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The message was written out in full sentences. And it made it feel all the more ominous because of that.

The phone rang again and she reluctantly answered it. “Yes?”

12

Yes? Yes? That’s how she answered after hanging up on him? He had to remind himself that she wasn’t experienced. That this was all weird and different and he was pushing a lot at her. He took a deep breath then let it out.

“That was rude, Abigail Emily.”

“H-how do you know my middle name?”

“I just do. And hanging up on me was very naughty. It’s disrespectful. I’d never disrespect you that way and I expect the same respect from you.”

There was silence. If he couldn’t hear her breathing, he might have thought she’d disappeared. Then he heard a hitch in her breath.

Oh hell. Was she crying? Now he felt like a complete ass. Last thing he wanted was to make her cry. Especially when he wasn’t there to hold her.

But he didn’t want to bend on this. It was important.

“I-I’m so sorry.”

“Not yet, you aren’t,” he muttered.

“What?” she asked.

He reminded himself how little she knew about all of this. Although common courtesy said you didn’t just hang up on people.

Something had scared her.

He had pushed too hard too fast.

“Abby-girl, stop crying.”

“I’m not crying.”

“Abby,” he said in a warning voice.

“I’m just sniffling a bit,” she said.

“Sweet girl, I’m sorry if I pushed you too hard before. Last thing I want is to overwhelm you, okay? If you need me to back off, you just tell me. Thing is, parts of this are new to me too. So, it’s going to be a learning curve for both of us.”

There was a beat of silence. “I’m not...I’m not experienced. What if you’re disappointed in me?”

“Then I’ll have no one to blame but myself. Because as the experienced one, as the dominant one, it’s my job to make certain that both of us get what we need.”

“It...it is?”

“It is.”

“So, you won’t get mad at me?”

“Abby, if I ever scare you then you’re to tell me. I would never yell at you or touch you in anger. But if that did happen for some reason, you’re to walk away and find my brother immediately, understand? No one is allowed to hurt you, including me.”

More silence. But there were no more muffled sobs.

“I wish I was there to hold you,” he said a little wistfully.

“Me too. Kent, I’m sorry I hung up on you.”