“Ditto.”
Theo rolled his eyes. “That’swhat you’re going with? I come out with that heartfelt speech and all you have isDitto?”
I shrugged. “I’m saving my words for later.” I grinned. “Because now I know a certain musicianlovesit when I talk dirty.”
He groaned. “Don’t. I have a rehearsal later.”
“I promise I won’t make you late.” I kissed him. “I also promise you’ll walk in there smiling.”
Theo
“Is there something you want to tell me?”
I glanced at Max and smirked. “I hadn’t planned on it, because I had the impression you already know everything.”
Max flushed. “Ah. He told you.”
Laughter and chatter filled the studio. We’d been at it for an hour, and I’d called for a break. Cameron was sitting with Julian, both of them smiling.
The old me would have been concerned Cameron was oversharing.
The new and improved me recalled Cameron’s words.
No one else gets to see you like this.
This is just for me.
I believed that extended into our life outside the bedroom.
“You’re different today.”
I peered at Max. “Different how?
“You didn’t snap at Finnley when he came in half a beat early. You also let Julian argue with you for a full thirty seconds before shutting him down.”
I snorted. “Maybe I’m evolving.”
Max tilted his head, studying me. “You’re centred,” he said in a low voice. “Relaxed. You’re still in control, but not like you’re strangling it.”
I took a breath. “I like… giving up control. On purpose. With rules. With trust.”
What shocked me was that the words didn’t scare me.
Max smiled, and he gave me a warm look that spoke of approval. “Welcome to the club.”
I let out a sigh. “I used to think control was all I had. That if I loosened my grip, everything would fall apart.” I paused. “But it turns out that choosing when to let go makes me stronger.”
Max nodded. “That’s not submission as weakness. That’s submission as self-knowledge.”
I met his gaze, unashamed. “I’m not embarrassed. I like who I am when I trust him.”
Max’s voice softened. “You should. You look like someone who finally stopped fighting himself.” He grinned. “Cameron is clearly doing an excellent job.”
I laughed. “And of course, I have nothing to do with it.”
“Far from it.” Max looked me in the eye. “I’m also very proud of you.”
I blinked, caught off guard by the raw emotion in his voice. “Thank you.”