~ CASIMIR ~
"I'm your slave, Cazz," she said, everything in her shaking. "Not because you made me. I chose that. And I'm going to keep choosing it. Every day. No matter what."
The words hit me like a sonic boom, traveling through flesh and sinew and bone to slam into my heart- into the bond- and shake those defenses I'd been building around myself since I was nothing but a pup. Because I couldn't remember a single day in my life that I'd felt safe. Ever.
Yet… here she was…
I forgive you.
You're worth it.
A strangled groan broke out of my throat, and I dove for her, taking her mouth desperately, pulling her into my chest and lifting her off her feet.
And when our skins touched, the steel walls I had built around my heart shattered.
I pulled her to me, delving her mouth, staggering under the shock of it all as I carried her to the nearest couch- a simple sectional I'd brought here for resting between bouts of play.