The male lifted his free hand and carefully caressed Mira’s cheek. The tenderness of the gesture nearly brought tears to her eyes.
No one had touched her like that in a very long time. Not with tenderness. Not as though she were precious.
“Are you hurting anywhere?” he asked immediately. “Your back? Your head? Anywhere at all?”
Mira blinked.
“No.”
Her voice came out weak and raspy. The male immediately leaned closer.
“Do you need water?”
Mira shook her head slightly.
“I… I feel better.”
Relief crossed his face.
“Good.”
His thumb gently brushed across her cheek.
“Goddess, you scared me.”
Mira stared at him. He looked genuinely frightened. For her.
Before she could ask him anything, memories suddenly crashed into her mind. The punishment room. The whip. Julia.
Mira’s eyes wide
