Descent (Black Heart Romance presents Heaven & Hell)

Chapter Thirty
Hallie
My muscles are still a bit shaky and fatigued as I lean against the sink, greedily gulping tap water
from the crystal glass provided for me to use when I brush my teeth.
I feel better once I’m hydrated again, but my whole body is still sticky from being so sweaty.
So much for my shower before bed.
I don’t smell like expensive French body wash anymore. I smell like Calvin. He’s all over me,
inside me…
Once the glass is empty, I replace it on the sink and go to pee and clean myself up.
When I return to the bedroom, Calvin has settled in beneath the blanket. I thought he looked
relaxed before, but I was wrong. He looked in control before; now he looks relaxed.
I pull back the blanket so I can crawl under it, but I’m unsure what to do. I was more actively
involved in this sexual encounter than the last one, but only to avoid a worse alternative. I’m not sure
what’s supposed to happen after an encounter like that.
Mercifully, I don’t have to figure it out. He reaches over and grabs me, then tugs me across the
bed until I’m wrapped in his arms.
I’m not supposed to like that, but it feels nice. I feel safe, which is absurd, but given the
precariousness of my situation, I’m in no position to turn down the feeling of safety, even if it’s only
an illusion.
There are things that need to be discussed, though, and this feels like as good a time as any.
“So… you’re into BDSM, then?”
He glances down at me, his dark eyebrows rising in surprise. “No. Why would you think that?”
My eyes widen. “Um, I don’t know. Maybe the big, scary BDSM torture machine in the corner?”
Calvin shakes his head. “I've dabbled, but the lifestyle doesn't really do it for me. The
cornerstones of BDSM are ‘safe, sane, and consensual.’ Does any of that sound like me?”
A frown flickers across my face. “No, I guess not.” My frown lingers, but the concern his
position nurtures has roots, and I know they’ll grow deeper and deeper if I don’t address it now. I feel
around for the right words. I’m not sure I find them, but I start asking the question and hope I’ll find
my way. “What do you hope to get out of this relationship?”
“What do you mean?”
“What am I to you? Or, what do you want me to be? You’re calling the shots, right? So it’s up to