Page 42 of Black Light: Cured

sweetie. No one is mad at you.” She turns and flashes an intense glare at Master Aiden. “Are they?”

Her sentence is pointed, aimed straight at his smug face.

“Not at all,” he murmurs, attempting to take another step forward, only to have Klara, Master

Spencer, Kit, and Master Kawan form a blockade in front of me.

This is ridiculous. I love how they all want to be protective, but honestly, he didn’t do anything

worse than humiliate me. It’s not like he was going to force me to give him the happy ending. At least,

I don’t think so. I made sure to leave before he even had a chance.

More than that, he said he was sorry. Shouldn’t that count for something? Besides, I've made

plenty of mistakes in my life. Granted, I never once pulled a bone-headed stunt like he did, but I’m far

from infallible. How many times have I interacted with my clients and said something inappropriate

and regretted it later? How many times did I lie awake at night, wondering if they were a plant from

the massage board sent to trip me up?

I know what it’s like to feel regret, and based on what he’s saying, he does indeed regret his

actions. It took him a minute to own up to them, but they were fueled by lust and an all-too human

reaction to skim ‘terms of service.’ I’m guilty of it too. How many times have I signed things or

agreed to them and not read them?

Master Aiden continues to stare at me, his gaze unflinching as I search my feelings. He’s a pillar

of strength despite the way the others attack him. I just want all of this to stop. I want everything to go

back to normal. For everyone to stop being mad at each other.

“It’s fine,” I finally say, gathering my voice. “I don’t mind giving him another chance. I-I want to

see where things go between us, and I can’t if he’s not even allowed within five feet of me.”

Master Kawan reaches over to give my arm a squeeze and flashes me a soft smile. “You are

allowed to change your mind at any time. If you don’t feel safe, or if you just don’t want to be around

him anymore, just say the word.”

Heat engulfs my face as I look back over at Master Aiden. “Problem is, I don’t want to feel safe

with him, and that’s where I’m struggling.”

The words are nearly silent, but I know he heard me. I can see it in the rolling of his shoulders

and his predatory grin. I just hope I don’t regret my words. Frowning, Master Spencer looks between

us and harrumphs, looking every inch a grumpy Dom.

“Well, safe words are there for a reason. Use them.”