“ He carried emotional and mental scars as long-lasting and vivid as the whip marks on his body. ”
Riff needed the pain in his body to mask the pain inside. Once he'd enjoyed the pain only because it brought pleasure with it, but that distinction had gotten lost.
~ Marguerite Labbe
What do you see when you touch me now? Riff asked, his gaze searching Zed's face. Once again, Zed sensed that electric zing of sexual awareness. Riff Definitely knew what he wanted, Enough heat to set me on fire. Hunger that matches my own.
It had taken going to hell for Zed to find what he'd unknowingly been searching for his whole life.