I remained nestled in Kaelen's lap, acutely aware of his arousal pressing against me through our clothes. The aftermath of his "discipline" had left me in a strange state—emotionally raw yet physically awakened. My body thrummed with desire, responding to his touch like a tuning fork struck at just the right frequency.
But something deeper than physical need made me hesitate.
"I'm not ready," I whispered, my voice still hoarse from crying. "Not yet."
I watched his reaction carefully, half-expecting disappointment or frustration. Instead, Kaelen's eyes softened with understanding. The predatory heat in his gaze didn't disappear entirely, but it banked down to a smoldering ember rather than a consuming fire.
"Okay," he said simply, brushing a tear-dampened strand of hair from my face.
