Resting in his wide arms, she still felt elevated. What a great decision she made to share what actually turned her on. She never had a fantasy exactly like that, but she for sure had some of similar flavor. He made her feel these desires. She didn't know she wanted to be so passive in bed until she thought of him taking control over her. And the things she would be humiliated by a month ago… Now she was enjoying them most.

She was aware of the vulnerable position she put herself in, because if he was to make a mockery of her, which he could easily do, she would just… her public life would be in shambles, when she just got promoted. And she would probably never, ever trust anyone again. But some part of her that wasn't riddled with fear was telling her the risk was worth it. She really hoped she wasn't going to regret listening to it.

Now she was being clingy. Her head was between his neck and shoulder, her leg was hugging his hip. Being properly fucked in such an appealing way and experiencing an orgasm so overwhelming made her come undone over him. And that seemed to only make her want to sexually submit to him even more. Snow suspected she had some issue to unpack with showing affection through giving her body, as she always assumed her beauty was her greatest asset, but she wasn't interested in getting into it at the moment. Like with most similar issues, she'd rather not get into them at all, instead letting them feed her anxiety.

"Do you want to spend the whole day in bed?" He asked an unexpected question.

"What else?"

"We could go get something to eat."

"People will see us." She started to imagine how they could get away with it… Leaving at different times, taking two cabs…

"So? We are seen together all the time, a while ago you wouldn't think twice about it. As long as no one sees us leaving your apartment, we'll be fine." Hmm… that was true. She got too deep into her paranoia.

"Okay… It's either this or ordering takeout."

„Then let's get Chinese at a mundy place. I'd prefer taking you somewhere fancy, but that would be suspicious." That would look… yeah.

"Chinese is fine."

"But I'm telling you now, I'll be trying to get you into bed after we eat out."

She lifted her head and smiled at him.

"Let's get dressed."

She didn't know where Bigby was taking her and the address he gave to the driver did not ring any bell. She knew where it was, of course, but she didn't walk the streets often enough to keep track of businesses opening and closing down.

"I ordered from here last month, it was good," he assured her "and how's your new assistant doing?"

They were standing in front of what looked like a second grade Chinese fast food restaurant, waiting to walk in until he finished his cigarette. Bigby started smoking as soon as they got out of the cab. It didn't bother her anymore, but she was keeping her distance. She didn't want to look too familiar with him all of the sudden. Last thing she needed was for someone to take a picture of them being more comfortable around each other than they should.

"Great enough that I don't have to work this weekend."

"Glad to hear you don't just use your time to find yourself even more work."

"Don't give me ideas." She was only half-joking. There was always something to do in the office. If she didn't have a reason to want more free time, she would probably end up spending as much time behind her desk as before. Provided that she would hire an assistant at all.

"I will never believe you wouldn't think of it yourself."

"That is true, I would."

"And for that project I was helping you with, I will get to it on Monday." The street wasn't very crowded, but between the mundies they always had to speak so vaguely. She still understood exactly what he meant. "I didn't want to do it before the delegation."

"It makes sense."

Snow always assumed it would be harder to talk to him in public after they start having sex, but it felt quite effortless. When she recalled that not long ago he had her tied to bed and skillfully fucked, she had to fight an urge to send him some looks, but aside from that she was doing okay with keeping it in her pants.

But if someone saw them together and did understand what was going on, how would she feel? If she allowed people to think of her as someone who, as most humans do, likes sex, how would they react? Would they stare? Be disgusted? Point fingers and gossip furtively? Would she be humiliated or would everyone just go about their day?

If she didn't have the protective facade of lies, how would it make her feel to walk the streets with her lover? Maybe there could be something to showing off who was fucking her? Even if they called her a whore… Well, she was having a lot of sex. She would be scrutinized in one way or another, but there could also be.. some pride in it. In owning her needs and natural attractions. There was no possibility that it wouldn't harm her professional reputation, but being someone who doesn't care seemed so freeing. And who knows, maybe Bigby was right about it not changing much as everyone already had her for a slut.

"Sorry again for not taking you to some luxury place in a cleaner part of the city."

"Shut up, I'm not that spoiled." She wasn't completely serious, but there was something to what she said. She didn't need silver spoons.

"It's not that I think you are. I wanna treat you nicely." He didn't have to do that, she was already all over him. She didn't expect anything.

