Chapter 99: Both - Love

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Artem

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Hesitantly, uncertain if I should listen or if I should give in, I turned to face her. She was there, no clothes on still but wrapped in a towel that was so large it covered her from her armpits to her knees. She had a sweet, innocent, and understanding look on her face. Her eyes were slightly crinkled and her cheeks were raised, all to prove the smile on her face was genuine.

"Artem, I will never be scared of you. Never." She took a few steps toward me, slowly but steadily. When she was close enough she put her right hand on my elbow while her left hand held the towel in place. "I love you Artem. I knew that before I felt that compulsion to do as you wanted."

"I never meant to make you do anything you didn't want to do." I could hear the pleading in my voice then, the worry.

"I know, and that's why I stopped being so scared of you. I know you would never do anything bad to me."