Disclaimer: Priest and its characters belong to Scott Stewart.

Claimer: I own Tessa.

WARNING: Mature content ahead.

Chapter #13: Listen To the Rain

Tessa awoke feeling more tired than refreshed, having only gotten in a few hours of sleep. She hadn't stopped to rest while she had been searching for Julian, and last night she had managed three hours tops. Beside her, Julian was still out cold. They had shifted positions at some point, and his head was now resting on top of her breasts, body gently rising and lowering with the patterned breathing of a deep sleep. Her fingers were slowly weaving through his hair, tracing up and down the back of his neck. For a vampire, he could be incredibly human-looking when he wanted to. All she could think about was how relieved she was to have him safe in her arms again. She had been so close to losing him, and it would have been for good this time. She could have sat there with him in her hold forever, when suddenly she was alerted to an unexpected banging coming from downstairs. All of her senses instantly snapped to full alert, and she sat up straighter, listening. Julian released a faint, tired moan at the sudden movement, but he didn't wake up, still weakened from the amount of blood he'd lost. What energy he'd had was mostly spend on taking down he remaining vampires at the reservation so they could escape.

When she heard the banging again, she realized someone was knocking on the front doors to the mansion. Fear bubbled in her chest for a brief moment. Had they realized what had happened and come back for them? This was exactly what she had feared would happen. Calm down. It could be anyone. She needed to go investigate. If they were lucky, it was just a couple of passing travelers in need of food or water rations. She didn't know if she could pull off the unrealistic luck she'd had at the reservation for a second time. She knew basic self defense and wrestling, but if these men were able to take down Julian then she was probably level one difficulty. Gathering all her courage, she looked down at Julian once more and kissed his head affectionately.

"I'll be back," she whispered against his temple, knowing he couldn't hear her.

He was in no shape to fight, so she prayed it didn't come to that. If she could handle this peacefully, then she would be thankful. With the furtiveness of a panther, she managed to wriggle out from beneath him without waking him, and she gently rested his head down on a pillow. Pulling on her boots, she grabbed her dagger and headed downstairs. Whoever was on their doorstep knocked again as she approached, and she bent down to peek through the keyhole. Two men that she could see stood on the other side of the door, and they appeared to be unarmed, but one could never be too careful. Straightening, she breathed in a composing inhale and reached for the handle. The two men looked up upon seeing the door open, and she relaxed a little when they greeted her amiable smiles. One of them tipped his hat to her in a polite gesture.

"Good mornin', ma'am."

"Good morning," she answered, masking her caution with a forthcoming smile. She could tell just by looking into their eyes that they had never seen her before. They had no clue who she was. "How can I help you gentlemen?"

"We don't mean to bother you, but we're making our way to the city, and there isn't another stop for miles. You got any water you could spare us?" he asked.

Water. They wanted water. If her relief didn't show in her features, they probably heard it in her voice when she spoke. "I don't see why not. Would you mind waiting a moment?"

"Not at all." He tipped his hat to her once again, as did his companion.

Smiling, she was just about to turn away, when she saw something from the corner of her eye that caught her interest. Pausing, she stared at the truck that was parked a little ways from the mansion. That truck. It was the same type she had witnessed leaving the reservation. Eyes shifting to its tires, she stared at them for a lengthy second. She couldn't be sure, but she was almost positive they would have matched the tracks she'd seen.

"Ma'am…?"

Blinking, her eyes returned to the man before her to see he was giving her a questioning stare.

"You okay? You look like you've just seen a ghost."

"Oh… no. I'm sorry." It was then that she noticed they had a few injuries—minor ones, but they were fresh. The one talking to her had a bruised cheek, and after a short glance at both their knuckles she saw they were split and raw. The man behind him fashioned a shiner, and his jaw kept shifting around as if in pain. No. These men were not just simple travelers. They were the ones who had taken Julian, and it looked like Julian had put up a pretty damn good fight. Before she could stop it, she felt a singing hate towards them, but her face remained calm. Nothing could excuse torture in her book, and Julian had clearly been tortured. She didn't even know these men, but their fates had been sealed the moment she had seen their truck. They clearly didn't know who she was, but she knew who they were and what they had done.

"Excuse me for staring," she said, fake politeness almost too sweet on her tongue. "I just couldn't help but notice you gentlemen have a few scrapes and bruises."

"Yeah, it's nothin'. Just caught us a bounty sometime yesterday night."

