When she looks at him like that, she's already halfway there...
The flogger handle under her chin, he tilts her head back. “Say it. I want to hear the words.”
Her breathing ripples. “I’m not his. I’m yours. And I’m Michael’s.”
“Good. That’s better. And the last point…” James pushes up with the handle. “…The most important point is that you are yours. You belong to yourself. No-one ever succeeded in taking that from you, even as a child. You have always been too strong to let that happen. Don’t let it happen now.”
She doesn’t reply, but her eyes are huge green-rimmed pools, pupils dark as the night sky.
He regards her for a long moment, then lowers the flogger, releasing her. “That’s better.” He touches her arm. “You’ve stopped trembling. That’s good too. Now…” He stands back, flicks t
