Page 77 of Liberating Lily

Immediately, the room grew colder.

“You are right.” He nodded. “I know I am controlling. I like to be in charge, I won’t deny it. Especially when it comes to your safety and sex. However, I never want you to be scared of me. To see me as anything like your mother. You have my word I will try to keep myself from scaring you further. And that there will be no spankings.”

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You have my word I will try to keep myself from scaring you further. And that there will be no spankings.

The words were still playing through her mind hours later.

What had she done?

What was necessary. She’d laid down boundaries.

He’d responded in a way that she hadn’t quite expected. But it showed that he understood her feelings.

I never want you to be scared of me. To see me as anything like your mother.

What had she done?

Was this really the outcome that she wanted? For him to think that she looked at him and saw her mother? That she thought he was anything like her mother?

Because she didn’t.

She knew that everything he was doing was to protect her.

And maybe she didn’t mind that he liked to take charge.

Because he only wants what is best for you.

She needed to tell him that. To explain that she wasn’t scared of him. Or of any sort of punishment.

Quite the opposite, to be honest.

How did she say that, though? And if she did . . . what would it lead to?

Was she ready for anything more?

A groan escaped her.

Lord. She really wanted more, didn’t she? She wanted to experience that control in the bedroom. She wanted his bossy ass.

Did he still want her?

Had she completely messed this up? But how was she meant to know what was best?

Right now, she could really use some advice from an outside party. But she didn’t have anyone to ask.

She wished she had a better relationship with Clem. Lily missed her. They’d had a couple of very brief conversations that felt a bit awkward. Lily hadn’t wanted to tell her what was going on and ruin everything for her. Clem sounded so happy and carefree. No, she wasn’t ruining that. Plus she was now engaged. Clem needed to concentrate on the future and not look back.

Lily was now sitting on the window seat in the living room, staring out at the forest beyond. What should she do?

Backtrack?

Tell him that she now regretted what she’d said and hadn’t meant it.

Urgh, but he’d think she was an idiot.

Her uncertainty was eating a hole in her stomach and making her feel nauseous.