"Bounty?" If there was anything she hated more than vampires, it was people who killed for money and pleasure.

"Yep. Shoulda seen this one. Real piece of work. I'm not gonna get into the details, but it took one hell of a force to bring 'im down. Bastard deserved it, though."

"Wow, really?" Her eyes were lit up with fake admiration, and she leaned up against the doorframe. "I haven't seen many bounty hunters. How did you detain him, if you don't mind me asking?"

They both grew prideful smirks at her enthusiasm, having no clue that they were digging their own graves with each word they spoke. The first one glanced back at his counterpart to exchange a sly grin, and she just kept the charming smile dancing across her lips. All it would take is a little flattery. She already had them dancing in the palm of her hand.

"It was a weird hunt. You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me," she said.

This time the one in back spoke up. "You know vampires? Well apparently they're starting to get fancy. You ever seen a human vampire, Miss?"

"A human vampire?" Her eyes widened in mock disbelief. "Is that even possible?"

"Apparently it is, cuz he was a force to be reckoned with. Killed four of us during the struggle, but we got 'im. Used these syringes filled with dead man's blood. Who'd 'o known? Apparently the stuff's like rattlesnake poison to the leeches."

Dead man's blood? So that was why the syringes had smelled like decay. They were filled with the blood of a dead person. "Do you have any of these syringes on you?"

"Nah, we used 'em all on the hunt."

Good. That meant they were no threat. "Who on earth would hire you to kill someone like this? A priest?" She figured she may as well try to get a name from them. If she could figure out whom it was that wanted Julian dead, it might have something to do with why the queen had cast him out. If he had an enemy out there other than the priests, then that was something she thought important to know.

"Don't know who it was," said the first one. "Just received a letter containing three hundred and a suitcase filled with all the supplies. It said if we did as the letter said, we'd get another twelve hundred."

Damn. So they didn't even know what this person looked like. In that case, they were of no more use to her.

"Lady, you should have seen this guy. Had eyes like a demon. Fangs too. But we sure did put that bastard down, eh, Roy?"

"Hell yeah. Dropped like a wounded bull after we shot 'im up with that blood. Looked like he was choking on his own throat."

It took her every being not to lash out at them and slit their throats at that very moment. They had enjoyed it. They had enjoyed taunting and torturing him as he suffered from the effects of the blood. She could only imagine how frightened he must have been when he'd felt the unfamiliar, painful effects taking over his body, rendering him helpless as they detained and threw him into the back of the truck without a single thought to his suffering.

"The bastard never saw it coming," said the one in front.

"I bet he didn't." Little did they know, they had no idea what was coming to them. "I find it incredibly brave that you would dare attempt something so dangerous. Please, come in and I'll show you to the bathroom. You can clean yourselves up while I fill up some jugs for you."

They appeared more than pleased at her offer, and the first on tipped his hat to her again gratefully. "Well, thank you, ma'am."

The smile gracing her lips sealed their fates. "Follow me."

She practically counted each step as she lead them up the stairs to where the bedroom was located. They weren't suspicious of her at all. Lucky for her, apparently their location hadn't been mentioned in the letter. This lead her to believe that whoever had ordered Julian's death had expected him to be at the reservation. But how could they have known? Perhaps it was a Familiar, but she doubted it. They weren't cunning enough, turned specifically to follow the orders of vampires. It didn't make any sense.

"Right in there, gentlemen." Opening the door, she ushered them inside, but the moment they entered they came to a united halt. Before they had a chance to turn around, she abruptly kicked them from behind. They toppled forward onto to floor in heap, both releasing curses in unison as she kicked them in.

Julian, who had still been asleep, was startled awake at the sudden racket. Eyes snapping open, his head zigzagged around the room in brief disorder before he looked down at the men on the floor. His jumbled eyes widened when he saw them, before his head snapped up to the doorway where Tessa stood, her eyes cold.

"Breakfast is served." She slammed the door shut, and there was a sharp click as the lock slid into place.

He heard the keys jingling in her hands, and then he returned his baffled stare back to the men. They were gawking up at him in a combination of terrified disbelief, and within seconds they were shouting a stream of obscenities as they scrambled over each other to put as much space between them and him as they could. He didn't know how they had gotten there, but he didn't really give a damn. The confusion in his eyes had given way to a seething rage, lips curling back to reveal the two razor sharp fangs as he threw the covers back and stalked towards them with a predatory glare.