"There is no necessity for you to…"

"I know" Bigby interrupted her. "Shall we get in?" He put out the cigarette.

Once they crossed the threshold, she understood why he had to smoke. The smells were quite strong even for her nose. Inside he picked some noodles with chicken, she went with the same. Before she said anything, he paid for their order.

"Why did you pay for me, because I'm a woman?" she asked as they took seats at the table, waiting for their food to be ready. He pulled out the chair for her, that was something he's never done before. Not that she wanted him to do that in the office, but it caught her attention.

"Because I invited you."

"Do you often eat out?" She meant absolutely nothing by it, she just wanted to say something and was too slow to realize how suggestive the question was. She did all that was in her power to not show her embarrassment and he deserved an award for not laughing.

"All the time, I hate cooking."

"So after you get back from work to your apartment, what do you do if you don't even cook?" she needed to change the topic to anything, really.

"It's not that often that I have time to kill, when I do, I read cheap detective stories." She would not guess that.

"I seldom read. If anything, I watch TV, but that's also rare."

Right after she said that the cashier called and Bigby got up to bring their noodles. He handed her both a fork and chopsticks. She went for the fork right away.

"Television bores or annoys me," she continued.

"Why?"

"All the stories are so naïve, I can't stand it. And all of the fake smiles in those late-night shows, it makes me roll my eyes." She didn't realize before it could get her vexed.

"It's entertaining enough for me." He shook his arms and started eating. "When it's stupid, it's funny."

"I guess."

"So what do you do when you're not working?" Aside from seeing him?

"Not much. I… do find myself more work. It's been like this for ages."

"I'm not judging that much really, but have the thought of resting ever entered your mind?"

"Honestly, I don't like having nothing to do." Left alone with her own thoughts she wasn't doing great. If she was ever resting, it was with him, because at least she had something other than work to focus on.

For a while they were eating in silence, it was actually quite tasty. Not her usual, but she could get it again.

"I haven't had Chinese for a long time, but this is pretty good." She managed to shut up before she praised his culinary taste. That would make for another awkward moment in the conversation.

"Glad you like it." He finished his dish. "Do you wanna get back?" he said, seeing she was done as well.

"Yeah."

Back in the Woodhouse he said goodbye to her before she got to the elevator. She didn't need any assurance to know he would be back in her apartment as soon as it was possible to get through the corridors without being spotted.

She was right about that, but she had to wait for almost half an hour for Bigby to show up in her living room.

"Beauty and Beast just had to talk about shopping for a new lamp in front of their doors" he said before kissing her. Such a nice gesture.

"You know, I was a little disappointed, you promised you'll try to get me into bed."

"Didn't see an occasion to talk you into sex with all of the people around."

"I would still like to see it."

"Haven't I already succeeded though?" His hands were on her waist and she enjoyed being locked between his arms.

"I'm starting to think that maybe I robbed myself of you persuading me to put out by asking you to fuck me."

"You didn't, because I would never do that, if it wasn't for you asking me to fuck you."

"Just imagine." She combed his hair, his eyes followed the movement of her arm.

" I can smell you're turned on, don't fight it. I would love to see you whirl under me," he whispered in her ear.

His touch changed into a firm embrace. Truth was, he probably was right. He could've said anything right now and she would get just as turned on by the sound of his voice. But she appreciated the effort. He knew she liked hearing him talk this way.

For the time they were out on the town she was able to conceal her eagerness to let him have his way with her again, but by now she lost any reason to hide how horny she was. When their eyes met as she began unbuttoning his shirt, she could tell by his smile that she must've looked very obvious. Good.

"I'd say we take it to the bedroom, but the couch is closer. Why don't you get on it and stick your ass out. You look like you want it."

She wanted it, but had no idea how much until he said it.

Without thinking she complied, right after taking off her panties and leaving them on the floor. It was a given that things would go this way, so before they went out she wore a skirt and stockings, access to her pussy could be easier only if she wore no underwear. And she contemplated doing that, but… it was too much for her.

Her knees were spaced out on the seat and she supported herself on the backrest. In no time she heard him unbuckling his belt and standing behind her. He lifted the skirt and started gently touching her. The whole day she was hot for him, so she didn't need much help in getting ready. Recalling a memory of being helplessly tied up and him ejaculating on her that she was pushing away for the last hour was enough to get her wet.

