. all those lost lives..." I lied, unable toput into words what I was really feeling. "I just... it's senseless, youknow?" I know," he replied, drawi...g me to his chest and holding me tight, "it'sincredible to think of everything that happened back then, all the menthat fought and died for their countries. On both sides," he added."You must be thinking of your grandfather," I sobbed, after a moment ofsilence between us, my words muffled by his chest."Yeah. I mean obviously I never knew him,. Maybe the man ought to be willing to prove his love for the woman by being willing to do the same….” “Well, for most couples, apparently, one always seems to be the dominant one.” “And one is the submissive?” he asked. “I guess. Do you think we’re that way?” "I don’t know.” Another bite of chicken and a taste of coleslaw. “If you consider purely sexual drive, then you and I both know you dominate me, hon,” he said. “Oh, that’s true. But you’ve never been someone who. I'm Corinne Aimes." She extends a hand.Her voice is quite soft and reassuring, friendly. Somewhere, there is a trace of Irish in it."I've organised some tea upstairs. Come on in."I follow her into a large reception hall which has an elegant Victorian tiled floor, pale walls and smells of polish.We seem to be the only people here. I am glad about that; I do not know how I would have coped if I had been confronted by "masters" and "slaves".Corinne's office is on the first floor with a view out. Max knew that she could not let it continue. It was all so wrong, but she could not help responding. It had felt like a long time since she had any physical contact of this sort and her body craved it. But she refused to let Manticore win. She needed to get Alec off her and she needed to do it now. Max felt Alec’s breath against her ears, making her break out in goosebumps, before she heard a mocking, “Giving up so soon?” She stiffened and immediately retorted, “Not a chance!” Pushing up.