Page 40 of To Love the Stars too Fondly

“Could we try that? We can just start small, like, keep your underwear on, small. I wouldn’t have to see anything.”

She paused. Had I gone too far? Before I could take back my words, she nodded. “Right now?”

“If you want,” I replied. “No pressure.”

Unhurried, she pulled down her sleeve. “Can you look away, please?”

“Yes. Of course.” I turned around, even put my hands up as blinders around my eyes. “Sorry.”

“No need to be sorry.”

I heard rustling clothing. The TV shut off, and soon Alex said, “I’m ready.”

When I turned around, she lay prone on the couch in only her boxer briefs, her head lying on her arms. I scooted up to straddle her waist, my own robe still carefully intact, and gently ran my fingernails down her bare back. “How does that feel?”

I saw her smile, her content, closed eyes. “Good.”

I skimmed my fingers across firm, lithe muscles, only then digging in with my thumbs. “How long have you been kickboxing?”

“Only two years. That’s why I teach the kids and not the grown-ups. I’m still learning.”

“You looked good from my point of view.”

Alex chuckled. “Chiara took me in after my mom disowned me, and she’s the one who encouraged me to try it. She said it would give me confidence. As usual, she was right.”

“She’s really done a lot for you.”

“She started working for my mother when I was fifteen and was fired before I’d even turned seventeen for standing up for me, against her. She gave me her contact info and said, if I ever needed anyone, to give her a call. And thank God, because I would’ve relapsed without her.”

“When did all that happen?”

Alex blew out a breath. “A lot of things happened all at once. I tried to off myself, failed, my mother disowned me, and that’s when I called her up. That was…seven years later, and she still gave a damn.”

I furrowed my brow, quickly mathing out the entire timeline. “You’re twenty-six?”

“Yeah.” She suddenly stiffened, eyes opening. “How old are you?”

I bit my lip, pausing just long enough for anxiety to settle upon her countenance. “Twenty-three.”

I laughed as she glowered up at me. “Oh, thank God.”

“Worried I still had ‘teen’ in my age?”

“Look, I have my list of past run-ins with the law. Statutory rape was never on that list, and I don’t want to add it now.”

“Don’t worry, silly rich girl.” I leaned down and kissed her hair, as teasingly as I could. “I’m well above ‘of age’.”

“Listen, when you’re a ‘silly rich girl’, people will do crazy shit to extort you for money.” She paused, some distant hurt filling her words. “You never know who you can trust.”

I kept with the soothing touches, knowing it was probably a piss-poor massage but hopefully still of comfort. “You can trust me, I promise.”

I wasn’t expecting her asshole grin. “Which is exactly what someone I shouldn’t trust would say.” At my scowl, her visage softened. “I know I can trust you.”

She left it at that. Warmth filled my chest, my heart fuller than I had thought possible.

The good mood was interrupted by her rumbling stomach. I giggled. “Hungry already?”

“Hey, kickboxing takes a lot of calories.” Alex lifted her eye slightly, catching my eye. “If you want to stay the night, I’ll make dinner.”