“It wasn’t too rough, was it?”
“No. I can take a lot more than you think.”
Emotional intimacy after a hookup wasn’t usually my thing, but I let Vera settle against me as we soaked in the tub. I grabbed the remote, flicked on the TV, and the screen lit up with a graphic gangbang… two women, all legs and moans. Even half-soft, my cock twitched at the sight. I glanced at Vera, curious. Her dark eyes locked on the screen, entranced.
“Do you enjoy watching porn?” I asked.
“Mm-hmm.” Vera nodded. Nothing seemed to disconcert the woman.
I circled her clit with slow, teasing strokes while she worked my cock back to full attention. The porn amped everything up, senses buzzing, but it was the easy comfort with Vera beside me that really got to me. I lowered the volume, pressed a kiss to her smooth forehead, and let myself relax into her warmth.
“Are you comfortable?” I asked, rubbing her shoulder.
“Mmm, I am,” she purred. Eyes half-closed in a seductive trance, she slowly widened her smile and placed her fingers on my chest. I felt the sting when she accidentally pulled my chest hair.
“Sweetheart, go easy,” I warned, tapping her fingers.
She released her tangled finger spin and looked up at me. “Alistair, I feel connected to you.”
“Yeah, me too.” I met her gaze, brushing my thumb over her smooth, dark nipples, watching them stiffen under my touch.
“There’s something you need to know about me,” I said. “I need constant stimulation and novelty, such as sex and pornography.”
“Oh?”
“You see, I’m very sensitive to sensory stimulation. It calms me, especially when I climax, and the dopamine is released in my brain.”
“Has your thing for sex and porn ever messed up your relationships?” Vera asked.
I nodded. “Yeah. It did. I wasn’t a good husband. I never loved my ex. I cheated a lot. The marriage was a joke.” I paused, letting the words settle. “I’ve battled depression, lost my temper more times than I want to admit. I still see a therapist. I’m trying to do better. Just hoping you can handle all of me.”
“I appreciate your honesty,” she said, then glanced at my upper back. “I love the tattoo, the eagle on your left shoulder blade. But that scar next to it, will you tell me about it?”
The warmth of her index finger gently stroking the scar had a calming effect, soothing my soul. I felt a cocktail of overwhelmingly powerful emotions: a sweet blend of acceptance, trust, and hope. The anxiety that nipped at my existence started to dissipate.
“Ah, the scar.” I sighed, knowing I couldn’t hide the horror from Vera. The words “Psalm 103: 2-5” were inked under the eagle’s image. It was a biblical verse about redemption, love, and the eagle.
“The scar is a reminder of a terrible thing that happened when I was a boy,” I explained. “One day, I’ll tell you more about it. That’s why I have the eagle. It symbolizes inspiration, release from bondage, and victory.”
I tucked a tendril of hair behind her right ear and noticed a scar along the outer edge above the earlobe. “Vera, what’s this?” I asked, tracing the scar.
Her eyes froze and lost their spark. Vera withdrew into an emotional lockdown.
“It’s a long story,” she whispered, bowing her head low.
The lioness had fallen.
“Tell me. I’ve got all night.” I pulled away more hair that curtained her face, placing it on her left shoulder.
“I was abused.”
One tear rolled down my goddess’s face.
Two tears.
Three tears.
And four.
