My face burned with heat, but there was no graceful way to retreat now.
The silk robe slipped from my shoulders and slid to the floor, whisper-soft. I dropped onto the bed and pressed my cheek into the sheets, wishing I could melt into them and disappear.
I thought I heard Lewis laugh under his breath.
I didn't look up. I just muttered, muffled by fabric, "You can start."
Then, trying to sound brave, I added, "And don't go easy on me just because I look fragile."
That earned a low, amused chuckle. Warm. Relaxed. Confident.
"Alright," he said. "You asked for it."
I felt his hands lift my leg.
The sudden contact made my body jolt on instinct.
"It's okay," he said calmly. "Relax. I won't hurt you."
His voice had weight to it not loud, not forceful, but steady enough that my body listened before my mind did. I exhaled and stayed still.
