He reached up and ran a finger down my cheek.
“Actually, this is the real me. I choose not to let serious situations rob life of its fun and beauty. Of its potential to be more than the current moments make us believe it will be. You’re right that we don’t know each other yet. But we will. Come on. Let’s get you changed.”
Embrace this moment, daughter,the Lady whispered.
He gently tugged on my hand, and with the Lady’s encouragement, I let him have his way.
In our room, he led me to my bag. Instead of letting me feel my way through the clothes, he took charge.
“What would you like to wear today?” he asked. “There’s a pretty pink sweater in here that feels soft.” He held up the sweater, looking at it. “It should be thick enough to hide the fact you’re not wearing a bra, too.”
A small noise escaped me.
“It’s okay. I like that you’re not wearing one.” His voice took on a husky tone. “A lot.” His fingers brushed over my collarbone and down a few inches, making my heart hammer. Before I could tell him to stop, he removed his hand.
“But, I don’t want all the other males to know.”
He turned away and pulled something else from the bag while I stood there with my mouth still hanging open.
“And these white leggings would look nice with it. Do you need help changing?”
“No.”
“You sure? With the cuts on your back, it must be hard lifting the shirt over your head. I could do that for you. With your back to me, of course.”
I breathed through my nose, trying to calm myself and collect my thoughts.
“You’re making my head spin,” I said.
“In a good way, I hope.”
“I’m not sure yet. I’m not used to this level of attention. You’re a bit overwhelming.”
“Overwhelming is better than underwhelming.”
I could hear the amusement in his words and smiled despite myself.
“I’m serious about the shirt. I don’t want you to hurt yourself changing,” he said.
“But, I don’t want you to hurt yourself by helping. You saw through my shirt and fell to the ground. I hugged you, and you fell to the ground. All of this time you’re spending at my feet is going to give me a complex.”
He laughed, a sound so full of humor that I couldn’t help but join in.
“I won’t fall down this time,” he promised as he gently turned me away from him.
He took the sweater from my hands and set it on the bed. Then, standing so close that I could feel the heat of him at my back, he gently eased my borrowed shirt up. His fingers skimmed my ribs, making me tremble again.
Not believing I was doing this, I carefully raised my arms and let him work the shirt over my head. With his help, I’d barely felt a twinge on my back. Yet, now I stood before him, bare from the waist up. Facing away, sure, but still in the same room. Still within reach. What would it feel like to have his fingers explore my skin now? I struggled to keep any hint of excitement from my mind and tried to think of something else. Something less dangerous.
“Here comes the new top,” he said. His voice seemed more growl than words.
“Are you okay?”
“I’ve never been better. You are so beautiful, Olivia. And, I’m grateful you’re mine.”
The last comment made me swallow hard. I couldn’t be his. Not the way he wanted. Pushing that thought aside, I focused on the first part he’d said.
“You’re staring at my scratched back and think I’m beautiful? You might need to get out more than I do.”