Tessa stood with her back pressed against the polished rosewood, eyes closed as she listened to the men's screams inside the bedroom. There was a brief moment of shouting, and the thud of a body dropping, before she heard a strangled shout followed by abrupt silence. This repeated itself with the other man, and she squeezed her eyes tighter still when she heard a second dull thud. She had just sent two people to be eaten alive, and despite the fact they had deserved it she couldn't help but feel like she was just like them. Of course, she knew she wasn't really. She would never torture someone for pleasure. She wouldn't kill for money, and she sure as hell didn't enjoy death. These men had hurt Julian, and that was something she couldn't allow.

Her eyes reopened when she heard a gentle knock on the other side of the door, and she released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Releasing a shaky exhale, she unlocked the door, and it pushed open slowly. She saw him come to stand beside her in the doorway, but she didn't look up at him.

"Please don't say anything," she whispered.

Lifting his hand, he placed it on her shoulder, and she knew he was thanking her silently. She placed her hand over his, and she felt his thumb stroking her fingers.

"Go wait on the balcony," he said quietly. "I'll be there shortly."

She did as he said without a word. It wasn't long before she heard him walking up behind her. She didn't ask what he'd done with the bodies. Frankly, she didn't want to know. Her eyelids slowly drifted shut when she felt his hand slowly, almost hesitantly, slide up her back, and then his body pressed against hers a moment later. Inhaling a deep, calming breath, she looked down at the hands resting on the railing beside hers. It took everything for her not to whirl around and strangle him in the tightest embrace of his life. There was a second's pause, and she felt him perch his chin on her shoulder.

"Hi," he said, barely above a whisper.

She closed her eyes, trying to keep her breathing calm and in control. His arms slid around her waist, and he surprised her when he began to slowly sway back and forth with her. It was much like she had done to him back at the apartment.

"Hi," she whispered at last.

There was a long silence.

"You okay?" he asked finally.

Sighing, she nodded. "I'll be fine. It's you who should be asked if they're okay."

"I'm fine, but I owe that to you."

She was quiet for a second, before she turned around to face him, leaning back against the railing. He loosened his arms around her so she could turn, but he didn't let go of her. "You said there was nothing to worry about," she said.

He sighed. "I know. I'm sorry, Tessa. I really didn't see that coming."

Sighing quietly, she took a step closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, her head coming to rest on his chest. She felt him hold her back, and his face pressed into her hair.

"I love you, Tessa."

She looked up at him. Taking him by surprise, she reached up and took his face in her hands. Her eyes were intense as she stared directly into his with a fierceness that could turn rainfall to flame. "I don't care if you think it's too dangerous for me. From now on, we do things together. Where you go, I go. Got it?"

Staring into her eyes, he just nodded, unable to find his words right at that moment. She wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight embrace. He felt back to normal for the most part, but he had lain back down for a few more hours. She had joined him—not sleeping—just laying beside him and enjoying the feeling of his body against hers, her body slowly rising and lowering with his as he breathed. They would be leaving in the morning. It was too risky to stay there any longer.

It was as she was slowly trailing her fingertips up and down his side that she suddenly became aware of a very strange sound. Frowning the slightest bit, she turned to look over her shoulder, when all of a sudden her eyes flew wide. "Julian!" Turning, she grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. "Wake up!"

"What the hell—"

"Come quick!" She grabbed his arm and attempted to pull him along with her. "Come outside!"

He stumbled slightly as she pulled him from the bed and towards the door, only half awake and, quite frankly, a bit alarmed. "Tessa, what the hell—" He followed her as she lead him to the room attached to the balcony, and it was when he looked outside that he came to understand what had her so excited.

"Isn't it glorious?" she laughed, as she ran out onto the balcony in the pouring rain.

Slowly, he stepped outside, his movements slow and cautious as if he expected it to burn his skin. He couldn't remember the last time it had rained. The balcony and ground were already soaking wet, darkened from the newfound moisture. Tessa was soaked, a beaming smile threatening to split her face in two as she danced around in the downfall. Watching her, he smirked as she pulled her shirt over her head, leaving her top half bare aside from her bra. He released a chuckle when she ran over to him and began tugging him out onto the balcony with her. He allowed her to pull him by the hand. Tilting his head up, he closed his eyes as the water trickled down his body, travelling down his bare top half in racing streams. A moment later, he felt a gentle touch on his back, and he looked over his shoulder as she came around to stand before him. Her hair was wet, a few stray pieces sticking to her face as water droplets collected at the tips of her eyelashes and trailed down her throat to roll over her full breasts enticingly.

