Page 400 of Once Upon a Fable

“That’s it, Kas, beg while we cut—”

Gritting my teeth, I pushed the memory away. I didn’t shut it down. I didn’t swallow it deep. I just...shoved it away. It might come back to haunt me at a different time. It was free to come and go as it wanted, but for now, it vanished and left me in peace.

“You okay?” she asked gently, touching my elbow with kind fingers.

I nodded. “I will be.”

She smiled. “Do you think we should go and make sure Jareth isn’t eating all our supplies?”

I grinned. “My thoughts exactly.”

She laughed under her breath. “Do you mind if I take a quick shower first?”

“Of course.” I took her hand. “I’ll join you.”

“Oh?” Her eyebrows rose, a glint sparkling in her gaze. “Round two?”

“As much as I want to take you up on that offer, I don’t know if I’d beable to stay with you a second time.”

She flinched a little in commiseration. “Was it hard? Fighting your body’s reaction to shut down?”

“It was.” I licked my bottom lip. “But it was also easy because I had you to focus on.”

“And the bourbon probably helped.”

I chuckled. “A few drinks probably helped me jerk off, but it was you who kept me present and not lost in my mind.”

“I hope you don’t find this condescending, but...I’m proud of you.” She blushed. “I’m beginning to think you were right. That all it takes is a choice.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know if it’s truly that simple, but for tonight...I feel like I’ve won against something I’ve been fighting against for a very long time. I didn’t have a reason to choose before, but now I do. I can’t promise I won’t have setbacks, and I’m almost positive I still have a shit ton of healing to do, but...no matter how bad it gets, I promise I willalwayschoose to keep trying. I’m done being trapped. I no longer want to give up.”

“I’ll be there with you every step.”

“And that is the reason I’ll be okay...because I have you.” Raising her hand to my mouth, I kissed her knuckles as we stepped into the same bathroom where she’d gotten on her knees and begged me to leave her in privacy. Memories of that night came swift and thick. Of her jerking me off. Of her watching me with pity instead of fear.

Even then...even when I’d been the worst to her, she’d always seen the best in me.

Whipping her around, I dragged her into my arms. “I’ve done so much I can never take back.” I kissed her shoulder, inhaling her papaya-laced skin. “I’ll never forgive myself for doing to you what was done to me, but I need you to know I love you. I love you with every fucking piece of me, and I’m going to do my best to—”

“Hush.” Gem pulled back, cupping my cheeks with trembling hands. “We’re together now. We’re happy...at least, I am.” She searched my stare. “Are you? This isn’t too much? Too fast? Too—”

“It’s what has to happen. I’m ready to be pushed. I want to be. And in answer to your question...” I hoped she saw the truth in my eyes. The honesty that filled me up to the brim. “I am.” I smiled so big and true, it hurt my cheeks. It felt foreign and scary but also new and exciting. “I am happy. I’ve never been happier than I am right now, here with you.”

“Good.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed me. “That makes two of us.”

I kissed her back, dragging her into the shower. “I’m also tired and hungry and sick of this damn headache, but for now...I’m basking in whatever magic you’ve cast over me.”

She grinned, gasping with shock as I turned on the icy spray. “Holy crap, that’s cold.”

“Wait till the pipes freeze. Then you’ll know what cold feels like. It’s so painful it burns.”

Her face fell a little as I ducked under the arctic rain and drenched my long hair. My chest constricted with the cold, but I forced myself to stay under, getting wet. Once sufficiently soaked, I stepped away and grabbed the soap bar. “Your turn.”

She nodded, but the pensive look on her face didn’t fade. Holding her breath with a tortured moan, she ducked under the spray, tipping her head back and getting thoroughly covered.

Joining me at the back of the large tiled shower, she waited while I lathered the soap over my body, her gaze lingering on my cock as bubbles formed and rinsed away what we’d done together.

“What?” I asked, foaming more bubbles in my hands and reaching out to cover her shoulders.