Collateral Damage by Bianca Sommerland

distant part of my mind, I realized the moisture slicked my folds and that emptiness wanted to be filled. But didn't need to be.
    Every time Vince touched me, I floated a little higher, yet beneath it all the sensation brought me to a familiar edge. One to which only he had ever taken me.
    "Last one."
    No! Too soon! This couldn't end! It's mustn't. I didn't want to come back down.
    Wasn't sure I could.
    A brush of his fingers pushed me up and over. The last never seemed to arrive, but, still, something inside me erupted, and screams filled the room. My screams. I climaxed in a way that made me feel as though my body was coming apart. Little by little, I trickled into a form made up of nerve endings tuned to everything. The soft sheets beneath me, cradling my body like a cotton cloud. The slippery coating of sweat on my flesh, slick as oil. The solid press on my hips keeping me from bucking and flying completely out of control. And the restraints. The restraints scoring my wrists and ankles, keeping me grounded. Suddenly, grounded was good. If I flew too far, I might never return.
    But do I want to?
    Vince disappeared from my hazy vision of the room. I made a desperate, wounded animal sound. I couldn't lose him. If I did I would be gone. Forever.
    The clouds I lay on shifted, and he returned.
    "Where are you, Nicole?" He took my hand and anchored me to reality. Showed me I had substance. "Find the words."
    Where am I? The answer came.
    "With you." Am I? I inhaled and . . . yes. I was with him. And nothing more. "I love being here."
    "That's my girl." His voice swirled around me, deep colors, blues and greens, like a waterfall cascading into a forest. "What do you see?"
    Before me, almost glowing, came a vision. Spirals taking form. Purple and black and red. I smiled. "A butterfly."
    "Yes." He touched my cheek. His fingertips were wet. "It took fifty needles. I was afraid it would be too much for you, but, as the wings formed, I could tell you'd taken them and flown away. I wound the ribbons around and around and kept you from going too far. Are you still with me?"
    "Yes." And what a place to be! I became the butterfly, tired of fluttering about aimlessly, happy to be caught and pinned down. "Don't let me go!"
    "I won't." His tone deepened, became a heavy thing, easing me down. "But I will let you fly a little. Breath for me."
    Air flowed in and around as he gently pulled the wings from me. I hovered over us, seeing each and every needle extracted, bringing me up and up until, true to his words, I was flying. He caught me before I could flutter completely into the ether, a place I feared because it was too far from here, where he was. Because I needed him. He kept me whole. And I must be whole, though I didn't know why.
    "There we go. Come back. Slowly." He hovered over me, his tongue lapping up the lava covering me. His crimson lips curved as I pooled out of flesh and gave him everything. "Yes. That's it. Are you ready for more?"
    Always. Anything he could give me, I would take.
    His lips and tongue brought me high. Higher. Then gentled and eased me down.
    He went away. Returned. Water touched my lips.
    "Swallow," he said.
    I might drown! But, no. My throat worked. Took in what it needed.
    "Remember this." All around me, his words, his body, my center. "Whenever pain comes, this is where you must be. Above. Beyond. Never forget."
    I didn't think I could.

Chapter Nine
    Wake up!
    My eyes shot open. Darkness pressed against me as I stumbled naked from the bed.
    Where am I? My raspy breaths seemed loud. I raked my fingers through my hair as my head spun. Dizziness lessened as air filled my lungs. I tripped forward and fumbled around until I found a dresser. Then I slid it open and buried my hand in soft fabric. I grabbed something—elastic waistband, cotton . . . boxers? Whatever they were, I put them on. In another drawer, I found a shirt. I pulled it over my head as I stumbled across the room.
    My brain finally caught up.