"We're being washed clean," she said. "A clean slate. From this day forth, we start fresh. No looking back."

He looked up at sky, and for long moment he was quiet, as he fell into a deep thought. When he looked back to her, he waited a second before taking a step nearer, and suddenly they were very close. His fingers lifted to brush her cheek, and it was clear what was coming the moment she had seen the look in his eyes, as he captured her lips in gentle but scalding kiss that lit her blood on fire. He pulled away after just a few seconds, and she knew he was waiting for her reaction. He prayed she wouldn't reject him, and it was honestly a fear he had. Her eyes were staring deeply into his, but when she didn't step back or push him away he took a chance. He gently rejoined their lips once again, kissing her slow.

Tessa felt herself yielding almost instantly, and within seconds she was surrendering to him. Her arms flew up to wrap around his shoulders as she deepened the kiss, their mouths moving with each other as if they had been deprived of water for days, as his arms wrapped around her waist to pull her tight against his body. At one point, he had broken away from her lips to kiss her neck, and she gasped at the feeling of his mouth on her throat.

"I need you, Tessa," he rasped, voice husky with barely detained need.

She felt her loins quiver at his words.

"You have me in constant agony," he breathed.

When she was silent, he pulled away to look into her eyes. He had expected to see hesitation in her gaze. In truth, he hadn't thought she would ever think of him like that again, but he was greeted with a surprise. Her eyes were hard to decipher, but they weren't suspicious or hesitant. He looked down when he felt her take his hand in hers, and it was like she had him under a spell, because he didn't say a word when she lead him back inside. He didn't speak the entire way back to the bedroom, not daring to risk talking and ruining this perfect moment they were in. Was this really happening?

She led him over to the foot of the bed, and he lay back after she gave his shoulders a gentle push. He watched in a state of disbelief as she slowly pulled down her pants and kicked both them and her panties aside with her foot. Her bra went soon after, which she allowed to fall from her finger and drop to the floor. It was as if he had been paralyzed, as she slowly climbed on by the foot of the bed to loom over him, hair falling over her shoulders and down her back in wet strands. She was a goddess, her eyes hypnotizing him into complete paralysis. Leaning down, she kissed him softly on the lips.

"Do you trust me?" she whispered.

He gazed up at her, knowing his answer immediately. "Yes."

"Close your eyes. Do not open them until I come back."

He stared at her in wonder, but then did as she said. She slid off the edge of the bed with catlike grace, and he heard her leave the room. He frowned when he heard her return a few minutes later, and he became aware of what sounded like keys jingling near his head. She took his hand, and he was surprised when he felt metal clasp around his wrist. Without thinking about it, his eyes snapped open, and he was shocked to see she had clasped his wrist in a shackle. How had she known where to find them? He grew alert, cautious of these turn of events, but she immediately went to sooth him by shushing him softly with a kiss on the lips.

"You have nothing to be afraid of. I just want to try something with you. It won't hurt. I promise." Her voice was calm and quiet, and her hand came to caress his cheek.

He was totally confused, but he trusted her. He watched as she shackled his other wrist as well before moving down towards his lower half. Her palm made slow, soothing circles on his belly for a moment, before she dipped her hand and rubbed him gently through the fabric of his pants. His hips arched against her hand, as she slowly began to undo the buttons. Her actions were slow as she pulled his pants down, never breaking eye contact with him as she did so. Even if he had wanted to, he wouldn't have been able to tear his eyes away from hers. He was completely under her spell. He felt shackles fit around his ankles a moment later, and he realized he could barely move as she climbed onto bed with him. As if the shackles weren't strange enough, she loosely tied one of her scarfs around his eyes, blindfolding him.

"Tessa, what are you doing?"

"Just relax." He could feel her breath brush against his neck. "You're going to enjoy this." Her breath tickled his skin. "I'm going to spend tonight pleasing you in every way I know."

She started by kissing his palm. Her lips were like rose petals against his skin, as she slowly made her way over his wrist and up his arm. Her lips continued their trail over his collarbone with a series of gentle licks and kisses until she reached the other shoulder, where she made the same path down his left arm, coming to a halt at his palm, which she kissed affectionately. The beginning twinges of desire prickled along his skin as her mouth continued its ministrations on his neck, licking and nibbling along his skin. Without realizing it, he was moving his head with her to give her better access as she moved around. The feeling of her mouth on his neck was incredible, sending thousands of tingles throughout his body—like a million tiny electrical currents. His breathing had quickened slightly as she feasted on his neck, the heat of her body all around his as he craned his head back to give her better access.

