“I want to see if… if I can. If it’s not ruined.” Evie looked away, suddenly embarrassed as well as frightened. “I get it if you don’t want to. I’m not like I was, so it wouldn’t be… It would just be to try. I want to try.”
Natalya considered for a long moment. For most of it, she looked ready to refuse. Then her shoulders tightened a little.
“Do you know what a safe word is?”
Evie nodded.
“You’ll have two. Red means everything stops, yellow means everything pauses.” She spoke with the same assertive tone as before. “Repeat them.”
“Red, everything stops. Yellow, everything pauses.”
“Good.” Natalya brushed a finger over Evie’s chin, making her shudder at the light touch. Barely there, but the ghost of it lingered even as Natalya’s hand moved over to run through her hair. Softly untangling. “I’m going to take your clothes off. Tell me if it goes too fast.”
She held Evie’s gaze, not moving until Evie gave her a small nod.
Natalya pulled Evie to her feet, brushing her fingers against the hem of her long-sleeved shirt. She only broke eye contact as she eased the shirt over Evie’s head, maintaining it as she slowly opened the button of Evie’s jeans, pulled down the zipper, and tugged so they fell to the floor. Evie was standing in just her underwear.
She hadn’t been this naked in front of someone since Varro’s estate. A pang went through her, of shame and self-consciousness.
She was no beauty like Natalya. She was no beauty at all. She had that horrible tattoo on her ribs, and there were scars all over her body. On her wrists, thighs, neck, breasts, stomach. Everywhere. Natalya could see all of them.
Evie hugged herself, covering her chest and the tattoo.
“The marks?” Natalya asked.
Evie nodded, feeling tears in her eyes. Natalya leaned in close.
“What marks?”
Her eyes stayed on Evie’s. She didn’t look at the tattoo or the scars, as others undoubtedly would have. She just looked at Evie. Only saw Evie.
She lowered her arms. Her eyes trailed over Natalya, who was still fully clothed. “Should I...?”
“No. Just you.”
Natalya moved so close that Evie’s breasts brushed against her dress. A black, flowing garment with slits that went almost to her hip. It had a deep neckline, showing off most of her chest.
Natalya’s attention may be fixed on Evie’s face, but Evie couldn’t give her the same courtesy. She stared at her breasts. At her smooth, flawless skin.
Her mouth suddenly felt dry.
“You’re staring.” Natalya’s voice pulled her attention upwards again. Natalya leaned closer, her lips inches away. