"Then tar me, feather me, and call me a rooster, 'cause I'm rulin' the roost." he drawled, setting her to sit on the wide, curved lip of the tub before leaning over to turn on the faucet to let the tub fill up. Sitting beside her, The Shade leaned over to start unlacing his boots.

"I could do more to you." he pointed out quietly as he did, his voice low and still fond, but factual rather than self-loathing. "Take a paddle to your ass, tie you down and order you not to come while I'm finger-fucking you...punish you when you disobey me." He turned to meet her gaze, his own sober and open.

"In life, I was comfortable with death. In death, I crave far worse. I'm a sadist at my core, Courtney, and I wanted you to see that tonight. I want you to understand...exactly what that means."