"I can smell the blood running through your veins," she whispered seductively, repeating the words he had said.

Without warning, she shocked him when she suddenly bit down on the space between his neck and shoulder. His body lurched to arch, but he was barely able to move with the binds, leaving him powerless as she bit down almost to the point where she was piercing his skin, but it didn't hurt. If anything it was erotic, as she sucked on his flesh, mimicking the action he had threatened people with so many times. He writhed, his body fighting to arch against her, but he couldn't move more than an inch or so. His mouth was open, lips pulled back to expose the fangs that thirsted to return the act she was performing. More than anything he wanted to grab her, flip her over, and take her hard and fast until her eyes rolled back. It was maddening.

"Untie me!"

"Nope," she said simply. "If I do that you'll just take over." She smiled as she made her way down his body, pleased with his clear frustration. Tonight she would prove to him what she was made of. She would refuse to allow him to reach his peak until he was completely submissive and begging her for mercy. She was in complete control of the situation, and they both knew it.

Her mouth continued its agonizingly slow journey down his body, kissing and licking literally every inch of him. He forced back a groan as her hot mouth covered his lower abdomen with wide, wet kisses. He could feel the heat of her mouth all around him, and yet she did not make any move to take him with her lips. He tried arching so that her lips were closer to him, but she just chuckled with amusement at his efforts. Gritting his teeth, a small growl escaped him.

"Patience, Julian," she purred.

He ground his teeth in frustration. She was teasing him. Another chuckle left her when she looked up and saw the aggravation on his face, his jaw clenched tight. She knew that if she let him go he would spring at her and take over, so she was going to work him to complete exhaustion. Because the blindfold kept him from seeing anything, it came as a shock when he felt her take him in her mouth. He released a sharp breath when he felt her mouth cover him, and he arched against his restraints with a suppressed gasp. The sensation it sent coursing through him was incredible, and he nearly lost it when she began running her hand up and down his length as she licked and sucked, squeezing him. Panting, he fell back with another gasp. It felt incredible!

She listened with pleasure as his breaths came faster, as she slowly moved her hand around him, causing his muscles to strain against his binds. Her tongue licked and wrapped itself around his length, and then paused to flick over the sensitive tip. Soon, his hips began to move with her, and he let out a shaky exhale mixed with a groan. He arched again, his arms and legs pulled taut. She swirled her tongue over the tip, and he pulled harder against the chains until there was an audible groan of protest from the metal framing in the bed. Her teeth pressed down on him very lightly, but it sent waves of pleasure all over his body, and he let out a somewhat ragged moan. He arched up as best he could into her hand as she gently but firmly stroked him. Before he could stop it, a sharp gasp escaped from his throat, and he threw his head back against the pillow. She licked him from the base up before closing her lips over him, tongue swirling and flicking over the sensitive tip. His hips bucked, but they barely made it a half inch. Reaching down, she caressed his sac, very gently squeezing, and she heard him gasp. By now his breathing had grown rapid, and she could tell he was close. He had a death-grip on the chains. He couldn't think... he couldn't breathe. Then, just as he was about to step over the edge, she pulled away, and she smiled when he released a loud, desperate growl of frustration.

"I told you," she whispered, moving back up so her lips were hovering a mere inch over his. "Patience."

It was at that moment he knew it would be an extremely long night, one full of him biting back his pleas for her to fuck him, and there was nothing he could do to stop her from tormenting him. For the next hour, her mouth, hands, and tongue were all over his body; licking here, sucking there, nibbling every now and then. He thought he would go crazy with the powerful lust she was awakening in his body, igniting his soul with the hottest of fires. It was like nothing he had never felt before.

"You're going to thank me later for making you wait," she said when she heard him release a low moan.

Any words he might have said were frozen in his throat when he felt her mouth cover him once again. For what felt like an eternity she tortured him with her mouth and hands, bringing him in and out of insanity over and over again. Again and again she brought him to the very edge only to stop at the last second, leaving him powerless as he felt his release ebb away every time. Soon enough, she had him nearly crying from the force of his need. His entire body was ablaze, her fingers and mouth leaving paths of flame wherever they went and causing every nerve to tingle like a thousand bees. This process continued until dawn, slow and agonizing. She nearly had him screaming as she devoured him, smiling inwardly as he writhed fruitlessly beneath her. She always stopped before he could come, pushing him so close to the edge only to yank him back at the last second and leave him whimpering pitifully. This was exactly how she wanted him, responsive and completely submissive. It had taken her some time, but now she had him right where she wanted him. A few times she had taken his sac in her mouth, which did nothing except keep his desire flaring but offering no hope of release. As she did this, her hands slid up his inner thighs, feeling the strong muscles flex and tremble with both her touch and the strain against his binds. Sometimes she simply laid beside him, running her hand up and down his stomach, chest, and sides as his breathing gradually slowed from the erratic levels she'd brought it to.