Previously when he fucked her from behind she liked to keep her head down, in this position she was almost upright and it made for a different sensation when he put it in. Maybe she liked it better when her head was smashed into the mattress, but arching her back for him on the couch was hot too. Especially when he grabbed her breast through her shirt and a soft bra. That nipple stimulation was everything.

She wouldn't be mad if he just focused on his dick, but obviously he put his fingers on her clit to share the thrill with her. If that was what he craved, why deny him. Moans and uncoordinated shakes of her body turned him on, so she was giving him what he wanted. She just needed a few more touches, a few more thrusts on the G spot to get there.

And when he did bring her to an orgasm, he didn't change anything in his movement and because he wasn't doing anything crazy, it made her climax longer and steadier. She felt not only sexually stimulated by his hands, but also embraced. Like her whole body was taken care of. She was relying on him for her pleasure and that was freeing. Trust was challenging for her, so she previously had no idea giving up control could work this way on her… but maybe that was exactly why it did.

After she was done, he sped up. She readjusted to make herself comfortable. Sometimes she liked when it got a little painful, but not now. This was a lovely moment.

"Would you really never say anything, if I didn't invite you for sex first?"

They were smoking in bed again, staring at the ceiling. This time she had her own cigarette.

"Probably. I couldn't imagine telling you I wanted to go down on you and getting any other reaction than a slap on the face. Also, i was repressing how much I wanted to fuck you."

"I would say yes."

"Anyway, we are where we are." He took a drag on his cigarette. "You really like it when I take initiative."

"I have to control everything else in my life, I like not being in charge for a change." There were also other reasons, but she told him that already: she wanted to feel overpowered on her own terms. Now she wasn't in the mood to steer the conversation this way again. "But don't ever talk to anyone about what I like. It's already much to know that I have sex at all, no one but you is required to know the details."

"I wouldn't even think of it."

"I'd lose authority." He didn't say anything to that. "You don't ever worry about things like these. Being undermined because of hearsay." It was a statement, not a question.

"I feel powerful enough as it is to never think about it. Also my reputation is… different from yours. I don't see any way to compare it."

He put out her cigarette on a tray they used the first time she smoked. She had some theory about where the difference might lay, should she share it? Well, why not. Maybe she was onto something.

"I think it might go even deeper. Maybe I'm wrong, but we take power from our stories and those who know them. And your power comes from fear, but mine… from being loved. I don't know, maybe that's why I can't stand that people hate me so much."

He turned to look at her with that… intensive look in his eyes. It made her heart beat a little faster.

"Not everyone hates you."

"I'm not saying everyone… But even my sister does."

"Your sister hates herself. There's no reason she would be dating Jack, if she didn't."

"I don't know. A lot of women love bad people way too much." This she pretty much said to herself.

"If they hate you, they are wrong. You've done more for this city than anyone and you put your whole heart into it. It will always demand hard choices, and I might be contesting some of them at times, but still, that's just being in a place of power. it's that or doing nothing and complaining."

She smiled at his words, even if only slightly.

"You can sell a compliment."

"I believe that," he said in all seriousness. It was touching. She rarely ever heard a kind word about her job. It was constant arguing and standing ground. Nothing but conviction that her work was important was driving her.

"I wish I could just not care. My life would be so much easier."

"You can always try."

"That's the thing, I don't think I'm able to."

"I think you're powerful enough so it doesn't matter what anyone else has to say."

"Since when are you so nice?"

"I wasn't nice to you before?"

"Not always. Not like this."

He moved to her side and kissed her neck. She put out her cigarette and moved the tray to the bedside table to focus on what he was doing. He didn't try to undress her, she did that for him, unbuttoning her shirt.

"Then I'm sorry I wasn't. I meant to," he said between kisses on her cleavage. Was that true? Maybe. She would have to analyze so many interactions they had to evaluate, but did it matter at the moment? Now she felt like believing he always tried to treat her well.

She turned to him, so he could pull her into a closer embrace and kiss her lips. It was tender, passionate and it made her blood run hot. Surprisingly, it didn't just make her want to have sex with him again. No, it was worse. She felt an urge to take his hand into hers and just hold it with their fingers intertwined. She was in trouble.