I turn left into Ellie’s bedroom and close the door behind us. She sits on the bed, fidgeting with the hem of her sundress.
A hard swallow moves down her delicate throat. “Should I take off my dress, or…”
I sit down next to her. “Do you want to?”
“Um, well, I just figured I’d need to be naked for us to…do it.” She hesitates for a moment. “But to be honest, I’m really nervous to be naked with you.”
My brain snags on what she just admitted. Why would she be nervous to be naked? She’s beautiful. And she’s got a smokin’ body.
“Why are you nervous about that?” I ask.
Her cheeks flush and she looks down at her feet. “Because you have the perfect body. And I don’t.”
My chest aches. I can’t believe she thinks that about herself.
“Because I’ve been sick a lot, I haven’t had the energy to work out or build much muscle,” she says. “I’m not very…firm.” Shelets out an embarrassed chuckle. “I have cellulite on my butt and the backs of my thighs and…”
I cup her face and turn her to look at me. “Hey. You’re fucking gorgeous.”
Her eyes are wide.
“I mean it, Ellie. The first time I saw you, when you showed up at the bachelor party and I didn’t realize it was you, I thought you were hot.”
“Oh…”
“You have an incredible body. I love the way it looks when you wear sundresses. I have to constantly remind myself not to stare at you because I’m scared you’ll think I’m a creep.”
A shy smile pulls at the corners of her lush mouth, and she blushes. “Really?”
“Really. Your body is perfect. Don’t ever think otherwise.”
She swallows hard.
“But don’t worry. You’re not going to be naked tonight. You can keep all your clothes on if you want.”
She frowns like she’s confused. I slide to the floor and get on my knees in front of her. “Lie back.”
“But shouldn’t I be naked for this?”
I shake my head. “Nope. Because we’re not going to have sex, Ellie. We’re going to figure out what you like. What feels good to you.”
Her brow lifts the slightest bit, like she’s surprised and intrigued all at once.
“We’re gonna take this slow. No pressure. No stress. Just the two of us exploring and trying things.”
She blinks. “Okay.”
“Do you trust me?”
“Of course I trust you, Camden.”
“Good. Now lie back.”
She lies down on the bed, her chest heaving with the breath she takes.
“I’m gonna push your dress up. Is that okay?”
“Yeah.” Her voice is breathy.
