Obey Me In Darkness
When he looked back at me, his expression had hardened into command.
“But before I touch you,” he continued, “I want you to clean up. I want you to wash the shit of other people off you.”
He gestured toward the bathroom without raising his voice. “Get in the bathtub.”
The bathwater was so hot that it burned against my skin, and instead of pulling away, I let myself sink deeper into it, welcoming the sting because it grounded me in my body. Vale stood in front of the tub wearing nothing but his gloves, the sight of him like that making my breath catch before I could stop it.