Page 62 of Vienna Betrayal

She hadn’t yet seen him naked. It was one of the things she was hoping would change tonight.

But before they could do anything, she had to help him find his way out of the prison within his mind.

“When I pull away, what do you feel?” she asked softly.

The silence was long, but less painful than before because now she had her arms around him.

“I feel like a monster,” he finally said.

“You’re not a monster.”

“Deep down, I am.” Alexander straightened, then turned within the circle of her arms. “That’s why you shouldn’t trust me.”

“Because your monster might emerge?” Alena wiggled her eyebrows and pressed her pelvis against his, hoping humor would work.

Alexander snorted out a laugh, and his furrowed brow smoothed out.

Success!

She waited, giving him time to answer her question, but he didn’t say anything.

“Hey, sugar, talk to me. Please.”

“I started classifying subs, as a way to make sure I never partnered with someone who would tempt the darkest parts of me.”

“And subs like me bring out the dark?”

“Yes.”

“You were going to tell me what your other classifications were.”

“I was…” He slid his arms around her in a mirroring of how she was holding him. “A brat is looking for an excuse to be spanked so they can cry. They are looking for an outlet for their emotions.”

Alexander was staring into middle distance. Alena rested her head on his shoulder and listened both to his words and the faint thump thump of his heart.

“A lazy sub is focused more on kink and sexual pleasure than being a sub. They want to be strapped down and played with until they come. The more toys, the better.”

Alena held him and listened, glad he was talking again.

“Then there’s the abuse-fantasy subs. They want to be abused, but safely. They like humiliation, being used as an object.”

Alena was glad he couldn’t see her face when he said “humiliation.”

“Then there’s the CEO sub. She’s tired of being in charge. Tired of making decisions.”

“Why aren’t I a CEO sub?” Alena asked, adding a little outrage to her tone.

Alexander turned his head, bringing his lips within millimeters of her forehead. She wanted him to kiss her.

“Because you don’t need to be helpless. Powerless.” He frowned. “I’m not sure I’m explaining it correctly. These classifications are probably overly simplistic. I’ve never told anyone else about them.”

Alena rubbed the line between his eyebrows. He jerked, looking down at her as her hand shifted to cup his cheek.

“If I used my safeword, would you respect it?” she asked softly.

“Yes.”

“And if you gag me, will you give me a physical safeword sign?”

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