I do it anyway.
Some habits are hard to break.
Even with his face buried in his tablet, Reed looks so darn handsome in bed. Suppose I can berate myself over the body shame later. He’s giving me plenty to focus on as I glide across the carpet with hearts bulging from my eyes like a cartoon character.
That triggers a funny image to appear in my head. My internal amusement turns into outward snickering by the time I drop the towel and slip into bed.
Reed plugs in the tablet and places it on the nightstand next to his cell phone. “What’s so funny, gorgeous?”
I contemplate a distraction technique, but he’d probably enjoy the laugh based on my real thoughts instead. “I was thinking about how good you looked sitting in bed with all that skin on display, and how lucky I am to get to sleep with you for the second night in a row.”
He throws a bemused look at me before clicking off the lamp. “What’s funny about that?”
I get comfy, lying on my side to face him. “Did you ever see the Roger Rabbit movie?”
“Yeah. We had it on videotape before Mom ditched the VCR for a DVD player.”
“Remember when Jessica Rabbit walked out on stage for the first time?”
He mirrors my position, tucking his hand under his pillow. Since my eyes have adjusted to the darkness, I narrowly make out the mirth in his expression. “I’m not a gambler anymore, but I’d wager every male in the free world recalls that scene. In vivid detail.”
“Touché.”
“So what about Jessica Rabbit?”
“I was picturing a reverse of that scene. You were Jessica, looking all yummy, and I’m the one with bulging eyes who sprouted wings to fly over to you.”
He makes apshsound, which is sonotlike him. “Woman, please. You’re the perfect Jessica in any scenario.”
“Whatever.”
“No, no,nooo. Not whatever.”
Scooting close to me, he slings an arm around my midsection and yanks me against him. Then he locks me in place with his firm thigh over mine. It’s an almost aggressive move, but it’s also hot. So let’s say it’s aggressively hot. Or even offensively scorching.
“You areabsolutelyJessica. You’ve got her curves.” He skims his hand down my back, getting a handful of one of my butt cheeks. “So damn voluptuous. And don’t get me started on your sexy belly.” His hand slides along the underside of my leg. “And these thighs.Fuck, I love them. They make the best earmuffs.”
I want to believe him. However, a lifetime of conditioning isn’t easy to ignore. How do you deprogram your brain when you’ve only ever been told that fat is disgusting?
It’s always,you have such a pretty face. If only you’d lose a few pounds. And never,you’re beautiful exactly as you are.
Sure, I’m gaining comfort at being naked around Reed. But seeing myself the way he does? Not likely.
Aiming to change the subject, I playfully brush off his praise. “Okay, you’ve made your point. You like my plumpness. Don’t use this as a distraction to avoid talking about your thing.”
Reed releases me from his full-body death grip. “Roll on your back,” he orders, gravel scraping his tone.
“Why?” I ask, reluctantly doing as commanded.
I’m not strong enough to disobey him when he sounds that way. It’s embarrassing how quickly he makes me fold.
“Because I told you to,” he sasses.
My nipples stiffen like they’ve been summoned to the principal’s office.
As soon as I’m flat on my back, he literallyclimbson top of me, straddling my waist.
Yowza.
