Page 72 of Priceless
“Just because someone didn’t lay hands on you doesn’t mean it wasn’t abuse. And I would say what they did with that fucking corset is just as bad. Not to mention the way they speak about you. To you. In front of other people. And all we did was sign up to marry you. There weren’t any other conditions.”
I looked at the swirling surface of the water, moving with the invisible jets and creating currents that tickled my skin.
“Come here,” Micah said.
Everett released me so I could go to him. Slowly, Micah peeled the wet nightgown over my head and tossed it away. It didn’t feel strange to be in the tub with them like this. Because they couldn’t completely see me with the bubbles. It was safer.
“I know you’re not going to want to,” he said. “But I’d like you to tell us about your other experiences.”
“Why?”
Dragging his fingers up my sides, Micah didn’t flinch away from the heavy curves in my body. Didn’t emphasize them either. He was simply touching me. “Because you’re my wife. And I don’t want my wife thinking about someone else while I’m inside her. Especially if that person caused her pain.”
I smiled in spite of myself. “I’m not sure if that’s sweet or possessive.”
“Both.”
They had a point, and maybe if they knew they wouldn’t judge me for my fear. Besides, I already knew they weren’t going to let it go. I did want this. Want them. And if this helped? I wasn’t sure if it would, but I’d try anything at this point. I was so tired of being afraid.
“Um…” Just fucking say it, Ocean. Spit it out. “The person who took my virginity did it for a bet. I didn’t find out until afterward. His friends bet him he wouldn’t fuck the fat girl. And I was so enamored of him and the fact that someone like him would be interested in someone like me that I didn’t stop to question why.”
Micah had gone still, and where I could see Cameron in the corner of my eye, his face was pure rage. So I kept going, needing to get it all out quickly.
“The other one lasted longer, but it wasn’t me he really liked. He just liked big girls. He didn’t care about me, he cared about the fact that I could get him off. And it’s always like that. Taking a photo with a group of people and men not wanting to stand next to me because they don’t want to be seen with the fat girl. Laughing because Isolde and Trinity would insist that I be sent drinks too when we’re out together.” I sighed. “It’s just the way it is. That’s why I have a hard time believing that you actually… want me.”
Before they could say anything, I kept going. “I do want you. I do want to trust you. I want to be with you while we’re together and enjoy it. But my mind keeps preparing for afterward when the good thing turns to more pain. I’m sorry.”
“I could kill anyone who’s made you feel like that,” Micah said quietly. “How can we show you? That we want you?”
I lowered my eyes. “Just don’t laugh at me after.”
“Fucking never.” Cameron pulled me away from Micah and spun me against the edge of the tub. “I’ll make you laugh until you’re crying, sweetheart. But I’ll never laugh at your expense. As for everything else? I love your body. I love that you’re soft where we’re hard. You smooth our edges and are a cushion where we’re rocks. Anyone would be crazy to think you’re anything but beautiful. And yes,” he whispered, lowering his mouth to mine. “I am attracted to women like you. We all are. But I promise we didn’t choose you because you checked a box for what we wanted in a body. We met you. Were attracted to you. Chose you.”
An arm snaked around my waist, and this time when Everett pulled me onto his lap, I was facing him. He arranged my knees on either side of his hips, and the hard length of him pressed against me. My eyes went wide, and he smiled. That ruthless, feral smile. “I certainly hope that feels like I want you, nymph.”
“Yes.”
He pulled me closer, brushing a kiss across my lips. A whisper, and vulnerability in his eyes I already knew him well enough to understand didn’t appear often. “You never said if you forgive me. The last thing I want you to be is scared of me. Everyone else can be scared of me, and they should be. But never you.”
“I forgive you,” I said the second before he kissed me. And not just kissed me. Devoured me.
One hand slid into my hair and gripped it, tilting my face deeper. He tasted so good, I wanted to devour him right back.
Everett’s other hand was low, slipping over my skin and downward. He nipped at my lips as he pulled back. “I would very much like to touch you.”
I smiled. “You weren’t already?”
He squeezed my hip and smirked. “I like when you come out to play.”
“I’m still nervous.”
“That’s okay,” Micah said from behind me. “We can work with that. Remember?”
“Yeah.”
Everett brushed his fingers along the edge of the underwear I still wore. “If we weren’t in the tub I’d be tempted to tear these off you. But I want to make sure you’re ready.”
My whole body flushed. Moving to get them off pushed my breasts directly into his face, and my body everywhere else. He didn’t let me go far, molding me to him wherever possible, even after I managed to get the scrap of fabric off and toss it with the nightgown on the bathroom floor.
