Page 37 of Healing Hazel
“No, Hazel, you didn’t lay any crap on me. You honored me, all of us, with your trust, with your honesty. And to be clear, I will not always be asking you what you’d like to do because, well, not that I don’t care but?—”
“Because you’re the Dom.”
I grinned. “Because I’myourDom and you’remysubmissive. The gift you offer is priceless, but I’m very much aware it doesn’t come without costs. I’d rather poke my eyes out than have you paying that cost with any pain?—”
“But I like a bit of pain,” she said, not looking the least bit worried about cutting me off yet again.
“I’m not talking about the pain that brings you pleasure, Zellie. I’m talking about pain in here.” I laid a hand over her chest where her heart lay just beneath the surface. “And in here.” I moved the hand to caress the side of her head. “Physical pain heals, but emotional pain can leave scars and I’ll spend the rest of my life doing my damndest to make sure youneverhave to experience that again.”
Her lips trembled a bit and her eyes welled, but she shook her head, lifting her hands to cup my face. “Oh, Nigel, don’t you think I know that? Don’t you know that without you Inever would have healed? Sure, Cedro and Wes took care of the physical injuries, Master Derek, Sadie, and everyone on the Ranch have had a part in making me feel safe, but it has been and will always be you who truly heals me.”
I laid my forehead against hers and we just sat as peace encircled us and I knew that healing went both ways. She had healed me in ways I’d never even recognized had been hurt. It was several minutes before she pressed her lips softly against mine and then sat back.
“So, what’s in the bag?”
“The bag?”
She laughed. “Yes, the big black bag that has to belong to you as you asked Luna to hang on to it.”
God, I so didn’t deserve this woman, but damn, I knew I’d better man the fuck up and be her Dom right the fuck now. “Various items,” I said, running a fingertip down her cheek.
“What sort of items?”
“Let’s just say items that can either have my little subbie begging for more or pleading for her Dom to have mercy on her poor quivering body.”
She smiled, all traces of trembling and tears gone, the hand she’d placed on my cheek now dropping to run down my chest and settle on my crotch where, of course, she found a bulge.
“Is that body naked?”
“Should it be?”
“I would think so. I mean, how else are you going to make me come like you so wanted to witness when we were in the elevator?”
She was telling me withouttellingme that she was more than ready for that step. But there was one more thing I needed before I was ready to walk beside her tonight.
“And the room? I had them set it up like an exam room, like a hospital.”
Her fingers paused in their play and she said, “Oh.”
“But, I’m thinking that isn’t where I really want to play.”
Big, green eyes met mine. “Do you just want to go and… and maybe try another night?”
“Hell no. What I’m saying is that I want to make sure I know what you?—”
“Shhh… listen,” she whispered.
Her eyes closed and I didn’t just listen, I felt as the strains of music surrounded us. It was a haunting melody and the lyrics spoke of all the things Hazel had been trying to tell me. Words that had my heart understanding hers in a way that only powerful music could. As the chorus played, I watched Hazel’s lips curl as she began to sway. And when she started to move, I released her and let her slide off my lap until she was kneeling at my feet, her head tilted back. Her eyes remained closed until the last chord faded away and then they opened.
I’d thought her beautiful before, but now I understood there was a depth of beauty I’d never seen before. It shone in her eyes, in her smile, in the relaxation of her body as if it had finally found the place where it felt safe, a place she’d been seeking her entire life. A place whereshefelt she belonged, and I finally knew what to do.
“You were damaged, but not in a way that was beautiful,” I said softly. “Not in a way that was shared between two people who love each other, who trust each other. Not in a way where you felt truly seen forallof who you are. I promise you that you never need to fear again?—”
She rose onto her knees and lifted a hand to press a finger to my lips. “But that’s just it, Master. I will never fear you. I won’t break, so please, don’t treat me as if I’m made of glass. Our journey brought us here and tonight, right now, begins our future. I want to serve you. I want you to make me yours because, Master, I know you will never destroy me.”
“Never, because to do so would be to destroy my very soul,” I said as I bent to lift her to her feet. And this time as we descended those steps, we left the past behind and walked into our future, side by side.
Luna must have been waiting as she immediately met my gaze. I smiled and nodded, drawing her forward and when she offered me the bag, I accepted it. “Thanks, Luna. We won’t be needing the room after all, but is there a spanking bench?—”
