Em snorts, shaking her head. "I'm tired enough to sleep through a thunderstorm," she answers. "Chalk it up to being utterly emotionally drained.""So today didn't help you recharge at all?" I ask, saddened."Oh, Bella. Of course it did. But... you know how it is.""Yeah, I guess I do," I reply. "You feeling ok?""A bit brittle, but glad I'm with you and not at home, eating ice cream and chocolate and wallowing..."I laugh. "That's a cute image. But yes, pub food and drunkenness tops ice cream wallowing any day in my book.""Cheers to that," she answers, clinking my glass. I smile at her, enjoying the quiet camaraderie of the moment. Em lifts her legs and rests them across my lap, leaning back into the corner. "Do you mind?""Of course not," I answer. "You know that I'm your slave.""Slave, huh?" she replies, eyes twinkling. "Don't offer what you're not prepared to give, you'll get into trouble.""Don't escalate what you're guaranteed to lose," I return with a snort. Em laughs. I lean
Last Updated : 2026-09-22 Read more