“Can I come over there?”
She nodded with a small smile on her face.
I walked over to her, desire tight in my chest, where she was still standing just in a bra, socks, and panties. What mattered more than my feelings was making sure she saw it wasn’t just that—it was her.
I tipped her chin up so she could look at me. “Can I hold you?”
She answered by stepping towards me and wrapping her arms around me.
I wrapped my arms around her, feeling her soft skin as I touched her.“Can I try something? You can tell me to stop and I will. Promise.”
She nodded without even asking what I was thinking.
With just the tips of my fingers, I began to slowly trace the curves of her body.
I ran gentle fingers along her shoulder blade and spine, her waist and up to her rib cage. She tensed and started to pull away. I reached for her hand, and she let me hold it. Our eyes never strayed from each other. She trusted me, but I could tell she was still nervous, hesitant. Her brain was lying to her, telling her not to trust me.
She didn’t pull farther away, so I pulled her close again, wrapping my arm around her and putting a gentle and firm hand on her back. I made sure my voice was calm and gentle when I spoke to her. “Hey baby. Stay. Look at my face.”
Her breathing was a bit more erratic, but not at the level it was the other night.
“Do you trust me?”
She swallowed hard and nodded. “I do. I promise.”
“Please try this. Trust that I won't hurt you. I won't do anything Iknowyou won't like. If you don't like this or if you are uncomfortable, stop me, at any point. Okay?”
Her green eyes were locked on mine. “I trust you,” she whispered before she rested her head against me.
Gosh. Her saying those three words meant so much more than she would ever know. Rae trusting me after what she went through was the greatest honor.
I placed her hand that I had been holding around me. My fingertips grazed her curves as soft as a whisper. My touch never lingered in one spot. I traced the curve of her back and her hips, gently running my fingers along her rib cage, right under her chest. She tensed, and her breath hitched, but she didn't pull away. When my hand moved away from her ribs, I felt her body relax. It was like her brain was starting to rewire itself.
Her heart knew I wouldn't hurt her, but her brain still had walls up—walls that were slowly crumbling. After what that sick bastard did to her, I couldn’t blame her for being hesitant or even terrified of letting anyone close.
Rae timidly put her shaky hands on my chest and then pressed her body closer to mine. My hand was still on the small of her back, and I could now feel her shaking more than before.
“I will never hurt you, baby,” I whispered to her before I kissed her temple. She smelled like peaches and flowers, and it drove me wild.
Every part of me wanted to scoop her up and take care of her in every way, but I didn’t want to scare her. My fingertips trailed, feather light, up and down her back. When I finally moved past that, I was sure the lies in her brain would scream at her, making her move away, but she didn’t.
Please be comfortable with me, baby,I silently pleaded.
My touch was unhurried as my hands moved over her hips and down the length of her thighs before gliding back up, warm and steady. I wasn’t pushing for more; I was reminding her of the truth she was still learning to believe.
She was safe here. Safe with me.
“You okay, Sunshine?” I kissed the top of her head still resting against me.
She nodded and was still shaking some but didn't move.
“You sure? Did I push it too far?”
She shook her head.
“Hey...what are you thinking?” I ran my fingers through her hair.
She tilted her head back to look at me. It was like she was staring into my soul, searching for something. After a moment, she buried her head against me again. “I'm thinking...that I want to...try again, with you. I liked that.” A giggle bubbled out of her. “Gosh—I really liked that. My heart knows I'm safe with you, Ranger. My brain...”
