Page 96 of The Dark Before Light

“He’s become very religious over the years.” She clears her throat but doesn’t say more. She doesn’t need to.

It breaks my heart, thinking of the young girl I met who felt so alone in her own family—and the woman in my arms who, despite the intelligence of a rocket scientist, hasn’t managed to completely give up hope that someday they’ll accept her.

“They don’t deserve you,” I tell her, my voice gruff with the effort of holding back more.

She drags her forehead over my chest, then looks up. For a second, I think she’s going to tell me—what, I’m not exactly sure. But something big. Then she swallows, her gaze dropping to my mouth. My cock jumps. A Pavlovian response to seeing her throat move that I doubt I’ll ever be cured of.

“Anything else you want to know?” she asks wryly.

“Yes. Every-damn-thing about you.”

Her nails drag down my spine, eyes a beautiful prism of vulnerability and darkness. “Are you sure about that?”

It’s the voice.

I clear my suddenly parched throat. “Yes.”

Her pupils expand. “Okay. Let’s go inside and talk.”

“Talk?” I bark.

An eyebrow arches. “You’ve never been topped before, have you?”

I shake my head.

“Then yes, Kieran, we’re going to talk first,” she says in that damn voice that makes my brain short-circuit. “I’m going to ask you some questions, and you’re going to give me honest answers.”

I take a short breath. My heart races and Jesus Christ my palms are damp.

“I trust you to?—”

She presses fingers to my mouth. “This is nonnegotiable. I need to know your limits—what you’re open to exploring and what you don’t want.” Her lips curve. “Speaking as someone who was recently dominated for the first time, there could also be some mental challenges I want to prepare you for.”

“Did you have them?” I ask, afraid of the answer but needing it, too.

Her voice softens. “Yes, but you kept me present and above all, you made me feel safe and cared for. I don’t regret a single second of anything we’ve done.” She hesitates, lashes shadowing her eyes. “I need you to know I don’t expect this from you. I don’t want you to do this because you feel like you have to.”

“I know, mo ghrá,” I murmur, “but have you forgotten what happened earlier today?”

A flush rises from her neck to her cheeks. “I haven’t,” she whispers, “but it does feel like I might have dreamed it.”

“Not a dream. I want this—you. All of you. And I…” My throat closes.

Her fingers stroke my jaw, sending pulses of warmth into my chest. “You what?”

“I want to let go,” I say, my voice rough with emotion. “For you. For me, too. If that makes sense.”

Her eyes glisten. “Yes, it does.”

I blow out a breath, relaxing a little. “Let’s talk, then. You’re the boss.” I wince. “Actually, what, uh… what am I supposed to call you?”

A beautiful smile blooms on her face right before she presses her lips to mine. “Just Talia,” she whispers into our kiss. “Your Talia.”

Chapter 28

Talia

My hands tremble as I cap the tube of red lipstick and set it on the counter. I adjust the clip holding the top half of my hair back, then pull the remainder over my shoulders until the strands frame my breasts. There’s nothing else to do but leave the guest bathroom and walk down the hallway to Kieran’s bedroom.

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