"Speech therapy... I forgot," she said softly, trying, but failing, to hide how much it upset her.The mention of his sessions with the speech therapist always completely changed the mood of the dark-haired woman. The treatment was part of a set of changes that Harry had adopted, and they were gradually pulling him away from everything he had been when she first met him. The profile of the perfect submissive was becoming a thing of the past, as he no longer wore the "grandpa" outfits, rarely opted for glasses, and was no longer as shy or stuttered thanks to the speech therapy sessions and his weekly visits to a therapist. Kath had thought about trying to make him give it up, but she hadn't, as she realized that the changes were important to him and she feared losing him by pressuring him, as much as she feared being without him due to the transformation."Where are you going?" He asked, surprised, seeing her get out of bed, holding the semi-untied corset against her body."I'm going t

"I really wished you'd stay, Harry. I li- like having you here a lot." She couldn't say she liked him; it was really hard for her. "I have reasons... motives not to get involved with anyone, not to let go of control, and... It's not personal! You need to know that... understand.""I believe you, Kath," he reassured, giving a smile that didn't reflect on his face. "I understand it's a lifestyle you lean on... and liking someone isn't part of it and can even be a hindrance. But it's not my style, you know? I want someone I can love and who can love me. I was yours... I AM yours... and maybe it's not that easy for me to stop being, right here." He spoke, placing his hand over his left chest. "But if you can never be mine too, I need to step away because just having sex with you is not enough for me."She didn't know what to say, so she remained silent as he went to the room that had been his for the past few months to grab some essential personal items, like his wallet and apartment keys

"It's serious," she sighed, sinking into an armchair. "It's really serious!""Tell us! You're making me worried," Harm requested, and Kitty nodded, shaking her head."My sub left me, and it shook me... and that has never happened before.""How do you mean, it shook you?" It was Kitty's turn to question."It shook me... for real. It got to me!" The friends continued to look at her questioningly. "I... miss him," she sighed heavily. "I even cried," she added, very softly, burying her face in her hands."What?" One of them asked, not out of astonishment, but because she hadn't heard correctly."I CRIED, DAMN IT!" She shouted. "I just started crying like a crazy person, out of control, when he left." The two friends exchanged glances while Kath kept her eyes fixed on the carpeted floor."You're in love," Harmony said carefully."WHAT?" Beauvoir shouted again. "No, I can't!" She shook her head, denying it nervously. "I can't. I CAN'T!" She continued to deny and got up, pacing back and fort

All Harry wanted was to wrap his arms around Kath, press his body to hers, and turn that brief lip-touch into a real, breathtaking kiss. Despite having left her house not long ago, he missed her smile, her gaze, her voice, her scent, the softness of her skin, the taste of her intimacy, the warmth and comfort of her being, and he wanted to experience all of it again. He even missed those wet lips, which had been so briefly in contact with his, and he would give almost anything to get to know that mouth better, the mouth that promised so much sweetness.However, he was too confused to do that. After all, he had no idea what her words meant and her sudden act of kissing him, when it was precisely by rejecting a kiss from him that she had led him to make a decision and leave her house. There were questions that were more important to him now than all the things about Kath he missed. His dignity, his pride, his freedom of action, his unrequited feelings were top priority, and he wouldn't f

After returning to the bedroom, as Kath had promised, they spent some time talking. He told her almost everything about his life, and she shared all the things she was prepared to tell. There were some delicate aspects of her life that almost no one knew, and she wasn't even sure if Harry would ever need to know. She didn't feel guilty about omitting some things, as he seemed so open, because these were things she would erase from her own memory if she could.They made love again after a while, and were once again talking, cuddling, and exchanging affectionate gestures when Harry took her by surprise after a longer kiss."I'm crazy about you, you know?" he said, smiling, and she mirrored his smile. "I love you, Kath Beauvoir," he declared without fear."Love?" She shifted uncomfortably in bed, and her smile immediately disappeared."What's wrong, my love?" he asked, sitting up, just as she had. "What's happen—""You said you love me, Harry," she interrupted nervously."Because I do lo