Page 107 of Trove’s Purpose

“You took control of the females who hurt you without them. If you grow them back, then you lose that advantage their absence gave you.”

He started, staring at her in shock. Like he’d never considered that. But the truth of it was striking him harshly. She gave him a sad smile.

“Am I right?”

“You… I think you are,” he breathed, looking again at his fingers.

Because even without the claws, they were weapons. Just weapons he’d used to cause pleasure instead of pain. And he couldn’t give that up, because it would mean giving up the precious control that he’d stolen without them.

In a backwards way, it would be like declawing himself again.

“How much is it?” She asked. “Theoretically, I mean. If one did want to regrow their claws, about how much would it cost?”

He shook his head. “Not as much as you think. I could… I could afford it. If I wanted to.”

“Do you want to? I mean, do you feel any differently about it now?” She asked, leaving that door open for him without trying to force him through it. If he wanted to heal his claws, that was a decision he needed to make on his own, just like healing his aversion to her touch.

He paused for a long moment before nodding. “I… do.” But then he looked at her as he lowered their hands.

“If my claws grow back, it won’t be as pleasurable for you.”

Chee laughed. “I doubt that. But you enjoying your life and being happy and healthy makes it all better for me.”

Trove didn’t answer her immediately. He searched her face, like he was trying to find the meaning of her answer written there. She just smiled back at him patiently, waiting for him.

When he finally spoke, however, it wasn’t related to his claws. He just asked, “Are you ready to go back?”

She could probably linger here, drinking and dancing for hours. But she nodded, because more than that, she just wanted to be with him. And it only took that look from him, with that distinct sharpness in his gaze, for her body to start tingling in anticipation.

Nights with him were not easy on her. She couldn’t walk for a few hours after he decided he was finished, and she had been sore for days on end now. Right when she thought she was getting used to it, he found new ways to push her beyond her limits.

She compared it to eating sour candy. Just looking at the candy, or even thinking about the sour threat, was enough to start salivating in anticipation, her mouth trying to protect itself from the onslaught, even if it wasn’t actually coming.

Similarly, when she thought about Trove, her pussy would clench and start leaking in anticipation of the threat that she knew was definitely coming. Her nipples would tighten, her belly would cramp, her fingers would tingle, and yes, even her mouth would salivate, all in anticipation of the sexual punishment he’d be putting her through.

By the time they returned to Hyde’s manor, she was squirming in her seat. She clung to Trove’s arm as they walked back to her room because even the rubbing of her thighs together was enough to tease her overly sensitive flesh.

Trove could handle her touching him now, if she warned him first or if he had given her permission so he knew it was coming. It was a concession she didn’t mind giving, especially since it actually helped her not touch him when he couldn’t handle it.

As they came into her room, they left the lights off, so the only illumination was the glow from outside the large windows that poured in. Some of it was from the night lights in the gardens below, but most of it came from the artificial night sky broadcast on the underside of the night shields. The glow of the stars was pale, almost green in tint, and so low, it cast more shadows than it relieved.

Chee walked by herself to the end of the bed and, after looking at the silky sheets and soft blanket, turned her gaze onto Trove. He was still by the door. If it weren’t for the glow of his eyes, she wouldn’t be able to see him at all.

Her lover, invisible in the shadows, did not look at her with tenderness now. Instead, there was a hard, burning edge of desire that made her shiver.

“Remove your clothes,” he ordered, not stepping in closer.

She didn’t need his help to take off the dress. It was a lot easier than putting it on. She only had to reach up and press the seal at the back of her neck. The hem split and the entire garment loosened and when she lowered her arm again, it all came tumbling down. It pooled around her feet. She didn’t need a bra, because the dress offered her all the support she needed, so all she had to do was push her panties off her hips and they fell to join the dress. She stepped out of them but left on her shoes and jewels because he hadn’t ordered her to take those off.

He needed control. So, she’d give him that control, absolutely and completely.

“Good,” Trove growled with approval that made her break out in goosebumps of pleasure. “Go down to your knees.”

Chee hesitated. Not because she didn’t want to obey, but because that wasn’t what she was expecting him to say.

Going to her knees didn’t sound like he was pleasing her; it sounded more like…

Breathless with hopeful excitement, Chee lowered herself down. She used her own dress to pad her knees as she knelt there, hands on her thighs, waiting.