Page 38 of Lay It Bare

“No,” Sevastyan said. He stepped close again. Lisa trembled as their skin sealed together, sweat making wet sounds as they breathed against each other. Sevastyan pressed his hand against Lisa’s back, supporting him, taking the strain off his arms and legs.

“I know what you’re doing,” Lisa gasped. “You’re training me to need you.”

“Whether or not you know it’s happening, it still works,” Sevastyan replied.

Lisa lifted his head. His eyes looked like he was drunk. “I hate everything of what you are.”

“What am I?”

Lisa searched Sevastyan’s face. “A murderer. A trafficker. A criminal.”

Rei curled in on himself.

Sevastyan stared straight back at Lisa. “I’m all those things.”

“You know what I hate most about you?” Lisa whispered.

“What?”

“That you’re not all bad. That you made Rei love you when he should hate you. That sometimes you’re kind. That sometimes I close my eyes and want to stay. So show me the devil’s face and kill me before I need you.”

“No.”

“Why?” Lisa’s voice was almost strangled.

“Because you’re more than a slave and I’m more than a criminal. Someday, you might even see that.”

Sevastyan unhooked Lisa’s hands from the chain and swept him up in a bridal carry. “Let’s get you clean.”