.. My chest---"Shadow shot up, embarrassed and alert. "Yeah, I know. Sorry." Leaning forward to my knees I bring his face to my chest. His retreat of ...touch nearly ended me then and there; that was the first time he'd been that close to me. In truth, I was an addict when it came to Shadow, but I doubted he could taste these strong, aching needs I had for him---our bond didn't say anything about those sorts of emotional attachments. Shadow never seemed to notice, so it was safe to assume he. The family that live behind me are the typical `bad apples’you get trying to spoil every idyllic neighborhood. They were the ones withthe two snarling and constantly barking dogs, the ones who set off theirown fireworks every July fourth, regardless of the realistic danger oftheir unkempt tinderbox garden going up in flames, and taking mine withit. These were the neighbors who held fierce shouting matches at fullvolume at any time of the day, the ones who played loud acid house musiclate in to. He contacts me once again during the last couple years he has been gone and asks if he may return to be my slave boy. I have been waiting for the right timing, which is now and tell him he can return. Of course there will be strict rules for him and he will have to be punished for leaving me in the first place not to mention that he will not have any freedom this time and will always be reminded of the slave he is. He tells me that he has grown up and realized how stupid he was and that he. She handed me a tissue and very gently asked, "Did Charlie hurt you?" Sorry, I'm just so silly, I can't believe I did that," I said, dabbing at my eyes.She didn't respond, but just continued to pat my hand."No, not at all. He would never deliberately hurt me. It's all my fault. He's been the kindest, most generous, loveliest man in the world, and I..."I couldn't continued. A sympathetic squeeze of the hand and I squeezed back.Then, "You must think I'm a complete idiot." I held up the present.