Page 109 of Mine

TWENTY-EIGHT

PEPPER

I sleptin for the first time in years. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, and based on how bright it was, I knew that it was well past ten a.m.

Thankfully, I’d planned to take an extra day off. The original reason was because of my mother’s death date, but this felt like a much better reason to not show up to work.

Every muscle ached. There was no way I would've been able to go to work today. I wasn't exactly sure what time Salt and I got home, but my entire body was sore. My asscheeks, pussy, thighs.

I loved it.

I loved the pain.

There was something deeply satisfying about knowing I could still feel what Salt and I did last night.

I’d read about subspace. A headspace that could happen for the submissive in a scene, and was often described as pure bliss. I barely remembered how the two of us got back to the apartment last night, all I knew was that he’d taken care of me. He’d brought me home and then we’d eaten grilled cheese, showered, and snuggled.

I’d fallen asleep next to him so easily. I’d even dreamed about him, although I wasn’t sure exactly what about. I just knew that his presence was so intertwined into my being, I could feel him in the cells of my blood. The marrow of my bones. And I didn’t want to change a thing.

Salt’s arm was draped over me, his body warm against mine. I stirred against him, blinking slowly, drifting in and out of sleep.

Last night came flooding back. I thought about all of the things I’d seen at the club. Seeing so many people who were able to be open sexually without shame had healed a part of me.

Being with Salt had healed a part of me too.

Being trapped in the pillory was something I wanted to try again. Really, there were so many things I wanted to try. But maybe when my muscles weren’t so sore.

I didn’t want to hide anymore. That was the thing that was changing inside of me. For years, I’d been hiding parts of myself, but now that they’d seen the light, they hungered to be in the open. I wasn’t sure I could go back to how I was before discovering these parts of myself. And there was still so much to learn, too.

Last night was something I would never forget. All of the pain and anger and sadness I’d felt over the weekend about my mother dulled. And not that what we’d done together was a fix or anything—it surely wasn’t—but it had helped me see that there was more out there for me.

I didn’t have to be what Jeff told me I was. Or anyone else, for that matter.

Salt stirred next to me. He was warm and comforting. I wished this could be us every morning, and not just today.

At least I didn’t have to return to reality until tomorrow.

Salt let out a soft hum, his arm tightening around me.

“Morning,” I whispered.

“Morning, baby,” he murmured. He pressed his face against the top of my head, peppering gentle kisses. “How are you feeling?”

“Sleepy. Lazy. Sore,” I said. I turned, rolling my body so that I faced him. I pressed my face against his chest and wound my arms back around him. “What are we doing today? Do you have to go anywhere?”

“I’m all yours,” he said. “Maybe I can cook breakfast for you.”

He had a morning voice. God, I felt… stupid. I felt silly. But not in a way that made me feel ashamed. I couldn’t stop smiling, enjoying the croak of his tone. His voice was so deep, sending a shiver through me. His hand settled behind my head, gently massaging the base of my neck as we relaxed against each other.

“A slow morning sounds nice,” I said. “I don’t remember the last time I slept in.”

“Mm.”

“You probably wake up next to a lot of people.”Where the fuck did that come from?It was the pesky self-doubts. The insecurities. All raising their ugly heads to ruin everything.

Salt grabbed a fistful of my hair, forcing me to look up at him. “When are you going to get it into your head that I don’t want someone other than you? Yes, I’m a whore. I like sex.” He rocked his hips and my eyes widened as I felt his cock against me, hard already. “I’ve been in orgies. I’ve fucked and been fucked and I love it all, but none of it comes close to the way you make me feel. I can do all of that with you. I want to do all of that with you. But I need you to trust me when I tell you that I only want you.”

Fuck. “I’m sorry. I’m having a hard time understanding why you wantmeout of all people. And it’s not fair to you, but it’s a hard mindset to break.”

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