“First door on the right, down the hallway.”
His broad shoulders seemed to fill her doorway as they crossed the threshold. He stepped inside her private sanctuary. The dainty robin’s-egg blue and lacy curtains made him seem out of place.
“Lots of books. It suits you.”
A mid-sized bookshelf sat on the far side. Books were sporadically placed around the room.
“I like that you’re smart. Stupidity is dangerous.”
He set her on the edge of the bed and removed her shirt. She tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled his mouth to hers. After licking his lips, she pushed inside with her tongue, teasing, thrusting and parrying. Wet and achy, she clenched her thighs together in an attempt to find relief. Shrugging off his cut, he tossed it over a chair beside her dresser and yanked his shirt over his head. He quickly unlaced his boots and toed them off. The rest of his clothes joined the others.
“Lie back, baby.” Stretching out, her body trembled.
Kneeling at the foot of her bed, he encircled her ankle and smiled down at the heart tattoo.
“Is this your only ink?”
“Yeah, the girls and I got it senior year. Our big act of rebellion.” She laughed. The sound changed in the blink of an eye when he darted out his tongue to trace the shape. The man could make anything erotic. Her stomach quivered as he worked his way up with nips and licks. Her body sank into the bed as pleasure clouded her mind. Each sweep of his tongue carried the concerns that had once seemed important further away.
After massaging her inner thighs, he continued up to her hips and her belly. Anxiety rushed in and she tensed. The last time they had sex in his bedroom the lights were off. In her bedroom with the lights blazing he could see every extra pound.
“Juliette?” The query in his tone hit like cold water on a hundred-degree day. She yanked away and he pinned her down.
“What just happened? Did I do something you didn’t like?” The genuine concern in his gaze made her feel lower than dirt.
“I got nervous that you might not like what you see.” Her voice shook, and tears flooded her eyes. She’d never wanted anyone to see her so vulnerable again, let alone this beautiful man.
“No.” He caressed the hair back from her face. “You’re beautiful, Juliette. Don’t doubt that. I want to kill the person who made you feel this with my bare hands. Who did this?” He ground his teeth together.
“No one important.”
“Let me decide that.” His eyes burned with the light of indignation, turning so dark they looked black.
“Peter.”
“Peter who?”
“Peter Stant.”
His jaw ticked. “What happened?”
“I made a poor choice for a boyfriend. I missed all the flags and I stayed too long…earning me a few souvenirs.” Her voice sounded cool and detached. But it was all she could do not to crawl out of her skin.
“You never have to worry about that with me, okay? I promise you that. If I ever see this guy he will pay for this. Did you ever tell anyone?”
His words were a balm to her frayed nerves. He didn’t think she was stupid or weak. There was no hint of it being her fault. Their culture had a horrible habit of making the victim feel like she was in the wrong. “Just the girls and my doctor.” He moved away and she sat up, pulling her knees to her chest as she shivered from a chill that emanated from inside her.
“I was too embarrassed to tell anyone else. I should have known better. Things like that didn’t happen to girls like me…but it did, it did.” The long-healed wounds ached, mocking her stupidity and silence. Her stomach churned. Holding up her failings to the light and showing it to another person wasn’t her idea of fun. It brought her back to the original humiliation that came with the original admission that she was an abused woman. “I-I don’t want to talk about this.”
“All right?” he whispered. He stroked her face with his knuckles.
She looked into his eyes, stunned. Is this man for real? He offered comfort without condemnation and a million questions.
“We all have secrets. I’m not going to force you to air yours until you’re ready—if you ever are.” A kindred spirit, she sensed a tragedy touching his life. It had shaped and forged him in the same way. His respect of her wishes and the careful way he handled her pulled her deeper into his web.
His featherlight caresses on her arm loosened the knot in her belly.