Page 35 of Master B-0361

“From me! Safe from me, Margaret. Happy?—”

“Without you.You want me safe, but you don’t want me. You want a ghost and to remain in this twilight zone of what-ifs. I can’t compete with that. I won’t. Not if I have a choice, and you’re giving me one.”

“Maybe I’ll be a bastard and recant my offer. Maybe I’ll keep you coded-out, half dead to live out some sick fucking fantasy that I can’t let go. It’s not just abouther, it’s me. God dammit, Margaret.Do you not see what I’m trying to prevent?Keep you…it’s a nice thought. A really fucking nice thought. But there’s no guarantee that this will last. Maybe it’s good this week, and maybe I can’t fight this thing in my mind, and I kill you nextweek. Maybe it’s good for months and then I snap. It’s too early to know. All I know is taking this path with you it’s…it’s fucking scary. Scarier than anyone down here in the Gardens. My life.”

I closed my eyes, moving my cheek into the palm that was suddenly cupping my face. When I opened,I saw her. Not Maggie. I saw Margaret.

“I have a life outside of this place. My responsibilities would sink a normal man. That’s the least of it. My biggest responsibility…I haven’t even started yet. And I can’t have that with you.”

“You mean a wife. Children. The life you and the Main Master were talking about with Master One.”

I nodded.

“At some point it’s going to happen. It won’t be a love match. I don’t want one. It’ll be more of a business arrangement, but that’s beside the point. I’ll have a wife. Kids. I’ll run my family businesses, and I’ll be there. A lot. I’ll have to. That’s just the way it is. But it’s an unfair life for you or anyone who’d want more of me. I can’t.” I stopped through the tug-o-war in my chest. “You’ve been hurt enough. I won’t put you through that too.”

Slowly, her hand dropped from my cheek, but she didn’t make it far before I caught her wrist, flattening it back where it had been. For seconds, I pushed everything away, the light in the room, the racing pulse in my ears. I memorized the feel, letting her touch devour what was left of the raw and broken thing I called a heart.

Turning, I kissed into her palm, lowering it to rest on her chest.

“You’ll be a great doctor. Maybe I’ll set you free. Maybe I’ll continue to be a bastard and keep the only part of you I can. A number. A stupid ‘knowing’ that you’re mine. You won’t be with another man. I won’t allow it. You can hate me for that all you want, but no one else will touch you. No one but me. And if youthink I won’t find out or know, you’re wrong. These walls talk, and I’d know before they finished fucking you. And I’d kill them, Margaret. I may kill you both.”

A war played on her face. I could see her pulling both ways, but one quickly overpowered the other. “Then I’m not leaving, and we’re not over.”

“What?”

“That’s absurd. You want me, and I think…I think what’s happening between us.” She stopped. “I’m staying.”

“We’ve already talked about this. It’s not safe with me.”

“It’s more dangerous out there in a worker-apartment by myself. Men, both workers and Masters, will target me. They’ll see me unprotected, and they’ll pursue me like wolves. Why should I have to put up with that when the only man I want to try to be with is right here?”

“You want to be with me?”

“I won’t lie and say I don’t feel something when I do. I can’t help it. I’ve done nothing but think over this now for weeks. I could easily walk away.” Her eyes scanned mine. “I don’t want to.”

“Are you listening to yourself? Did you not just hear me? You’d stay and live here alone while I’m playing house and making babies with another woman?”

“I hear you loud and clear. But how you see it one way, I see it another. I’ll be your Mistress and slave…and I’ll be a doctor here. I’ll live here in our apartment while you’re away leading your family. We’ll both be busy, but we’ll have each other when we’re able. If that means you still buy other slaves, you buy them and do what you must. And I will work, and work, and learn, and live. With my status, that is a privilege, and one I will happily embrace.”

“You’ve lost your mind. You’re agreeing to accept me having a wife, killing and fucking dead slaves, all the while staying and being with me.”

“Wait. You’re right. It’s all a lie.” She took a shaky breath. “It sounded good in the moment, but it won’t work. I’ll accept the wife. You can’t help that. But you won’t be needing any slaves. I’ll suffice just fine.”

“And how will you do that?”

“I told you: ice baths. The code word. I can do it if you don’t leave me alone while I’m under. We can make this work. We won’t know how it’ll turn out if we don’t try. They make special tubs. I’ll feel dead in every sense. Dead but alive.Dead but yours. Have what you need, and then bring me back to you. To have.To keep. Keep me, Sebastian. You want this. I know you do. And I’m yours. All you have to do is kiss me. Kiss me and let’s see if we can make this work. Let’s see what happens.”

As I stared down at her pleading eyes, every part of me wanted to give in and submit. I wanted a new start. I wanted her.

“Please. Kiss me. I choose the consequences of what may happen. I’m fully aware. I want you. Want me too. Chooseus.”

Light brown pulled me in, and down…down…down. My lips met Margaret’s, and her arms wrapped around my neck, tightening as she pulled me into her. Hunger consumed me as I wrapped around her too. I kissed her with every ounce of passion that had been locked away in the casket that held my soul. I gave myself to Margaret in that moment, ready to see where our future took us. The Garden’s didn’t promise much, but it could hold happiness I wouldn’t find in the outside world, and I accepted that.

“Take this off. Take it all off.” She pulled at my shirt, squirming underneath me in her desperate need for us to undress. My tongue dueled with hers as I jerked at the buttonof her jeans. It was knocking that had both of us breaking away from the kiss. “No. Don’t answer it.”

She groaned as I laughed and stood.

“It’s probably the Main Master seeing if we’re ready for the trial tonight. You have no idea the stress he’s under because of this. Shit will get bad when the LaRoe’s get this verdict, but it’s for the best. It has to be done. This family is too unstable to stay in the circle. They have to go, one at a time. We start here. Give me two minutes.”