ashes of Sin and Stardust

“Okay then,” I said, lifting my hands in surrender. “I mean, we can try.”

“Have I ever had an issue making you orgasm?”

I winced and looked away. He wasn’t wrong. He was probably my only partner who hadn’t struggled to make me finish.Huh. I wonder what that’s all about.

Maybe the emotional intimacy?

Ewwwww.

Our conversations on our dynamic and our kinks inevitably led to me bratting him, which led to him reminding me that he was very much in charge of my body, mind, and behavior. It was glorious. I was even good sometimes.

Okay, I was good most of the time. But I kept it a secret.

I finally got back on TikTok and Discord after avoiding social media for so long, and did several short videos to fill people in on what happened, including sharing a short clip of Reuben’s triggering me into subspace. Sir made a few appearances in my videos, which people loved, and the popularity caused a few makeup companies to contact me regarding paid sponsorships.

Sir was right, I could see everything in the sky up here. Although I spent a significant amount of time with my telescope, my notebooks, and several guide books he had picked up for me, sometimes I just stood outside and stared up into the sky, letting the light and the colors burn away at my soul until I was one with them. One day, we even saw some shooting stars.

I made some videos and some educational content about stars and planets, and received an email from the Science museum in DC. They wanted me to come into the space exhibit and record some video and audio content for a special self-guided tour they were arranging.

Nervously, I explained it to Reuben.

“So people would scan the QR code on their phone next to the display in the museum, right? And a video would pop up of me! And they would do all the research and find all the facts, and I’d just have to do the videos so people could watch and learn more about it. It would be really cool, right? And you don’t have to worry about me neglecting you, because I was thinking I could do it during the days where you were in meetings and stuff, so that it wouldn’t take too much of my time away from–”

He held up his hand. His face changed from being interested, to being concerned.

“First... They’re going to pay you for this, right?”

“Yeah, they offered,” I said, not wanting to mention the sum. It was... very appropriate.

“Good. I’ll help you negotiate an acceptable payment. Second, don’t even think about my schedule in regards to this. This is a huge step for you, and it could lead to really good things. And if you think for one minute that I’m going to let my schedule get in the way of your success... Phoenix. You burn bright. Go set the world on fire. Just smile while you do it, and save the tears for me.”

One evening near theend of our retreat, we sat outside in front of a bonfire, my head in Sir’s lap while he played with my hair. I stared up at the sky, my eyes fixed on the scattering of stars above us. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. I felt like I was flying, like I could die because I was so happy. And it broke my heart a little.

“Why are you crying, phoenix?”

“Because this is the happiest I’ve ever been, and I don’t think I’ll ever be this happy again in my entire life, and that’s kind of a sad thing.”

“I’m glad you’re happy. I thought you’d like this place.”

“I love it.”

“We’ll just have to come back.”

“Really?”

“Sure... maybe for our honeymoon.”

I felt my face split open into a grin. “You’ll really marry me?”

He pulled me up and held me in his lap, his huge hands on my hips. “I’m actually a little pissed you beat me to the proposal. You brat.”

I put my arms around his shoulders. I had a sudden memory of the time over a year ago when I’d climbed into his lap for the first time, teasing him about how pissed he was that I’d been a brat instead of a good girl. I giggled at the memory and told him what I was thinking about.

He rolled his eyes, but then smiled and brushed a finger across my bottom lip. “You are, you know.” His voice was low and gravely. I warmed at his tone. “You are my brat... and my destiny... and you’re my good girl.”

My breath caught and I expected the rush of pleasure in my nipples and my clit that he’d trained me to associate with the phrase... but didn’t feel it. It made me happy, but...

“The trigger?”

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