“Look at me,” he demanded, reaching out to lightly pinch her chin and tilt her face up to his. She swallowed as she allowed her gaze to slide back to his. “This is real,” he promised. “I’m real. I’m sorry the illusion used my likeness to trick you. I need you to know if you were to ever let me touch you, in any way, the moment you wanted to stop—I would. No hesitation.”
