Strings of Fate

Strings of Fate

Cam 33- Consent and concern

Harry takes a deep breath and exhales heavily as if soothing himself before he begins.

“I am really sorry Cam. I didn’t realise I was making you uncomfortable, that you didn’t like what I was doingel won’t touch you again without waiting for you to actually say it’s okay. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable and I definitely didn’t intend to manipulate you or ignore your wishes.” he apologises sincerely. Wait, does he think I’m angry about him touching my legs? If I had a problem with that I wouldn’t have lashed out after several minutes of contact. It would have been immediate. I raise an eyebrow.

“Why exactly do you think I’m upset?” I ask. Harry frowns.

“Because I initiated physical contact without waiting for you to expressly consent to it and in the process, I made you uncomfortable.” He sums up, almost robotically. Like he wants to distance himself from the thought. I narrow my eyes.

“And you can’t think of anything else that you might have done?” I prompt. Harry looks

alarmed.

“Something else? I was completely focussed on that one thing. What else could I have done? Am I missing something really obvious?” He asks. I just shake my head. Is he not aware that he was using his magic on me? I don’t know how aware Incubi are of their abilities, not to mention that he seems to believe that his magic doesn’t really affect me. Apparently my acting skills aren’t so terrible after all. But what does that mean for this situation? I mean, if he doesn’t know that he’s doing it, can I really be angry at him? Based on how horrified he is at this situation, he would probably be more careful with his magic if I tell him, but that would mean admitting to him that I basically

it. I don’t know how much control Incubi have over their magic, but since I don’t see every woman in this place throwing themselves at him all the time he probably has SOME control. But they do tend to pursue him either way. I don’t know how much of that is because of his magic, how much is due to the reputation that Incubi have and how much is just because

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33- Consent

now. Maybe I can ask Ryann about it sometime. She seems fairly good at being non–judgemental. But what to do right now? I was angry at him for trying to manipulate and control me, but if he didn’t intentionally use magic, or at least didn’t think it would affect me, then he really wasn’t actually manipulating me so I don’t actually have a reason to be angry. I’m fairly sure that a good eighty percent of my anger was just embarrassment anyway. Harry clears his throat and I realise that while I’ve been thinking this through, he’s been waiting anxiously as I stayed quiet for far too long. I need to say something. I also notice that there are at least two people waiting for drinks. I would wonder why they haven’t said anything, but Harry and I haven’t been particularly quiet. They’re watching the show, eager to see how I’ll

work.

let my embarrassment show on my face. Really Harry probably deserves an apology for my outburst more than I did, but he doesn’t ask for one. He just sighs in relief. I serve the customers who are still eying Harry and I curiously. They definitely wish that they had more information. I know a few of my regulars like to gossip about Harry and I. They’re going

meeting his eyes. I can’t seem to erase the feeling of his hands on my legs or the feeling of contentment that I felt from his attentions. I’m also just feeling straight up embarrassed that I caused a scene. I’m also sort of concerned that if I meet Harry’s gaze, he’s going to realise exactly how I was feeling and he’s going to be able to see the attraction I feel. That would be terrible. It’s one thing when he thinks his magic isn’t affecting me, that I’m not lusting after him all the time like so many women do. But if he knew… he would use it against me. I don’t know how, I don’t even know if it would be intentional. But if he knew just how much I want him, I doubt he would ever back off. He would keep pushing, keep hinting and asking and wanting to know why I’m NOT throwing myself at him. I could do it. I could cave in and fall into his arms and bed and it would probably be amazing.

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33- Consent and concern

just thought you deserved a drink that doesn’t make

you’re trying to be nice… You’re not still upset with me?”

you going to be like this every time I try to

picking on me. It’s kind of like when a kid picks on someone they

I don’t want to make you awful drinks anymore. You’ll just

to interpret that