Page 111 of Unfettered

"Good. Because we're Partners. You're not allowed to wallow."

I shove myself up, finding my feet steady, despite the turmoil inside my mind, my heart, and even my weary soul.

Hollis and I are evenly matched, particularly since I still haven't fully regained my strength. But if he wants to play this game… I’ll come out the victor.

"No!" I suddenly roar, stepping away as I tremble, swamped by the nausea of almost crossing yet another unforgivable line. I hold out my palms, begging, "Please. Not now. I can't risk you. And I'm not safe... Not right now."

His calm stare doesn't waver, and the unspoken challenge lingers between us. He hears the words inside my head, the cry from inside. I see it pass, a mere flicker of emotions playing across his face. He says I’m easy to read, but fuck if he isn’t as well.

"You are safe, Sandro. I can see it in your eyes. The terror. Your fear of showing dominance anymore. Your Boys didn't accept your submissive side. Fuck them. I'm sure they will figure out why they're wrong. But you need to stop being afraid of your dominant side. You can't hide it any more than I can."

"I'm Lio's Master when he needs me."

Except we both hear the hesitation. The regret. And yes, the fucking horror.

Hollis growls, stomping his foot, and a surprised chuckle escapes me. It loosens the chokehold that's strangling me. Still, he doesn't back down.

"I'm going to prove to you that you're safe."

The air freezes in my lungs as he goes to his knees smoothly—more easily and beautifully than I thought was possible. My mind rebels at the sight, even as my heartbeat quickens and my soul revels in it.

"You don't submit. That's⁠—"

Words freeze on my lips when he slowly lowers the zipper on my pants. He cocks his brow, and I breathe easier. It's play. He may be the one on his knees, but I'm at his mercy.

“No, Sandro. You will take control.”

I curse the way he can read me. My hands clench at my side as I struggle, as I fight against the Dominant inside me—the man I used to know.

"Why? Why would you do this?" My broken plea hangs in the air, but it's met with silence. Still, I refuse to move forward without an answer.

Hollis takes a deep breath and says, "You are my Partner. My equal. I see your pain. Your fear. It calls to me, much like my own demons do. And this? This is a way for you to face the truth.

"You're not evil. Not truly lost. You are worth it, Sandro. It doesn't matter what name you go by, what title you take. You have both sides of the coin in you. The duality. And you have the strength to embrace it.

"Don't choke your dominance in the hope that it dies. You're far better than that. So I'll submit. This time. Because you need it. You know I'm safe to approach. And regardless of what you—and others—perceive, I know you're safe as well. I trust you. Now...do you trust me?"

I don’t answer immediately, searching within myself first. My thoughts and my heart. And when the truth comes to me, it's a shock, yet it feels so right. “Yes. I trust you, Anima Gemella Mia.”

His growl is enough, reverberating between us both. Placing his palms on his thighs, he looks up at me. There’s a wild desperation that cuts me, spinning me out of control, and yet, I’ve never felt more in charge of myself than right now.

I run my fingers through Hollis’s hair, relishing the softness of the strands. The sensual tease. Then, taking a deep breath, I tighten my grip, guiding him to my crotch.

He doesn’t fight me, submitting in a way I didn’t know he could. It’s a wonder, a pleasure, and a fucking honor. All of it, twined together.

“Take me. Make me come, Anima Gemella Mia.”

Hollis pushes my pants and underwear down, his breath teasing me as it lightly gusts over my cock, which twitches in anticipation. Fuck, I’m not sure I’ve ever gotten this turned on just by the sight of someone on his knees, before I’ve even been touched. Yet I understand this gift, and I cherish it.

Placing his hands back on his thighs, he leans in, licking me slowly, teasing me as I become fully erect. Swallowing hard, my breaths are shallow in anticipation. Need courses through me, almost bringing me to my knees.

When his hot mouth engulfs me, I throw my head back and groan. Fuck. There’s no way I could prepare for this, for the sheer pleasure of his ministrations. My fingers flex, desperately gripping him.

Hollis doesn’t go fast. The slowness drives me crazy, edging me, pushing me until I have no choice—I snap. Using his hair, I pull him onto me, shuddering as he chokes. A broken moan escapes me as I start to use him, to thrust my hips forward as I pull him close.

My entire focus narrows. I chase my pleasure, because he submits to me. He offers himself to bend to my will. To give me this, to feed the dominant inside me. The man I no longer trusted…

Tears prick my eyes, and I struggle to hold them back. But fuck. The relief of who I used to be somehow peeking through… Somehow breaking the chains I placed there. All because of this man who chose me, who fucking submitted—despite having no reason to.