Page 9 of Lay It Bare

“You can eat, right?” Rei whispered.

“Yeah.” Lisa shrugged. “But why should I? Felt like I was just eating for them. Don’t want to be pretty for people.”

“Eat for me?” Rei whispered.

Lisa’s shoulders slumped. “Sometimes, I don’t know if there’s a point, ReiRei. Like why do I even keep doing this? I was . . . never mind.” Lisa swung away, grabbing the floss.

Rei grabbed it. “Don’t. You can go one night without. You’ll just bleed more.”

“I think Alexi is going to get rid of me,” Lisa whispered.

“He wouldn’t. You’re his fox.”

“His wild fox. I’m not soft like you, or the others.”

“That’s why he lets you run.”

“It’s not really running,” Lisa muttered. “It’s still a fucking leash. I’m still not . . . I still can’t breathe.”

Rei regarded Lisa with sad eyes.

“Do you . . . how do you . . . how do you not just end it all?” Lisa whispered.

“I almost have,” Rei whispered. “If I’m ever sold, well, I won’t be.”

“So, your master . . ”

“He’s enough.” Rei nodded firmly, but gently.

Lisa frowned, looking down at his hands. “How can you love him?”

“He takes care of me.” Rei looked down as well. “I know it might not look like it. I know you’ve seen things. But . . . if he’s a monster, he’s my monster. He’s the monster that chose me.”

Lisa looked up, catching sight of Sevastyan, and shut his mouth, schooling his face into stubbornness. He held up his toothbrush to show Sevastyan he was doing as told. Sevastyan said nothing, eyes moving to Rei. Rei inclined his head, no fear in his body, just concern creasing the edges of his eyes as he looked at Sevastyan’s bandaged chest.

“I had to speak to someone,” Sevastyan said, addressing Rei as if Lisa wasn’t there. He touched the bandages. “These are just cuts. No worse than some I’ve given you.”

Rei’s eyes went to Sevastyan’s bandaged wrist.

Sevastyan held it up, turning his hand around to show that his wrist worked well. “It was a scene, little one. One that went . . . a bit far.”

“You . . . let someone . . . like . . .” Lisa’s shock echoed through the room.

“Yes.” Sevastyan addressed Lisa directly. “I let someone. How do you think I learned some of what you’ve seen me demonstrate?”

“I thought . . . ”

“You thought my pride wouldn’t let me kneel?” Sevastyan raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps most masters you’ve met are like that. There’s a reason only Alexi may touch Rei. Most would undo my hard work.” He held out his hand and Rei came to him willingly, leaning into Sevastyan’s touch and taking the opportunity to press his palm over the bandages on Sevastyan’s chest. “I needed to make a contact. It was made. Worth the price. And worth your silence.” Sevastyan narrowed his eyes towards Lisa.

Lisa swallowed and nodded. “I won’t tell. Not even Alexi. I swear.”

“Bed, master?” Rei whispered, perhaps feeling the depth of Sevastyan’s fatigue.

“Bed.” Sevastyan pressed his lips to Rei’s head and turned towards the bedroom.

Rei knelt, helping Sevastyan out of his pants and pulling back the covers. Sevastyan stretched out and patted the mattress beside him. Rei crawled in.

“Lisa, take the other side,” Sevastyan ordered, pulling Rei in to be the little spoon to his larger one.