His arms wrap around me, gripping my naked body.
I moan, twisting my fingers into his hair as our tongues tangle.
But then…
He rips away from me like I’m toxic.
I blink, breath heaving.
He glances down at his crotch, disgusted. “I’m sorry, Dee. I just can’t get it up for you anymore. I try. But how can I, when you look like that?” He points to my stomach again.
Oh my fucking god! Shame slams into me like a freight train.
“Colt, I—”
“I can’t. You’ve lost your femininity. What am I supposed to do with someone who isn’t even a woman anymore?”
I take a step back, gutted.
“You need to leave.” His voice is steel, then he shoves me. Hard.
I scream as I fall.
The floor beneath me vanishes into an endless, black, gaping void.
My scream echoes as I plummet into nothing.
“Dee… Dee, baby, wake up!” Colt’s voice cuts through the blackness as I scream, my arms flailing, trying to catch myself from the fall that never ends.
My eyes fly open, and I gasp, drenched in sweat, the echo of my scream still leaving my throat raw. The room is dark, and Colt is cradling me tightly against his chest, his arms wrapped protectively around me.
“I’m right here. It was just a dream. You’re okay,” he soothes.
But I’m not okay.
I’m shaking, trembling as the tears stream down my flushed cheeks. My skin burns, and my heart pounds so hard it hurts.
Panic bubbles up, fierce and fast.
That dream felt too real.
What if he reallyisn’tattracted to me anymore?
I start rocking, unable to stop, breath shallow and broken.
“Talk to me, Dee,” Colt says gently, smoothing his hand over my hair. His voice is low, steady, trying to anchor me, but it’s not enough. I can’t catch my breath. I can’t stop. “Sweetheart, please. Talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong,” he begs, holding me tighter.
“You’re not attracted to me,” I choke out, louder than I mean to, voice shaking with a sob.
“What? Yes, I am,” he replies instantly, pulling me closer.
“You said… you said you can’t get hard for someone who isn’t even a woman,” I mumble, wiping my nose across my forearm like some petulant child.
“What are you talking about?”
“You don’t touch me anymore,” I whisper, eyes locked on nothing. “You don’t want me. You think I’m less of a woman. And if you’re going to leave me, then just go.”
Colt grabs my face, his palms firm against my cheeks, forcing me to look into his eyes. “Where the hell are these stupid ideas coming from?”
