Page 136 of Ensnared

Iwant it to stay like this.

Andthere it is.Inthis moment, it all feels so clear.Almosteasy.It’slike they washed away the last of my doubts with river water and liquid orgasms.

“Iwant to break the deal,”Isay, calm and sure. “Idon’t want any more conditions attached to me staying atBristlebrook.I’llstay becauseIdeserve to be there.BecauseIcontribute as much as anyone, and it has nothing to do with sex.”Idon’t even stumble over that word anymore.Whata wonder two weeks can work. “Nomore lies.Nomore hiding things.Not‘going forward.’Fromnow on,I’mthere becauseIwant to be, and because you want me to be, and for no other reason.”

Fora long, long moment there is only the sound of their breathing and the babble of the water along the stones.BeauandDomare both tense and still beside me.

ThenBeaueases up on his elbow, turning so he looks down at me. “You... want to end this?” he asks. “End... us?”

Theyreally are terrible listeners.

Ireach up and run my finger along his jaw, enjoying the scrape of his stubble. “Noteven a little bit.”

Herelaxes, his breath rushing out. “ThankGod, darlin’.Iwas really worriedIwas going to have to arrange a kidnapping for a second there.”

Ismile, butDomsits up behind me, pulling me up with him.There’sa knot between his dark brows.

“Whatabout the others?Whatdoes this mean for them?”There’sa hint of steel in his voice. “You’rechoosingBeau?”

“Us,”Beauclarifies, andDomglares at him.

“No!”Ipush down a flair of panic, shaking my head. “No,I’mnot choosing anyone.Icareabout all of you.I’mattracted...Imean,Luckyis so beautiful, and free, andIjustlaugh, you know?EverytimeI’mwith him.Andhe really listens to me, for hours and hours he listens.”Ismile, warmed through just thinking about him. “AndJayk, well, he pretends to be so brash.Heeven believes it,Ithink.Buthe’s patient—we took apart the washing machine together, even thoughI’msure it took twice as long to have me there.He’sso smart, and he doesn’t give himself half as much credit as he deserves.AndJasper—”

Well.Idon’t need to talk aboutJasper.

Feelingtheir eyes on me,Ishake my head. “Andthen there’s you...”Shynessslips over me like a shadow, andIlook up atBeaufrom under my lashes, then dart a glance atDom.

Thegreen and brown inBeau’seyes dance together. “What, no compliments for us?”

Ilift a hand to hide my smile, feeling my cheeks color like a sunrise. “I—Ilike you too.”

“Youlike me?”Beauteases. “Like,likelike me, or?”

Huffinga laugh,Imeet his eyes.Itake a fortifying breath. “Youmake me feel safe, andI’venot felt that often.Afew weeks ago,Ididn’t think anyonecouldever make me feel that way.I’vebeen fighting my fear my whole life.Sincecoming toBristlebrook,I’vefelt safe, and it’s given me the chance to think, really think, about whatIwant for myself for the first time ever.AndI’mtrusting you to listen to that.”

Beau’steasing smile fades, and he’s staring at me now with the same intensity he had when we were in the river, while they dragged my pain and confusion out of me.Slowly, not breaking eye contact, he nods.

Inod back, relieved.Resolved. “Jaspertold me that some people, some... submissives... like to be dominated all the time, others not, that everyone negotiates their own boundaries.”

WhenIglance atDom, he finally looks at me, serious and introspective. “He’sright.Youwant to renegotiate?”

“Ido, yes.”

“Good.”

Iblink. “Good?”

Domsighs. “Eden, there’s a reasonIdon’t take on soft spoken submissives.There’sjust too much risk of getting it wrong.I’mnot always greatat picking up on signals.Ineed to trust that they’ll speak up if anything isn’t working for them.Ifthey’re uncomfortable or unhappy.”Hemeets my eyes. “Renegotiationis always on the table.”

Mymouth drops open asIthink that through. “Justlike that?”Iask in a soft voice.

Atthe reference to yesterday’s conversation,Dom’slips quirk. “Justlike that.”Hedirects a tense-jawed look atBeau. “Yourdominants should have explained this all to you.”

“We,”Beaureplies, his tone dripping with poisoned honey, “haven’t had a chance to sit down and have a proper conversation about all this.Keepgettin’ dragged away.”

Domrolls his eyes.

Beforethey can keep bickering,Ilift a hand to get their attention. “Idon’t want to be a full-time submissive,”Isay firmly. “Ihate having rules about my life dictated to me.Iwant to be able to speak my mind without worrying about the consequences.Iwant authority over my time and my choices.Always.”

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