Page 489 of Once Upon a Fable

Wadding the wet tissue into his palm, he kissed my lips. “I’ll be okay, Gem. The pill is in my system, you’ve given me a pleasure high that’s made me ready for a nap instead of a night out, and the best of all, I know that if I’m not coping, we’re free to leave whenever we want and come back here...alone.”

I nodded and slung my arms around his neck, shivering at the silkiness of his tux against my bare breasts. “You say the word, and we leave.”

He smirked. “What’s the word?”

I shrugged, searching for one that would work. “Bathtub?”

“I forgot the last bath we shared. Who’s to say I won’t forget that.”

“Okay then...freedom?” I kissed him. “Whisper freedom and we slink out immediately.”

He kissed me back just as someone knocked on the front door, bringing reality firmly back into our sex-hazy lives. “Limo for Ms. Ashford?”

“Shit.” Kas let me go. Shadows returned to his eyes, but he pulled up his boxers, zipped up his pants, and ran his hands through his hair. “I guess it’s time.”

“Tell the driver to wait. I’ll just shoot to the bathroom.”

Kas headed to my dress strewn on the floor, bringing it to me. “Better put this back on. As much as I like you naked, I can’t say I’d behave if other people saw you this way.”

“Now who’s being possessive?” I winked, trying to ignore my winging heartbeat and rapidly building worry about tonight.

Kas walked into me, palming my breast before dropping his hand to cup my pussy. With a raspy, heady whisper, he murmured, “I’ve never had anything of my own before. Never had a favorite toy or a loyal pet, so you can’t blame me if I’m a tad controlling, now that I have you.” His fingers feathered over my entrance, making me suck in a breath. “Now that you’re mine, Gem? Now that I know what it’s like to have something to cherish, protect, and love...then yes, I’m going to be a controlling, dominating asshole because it’s the only way I know how to keep you safe.”

I kissed him as his hand fell from my pussy and clenched into a fist. “I guess we’ll be possessive together then.”

He kissed me back, his forehead furrowed and already thinking about what would happen when we stepped outside my home. “We’ll just be two jealous people who should never be apart—for other people’s safety.”

“I love you, Kas. No matter what happens tonight.”

He stepped back, nodding once. “And I love you. For accepting me.”

We shared a look.

We broke apart.

For better or for worse, we were doing this.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

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I HAD TO BE honest.

This was hard. Really fucking hard.

Even after an intense release with Gemma on her knees and ass up over the couch—even with a sedative pill that my therapist claimed could knock out an elephant, I was borderline snapping. He’d actually given me the pills to help my nightmares, not to use when I had to stay awake. He’d claimed they were so strong, I’d be out like a light and have a dreamless, restorative sleep.

Ha.

I had news for him—it didn’t.

It barely took the edge off.

Then again, perhaps that was just me.

Storymaker had always said my adrenaline was a nasty thing, chewing up the wakey medicine he’d give us, refusing to allow Viagra to work very long, ensuring whatever means he used to keep me performing never truly worked.

The only thing that made me perform for a guest was knowing that if I didn’t, then he’d just get one of my family members to take my place.