Note: This chapter was added later and may feel slightly out of order. If that's still the case, it's intentional. It goes right after Ren buys the collar but before the scene cuts to a week later.

  Sitting together on the bed, I watched as Ren swallowed hard and looked off into space.

  The collar appeared midair where she was looking, and Ren's hand snapped out to catch it before it could fall, moving with a level of grace she had never carried before.

  I placed my hand on her spine and let my nails trail down in the way I knew she loved. Her breath slipped out. She softened against me, and I nuzzled into her shoulder, feeling the warmth of her neck against my cheek. An intoxicatingly sweet smell that always seemed to cling to her slipped into my awareness. It was far stronger than it used to be.

  Sometimes I wished she would just let herself free, to ignore her inhibitions for a moment and let herself go.

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  In a context that didn't relate to her more violent tastes, that is.

  But I knew that was an impossible demand. I didn't know the exact reason why. All I knew was there were flashes of terror and pain in the back of my mind that I knew absolutely originated from her. I doubted she would intentionally place anyone else’s pain in my mind after all.

  Turning my head, I leaned in and kissed her neck, then softly bit down just enough to make her inhale. My arms wrapped around her, and we tumbled down together, as I pushed her down onto the bed. She yielded to me instantly, and I couldn't help but be a little disappointed.

  I knew she was stronger than I was now, after the improvements to her body. I wanted to see a bit of resistance from her so that I could overcome it.

  But it was okay. I would accept her no matter how she acted.

  We lay there just enjoying each other's presence and warmth until I decided I wanted a little more.

  [Content on Patreon due to Explicit Nature]

  “Hit yourself too hard?” I asked her while running my hand along her back.

  “Yes,” She said, and let out a dry chuckle, “Would do again. Holy shit, dude. Is that what you’ve been feeling all this time?”

  “Mhmm,” I hummed into her hair as I kissed the top of her head.

  The cut part can be found right here:

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