Page 27 of Theirs to Treasure

“No, a really boring, sexless life!” Josie explained. “I made sure that when I finally had a boyfriend, he had a good job, an’ led a good life, and would be interested in marriage.” Josie didn’t notice the look that passed between the two men. “I don’ know why he asked me out to begin with, because all he wanted to do was change me. He dint like how I dressed, he said I was a fat cow, and we could only make love with the lights off, “cause my body disgusted him.”

“Zee!”

“Shud up, Chance! I’m talking.”

“Baby, you can’t believe—” Sam began.

“You, too, Sam. I’m goin’ to finish what I have to say, before I pass out from this rather specular, spetular, spectaculous shot you gave me.”

Josie waited until both men nodded, Chance wisely choosing not to correct any more of her pronunciations, and then she continued. “So here I am, overweight, with hardly any sexual experience to provide, an’ I have two guys who say they are interested in me. Fine, but these are two men who are intelligence, gorgeous, caringly…and the strawberry on top is that, they say they want to share me for the afternoon. So, I came over here, thinking this could be the afternoon experience that I could have to take with me to my grave. You know, the one that I could take out and fondly remember forever and ever and ever and ever, ever. But, guys, I can’t do it. I like and admire you both too much, and I know me. I can’t have sex and not be involved emotionally. If I’m involved emotionally, I’ll get hurt and then we can’t be friends, and it will be awkward between us and I don’t want that. So, as much as I wanted hot, kinky sex this afternoon with the two hottest guys in the world, I guess I am going to pass.”

Josie hadn’t been looking at them at all during her entire speech. Instead, she kept focusing on the rainbow prisms on the far wall. She waited for them to respond. After a minute of silence had come and gone, she peeked over at Sam. She was surprised to see that he looked sad. She’d been expecting angry, or at the very least frustrated. When she slid her glance to Chance, there was the anger she’d been expecting. Seeing that expression, she struggled to get up, and then the room began to spin, and there were rainbows everywhere.

“Zee.” She felt hands behind her head, guiding her back to the pillow. Someone pulled the icepack out from beneath her.

“She needs to sleep now, brother. It’s for the best, because if she said one more thing, I might throttle her.” How could Sam be talking about choking her in such a gentle tone of voice, Josie wondered as she fell asleep.

Chapter 11

“Josie, can you wake up for a moment?” It felt like lead weights were attached to her lids, but finally she was able to open her eyes. She saw Sam leaning over her. “Baby, I’ve been alternating ice and heat packs, but now you’re burning up. I need to get you out of your dress.” Josie looked around. The room seemed kind of familiar. She vaguely remembered Chance carrying her here after their early dinner.

“Why didn’t you take me home?” she asked sleepily.

“If I’d been hurting that badly, would you have let me be alone, Baby?” Sam asked.

Josie didn’t even have to think, she just shook her head. “Same goes, Josie, I care about you, so I’m going to take care of you when you need it.” He helped her to sit up and pushed three more pillows behind her. He unzipped the back of her black dress, and then lowered it down her arms. When the dress pooled at her waist, he pushed her back into a reclining position against the pillows, then pulled the dress gently over her hips and down her legs, taking care to not move her back.

He left the comforter at the end of the bed and looked at her nylon-clad legs, with her silver-and-black corset. “Let’s take off the nylons, then I can apply the ice again and you can get more rest.” Sam’s hands went to the tops of her nylons, but Josie grabbed both of his wrists.

“No, you can’t.”

“Honey, you’ll burn up. Just let me get these off, then the heating pad.” Josie dug her nails into his wrists, embarrassed.

“I’m not wearing panties.” Sam’s gaze shot down to the opaque hose, and then he looked back up at her.

“No panties could have only been better if you had done that while wearing a garter belt and stockings.”

“Sam,” she reproved. “You shouldn’t say things like that.”

Then she buried her face in her hands. That herd of horses has already left the barn.

“Why didn’t you wear panties, Baby?”

“Panty lines underneath the dress,” Josie admitted.

“What about a thong?” Sam asked.

“They’d look wrong on someone my size.”

Sam chuckled, and Josie felt herself wither.

Oh God, don’t let me cry in front of him.

“Josie, what’s wrong?” Sam demanded, concern written on his face.

“Nothing,” she croaked out the word as she turned her head.

“I heard laughter,” Chance said as he strolled in, “What’s going on, are you feeling better?” he asked Josie.