It was horrible and more awful than any pain he'd ever endured—and he loved every second of it. The feeling of her hot mouth running over him, licking him, sucking him—bringing him to the edge with mere touch—was enough to drive him mad with desire. At one point she had taken his mouth in a smoldering kiss, and he had wanted so badly to wrap his arms around her. For almost two hours now she'd had him rising in and out of ecstasy, his mind foggy and muddled through a blissful haze. He knew when he had finally begged her for the first time that he was reacting exactly how she wanted, but he didn't care. The only thing that mattered was the incredible sensations buzzing and pulsating all over his body, and most of all between his legs. After bringing him back down with no release for what felt like the three-hundredth time that night, he was left breathless, and she straddled his stomach. Leaning down, she gently kissed his neck and felt him swallow, his body coated with a sheet of sweat. She slowly lapped at his skin, tasting him, savoring the saltiness of his desire.

"You taste wonderful," she whispered, her breath tickling his skin, and she felt him shiver. "Finally… you are ready," she whispered in his ear.

Before his cloudy mind could even register what she had said, he felt her fingers curl around him and gently guide him into her. His hazy mind immediately snapped back to life, as she began rocking on top of him. His mouth opened as a ragged moan ripped its way from his throat, head tossing back. Every muscle in his body was pulled taught as he tried to meet her thrusts, but the most he could do was writhe subtly beneath her.

"Don't stop," he moaned desperately, begging her.

Because she had spent so long taunting and teasing every last nerve in his body, it didn't take him long to reach a release. He came long and hard for nearly a whole minute, as a rough, loud scream ripped from his throat, his entire body shaking as he screamed out her name. He didn't care how loud he was. She did not stop rocking against him even after he came, and before he knew it he was approaching another orgasm. By the time she had managed to draw him towards a miraculous third, he could do nothing more than release short whimpers, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. His mouth was wide open, gasping, as his eyes rolled back in his head under the blindfold. And then, just as he thought he could take no more, he came long and hard for a third time.

He could barely draw air into his lungs as she got off him, hardly aware of her undoing his binds, or the way her hands could be felt massaging his arms and legs to soothe the muscles after being pulled taut for so long. Even when his limbs were freed he still did not move, his entire body feeling like solid lead. She climbed back onto the bed once his binds were undone and laid down at his side. Reaching up, she gently removed the scarf from his eyes and rubbed slow circles on his stomach and sides as he recovered. She could feel his heart hammering in his chest when she rested her palm there, his body still trembling from how utterly exhausted he was. It caused her to smile. Knowing she had been able to render someone like him to such a state filled her with satisfaction. Still smiling, she leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek, and his eyes fluttered before slowly opening.

"Hey," she greeted softly. "You gonna make it?"

His stare was tired, but something else lingered in his eyes that she had never seen before. Among them was gratitude and a fair amount of disbelief, but there was something else—something deeper. Before she had a chance to decipher what it was, he rolled onto his side, his movements heavy. She watched him with curiosity, but he surprised her when he just wrapped his arm around her and rested his head on top of her breasts. Now that he was pressed against her side, she could feel his heart beating against her ribs, his breathing deep and satisfied.

He remained still as he felt her slowly run her fingertips up and down the line of his back, still in a state of disbelief at what had just happened. The rain was still going strong, pitter-pattering on the roof like a thousand tiny drums. She had tied him up, refused to release him when he had ordered her to, and proceeded to defy and torture him in every sense of the words for hours on end. She had quite literally taken him hostage and dominated him like a bitch, and yet he felt no anger towards her. The only thing he felt as he rested on her chest, listening to the sound of her steady heartbeat, was a blissful contentment that spread throughout his entire body. It was as he was drifting off to the feel of her fingers lightly trailing up and down his back, shoulder, and side—as he listened to her heartbeat—that he realized he was happy.

Some word changes and grammatical errors have been corrected in this chapter.