Page 75 of Illicit Education

This had to be her decision, and she had to come to it willingly.

Clear headed.

Eager.

“Rylan,” I said as she began to descend.

She stopped quicky and turned around.

“Everything changes if you go down these steps with me.”

Straightening her shoulders, like I’d seen her do countless times when she prepared to square off with me, she said, “I know.”

I reached for her, cupped her cheek, and nearly sighed at the way it felt to touch her. “If you change your mind—”

“I won’t.”

I smiled at that indignation in her eyes. That fire. It was one of my favorite things about her. “Let me finish.”

She swallowed, her chin jerking in my grasp with the movement.

“If at any time you change your mind, all you have to do is say the word. Do you understand?”

She nodded.

“You have the power here, Rylan.”

Her eyebrows furrowed and it was all I could do not to kiss that confusion from her brow. “There are power exchanges down here, Rylan. But I won’ttakethe power. You must give of it freely. Do you understand? I have control because yougiveme control.”

“Which means… I am in control.”

“Correct. Do you trust me to take care of you?”

She nodded.

“And you understand that you are in control? That you can leave at any time?”

“Yes. I understand.”

I trailed my thumb over her cheek, then dropped my hand. If I touched her too long, I might never stop. “Ready?”

She nodded.

I breathed deeply, my chest swelling with excitement and pride. We were about to embark on something special. I didn’t take this moment—or Rylan’s faith in me—lightly.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Rylan

My pulse beat a steady rhythm against my ribs as we descended the stairs into the Rabbit Hole. Last time I’d made this trek, I was running in the opposite direction, terrified by the way my body had reacted to what I’d just seen. And a million times since, I’d imagined coming down here again.

With him.

I’d replayed that scene with Stella, but I’d taken her place.

Strapped to the cross for him, he’d whippedmyback red. Rubbedmythighs tenderly.

Whispered praise intomyears.