Burn for You by Annabel Joseph

mind.”
    “But why?”
    “Why is the earth round, Molly? Why is the sky blue? Who the fuck knows why? Who cares? If you need to feel managed to survive for a while, then be managed. Don’t break yourself into pieces over it.”
    “But it’s not normal!”
    “By whose compass? What scale of normalcy are you judging yourself by? Margaret Kearney’s scale? Gloria Steinem’s? Dr. Phil’s? The only scale you should be using is your own.”
    “My scale says I’m batshit crazy.”
    “Mine does too, at the moment. But you’ve known peace. Give yourself some time to figure out what you crave, what will fulfill you. What will make your world bright again. Accept yourself as you are and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks.” He leaned close to her, taking her hands, perhaps in some attempt to keep her from twisting her hair out of her head. “You’re feeling shame for who you are, and it pains me. These are the same shame-based issues that drove you to become self-destructive before. I don’t know where it comes from, but I know it’s not good for you.”
    Shame. The bane of her life. Even now, shame covered her like a cloak. It kicked her between the legs, over and over. She looked down at her hands entwined with Mephisto’s, pale white and warm brown fingers interlaced. He gazed into her eyes. “You have nothing to be ashamed of, you know.”
    “That’s because you accept me as I am. Because you understand me.”
    He took a deep breath as the words she’d said echoed around and around in her head. Clayton, her husband, her Master, her love... He’d begun trying to bring Molly and Mephisto together even before he died. Because of this. Because Mephisto understood her, because he didn’t judge her or make her feel shamed and worthless for wanting to live under the dominion of a man.
    And because Mephisto was safe.
    “Please help me,” she said. Her voice cracked and the tears started again, but Mephisto didn’t let go of her hands. “I...I don’t know yet what I want. I don’t know how much control I want.”
    “Of course you don’t. I understand that.”
    “I can’t promise... I can’t give you anything yet. I mean, some, but not very much. I just don’t know...”
    He let go of her hand to stroke her face. His fingers slid through her tears, warm and reassuring. “It’s okay not to know. Let’s forget about the future and just take care of now. We’ll take things slow and keep them nonsexual. I’ll only provide the structure, the authority you miss.”
    “Can you do that?” she asked through tears. “Can people exchange power and have it not be sexual?”
    “Sure they can.”
    “You would do that for me?”
    He gazed at her for a long moment. “Molly, I would do almost anything for you. You have to realize that by now. But I’ll need you to stay here with me to make this work. You’ll be clothed, there won’t be any sexual expectations. You’ll be taking care of yourself as much as possible, but I still want you here where I can keep track of you.”
    She tensed. “In the cage?”
    “In the guest room.” He paused. “Unless you wig out of your brain again, but that better not happen. No drugs, Molly. No alcohol, unless I allow it. This is not negotiable.”
    Molly blushed under his direct regard. “I can live without that stuff. I’m actually tired of being so out of control.”
    “Control, management, supervision, whatever. I’m happy to give it to you if it will help. We’ll go over to Clayton’s today to get whatever you might need to feel at home here. Your clothes and things.”
    The easy authority in his voice was like a familiar coat wrapping around her. Molly swallowed hard and settled into the security she’d been missing for weeks now.
    “Yes, sir,” Mephisto provided quietly when she didn’t respond.
    “Yes, sir,” Molly said.

Chapter Four: Management
     
    Molly stalled at the door to the home she and Clayton had shared. Mephisto figured it would