Page 55 of Surrender

No. He said in the hallway he didn't want to dom someone else. And honestly, if I had seen him rig up and dom someone else it would have made me sick to my stomach. I know he's technically not mine, but it feels like he is. His attention, his care, his protectiveness feels very personal, and I don't want to share that with anyone else.

He's speaking, but I'm not listening. He's introducing me and the history of shibari.

My smile drops a little when he comes to stand in front of me.

"Color?"

I smile up at him. "Green, sir."

He hasn't done anything to make me uncomfortable, I'm just nervous standing on a stage in front of so many people. Before Declan found me, I liked hiding in the background, but now...now I don't mind people looking at me. Especially knowing how Declan looks at me.

He asks me to hold the beginning cross of ropes on my chest between my breasts and I obey.

He walks circles around me, adjusting the ropes around my chest, shoulders, and upper arms, talking and explaining the entire time. He's not one for an audience, but he's comfortable on stage. He knows what he's doing, and it shows.

When the sum of his knots and crisscrosses ties my forearms against each other across my lower back, he checks in with me.

"Color?"

"Green," I almost moan. Being restrained like this is doing something to me I can't explain. The audience no longer matters. It's just him and I up on stage. And with every restraint, every choice he's taken away from me, a warm blanket of comfort surrounds me.

"Fuck," he whispers under his breath. "You're liking this aren't you?"

I look up at him in a daze. Of course I do. Can't he tell? He feels so far away. I feel like I'm underwater. My brain doesn't hurt for the first time in maybe ever. I didn't even realize there's always a low buzz of tension in my brain until now. Until it's gone.

Is this how the rest of the world feels? This relaxed? This comfortable?

I'm barely aware of him when he asks me to kneel.

He takes another rope and ties my ankles, knees and thighs together.

"Color?"

"Green, sir." My voice is a breathy whisper that doesn't sound like my own.

He gently bends me backwards in an awkward backbend before tying my bound arms and ankles together. I am completely immobile. I couldn't move or wiggle out of this position if I tried. The rope is taught, not biting, but there is absolutely no wiggle-room.

Declan's rushing through his explanation now. Words like submission, angles, control tickle at my consciousness while his hand grabs the ropes in different locations and tugs.

I've dropped into a dream-like state of pure relaxation.

He makes quick work of untying me sometime after, and I'm vaguely aware of being carried. I wrap my arms around his neck and bury my face in the crook of his neck.

His suit collar is rough on my cheek, but I don't care. I love the way he smells. So rich and earthy. So alive. So mine.

I wonder what kind of cologne he wears.

I'm gently placed on a soft surface, so I curl up in a ball and bury my face in it.

"Ser?" His gentle voice asks. A hand pets my hair, and I let out a sound of contentment.

"Ser, baby? I need you to drink this."

I open my mouth and stick out my tongue. A gentle chuckle comes from somewhere next to me, before strong hands help me sit up and a straw is placed on my tongue.

I wrap my lips around it and drink. The water is cool, and doesn't taste bad, and is completely refreshing on a soul-level.

"Dec?" I whisper, leaning into where I think he is. The water disappears as two strong arms wrap around me. I pull him closer, wanting his scent everywhere.

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