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"I’m so proud of you I know that was intense"

I still had the gag on, so I couldn’t speak, but I nodded to show hi now," he said

It fell away and I worked my jaw open and closed several times

He wiped my mouth with a soft cloth "Are you okay?"

"Yes, Master" I couldn’t say much else because I felt I was still on sensory overload

"I’ even the diht after I’d been in the darkness for so long Even when the blindfold was removed, I kept my eyes closed for aI did was look down at my body I couldn’t help it As I suspected, there were no cuts, only faint red lines that appeared to be fading quickly

"Go ahead and look," he said "I don’t blame you at all"

My ed to get out "What was that, Master?"

His only reply was a chuckle "Top-secret Dom tool"

I turned in his arms "I knew you wouldn’t cut nificance hit me

He wouldn’t cut me emotionally, either

Chapter Four

NATHANIEL

I arrived atwith Charlene I’d planned to get some work done while I waited, but I foundto the night before I felt at a loss because I didn’t kno to break through and alleviate Abby’s suspicions about Charlene

I gave up on working and walked over to the large picturein eneral flow of people on the street far below and decided I needed so to be said for allowing oneself to get lost in the city, to become one with the crush of people The city was alive, and to mix in and become part of it was to feel that life seep into your soul and revive the sluggish parts

For the next forty-five one for a pleasure walk in New York was in Dece Noalked by a few of Abby’s favorite shops, wishing she ithinto a rare-book store that she loved

Though my parents had been avid book collectors and had built the estate’s massive library, it wasn’t until I shared the space with Abby that I truly learned to appreciate it We had added a few volumes to the collection over the years, but ere always looking for more