After Max released the kiss that Rimi had given him he wanted to move a little.  Even though Rimi was still straddled on Max’s lap he was still able to sit up and move them both up against the bed so he was leaning against it and supporting Rimi on his lap.  He still was having trouble wrapping everything that is going on at the moment around his mind, or the feeling in his chest.  His chest felt so light and he felt like he could breathe again, and it was all because of the man in his lap.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"> "You shouldn't be ashamed to cry, Max. Not in front of me."</span>At first Max didn’t know what to say.  Max had not cried since he was probably five years old.  Granted he knew that Rimi was not going to beat him, but the idea of how wrong crying was, was beaten out of him a long time ago.  “I have never been allowed to cry, crying just meant more beatings.”  Max sighed.<br/><br/>As Rimi began to talk, Max could not help but place his hands around Rimi’s waist holding him close to him like he was going to wake up from this dream and Rimi was going to disappear.  “Over the last 10 years I have gotten really good at shutting the world around me out.  Leaving the life of a slave behind is hard, especially when you have a lot of hate and resentment.”  Max said as he started rubbing his fingers on the lower part of Rimi’s back where his hands were setting.  “I have already agreed to try, but you will have to forgive me in advance if I am not perfect.”  Max stated, “It’s hard to completely turn off the Master switch, the last 24 hours has been like a roller coaster.”