Page 101 of Resist

Slade talks to her before he steps out, says something about checking on us later, but I’m sleepy, bones heavy, and all I want to do is close my eyes. So I do.

CHAPTER 40

Cora

Something I’ve always wonderedas a dominant was whether or not dominants in general can tell their submissive is going to drop.

I’ve never really had a submissive for long enough to know them on that level. With bang and go as my MO, I never nurtured a relationship, gave enough of myself to a dynamic to have it blossom into a long term thing.

But something in my gut tells me that Sterling’s on the ropes. Maybe it’s because last time we played together he woke up alone. Maybe it’s because it’s in my head that I abandoned him and don’t want to fail him again. But something’s telling me that my boy is going to need a little extra aftercare this morning.

Instead of getting up when I wake up, I lie in place. I don’t want him waking up alone again, I don’t want him thinking that’s just what I do. Even though I want to get up and bake something for him for breakfast, or run him a hot bath to sink into to rest and heal those sore muscles after having been tied to a chair last night, I stay still and let him spoon me.

I can reach my phone, so I turn the volume allthe way down and open my messages. The group chat with the girls has a bunch of messages from last night that I didn’t answer, the most recent of which is Foxy asking if I’m still alive.

Yes, sorry. I needed to get Sterling home in one piece last night. Moving him was something of a challenge.

FOXY

I know. Slade told me that he and Thor helped get Sterling into the car, and Thor made sure you got home safely. Otherwise I’d have been banging your door down in the middle of the night.

MADDIE

It’s cute you’re taking care of your hubby.

It’s funny, because she thinks it’s cute I’m taking care of someone else, while I’m deeply touched at the fact that Thor and Slade stepped in to help, and told my friends I was okay. There’s something so nice about having a circle of people around you who care for your wellbeing.

I must be quiet for too long, Phoenix sends another message.

FOXY

What is it, Coco?

How does she know I’m mulling something over in my brain? I nibble on my bottom lip, not sure how to put what I’m feeling into words.

I’m not used to having so many people invested in my wellbeing.

There, that sums up my thoughts, right?

MADDIE

Should we be offended? We’ve been invested for a while now.

I don’t mean you guys. You know where the bodies are buried. There’s no escape from you. I mean the Protocol people. It’s not just Sterling they’re concerned about. It’s me, too.

That feels nice.

And scary.

FOXY

Why scary?

Discomfort stirs in my stomach. I don’t like being vulnerable, even to my nearest and dearest.

MADDIE

Talk to us, Cor.

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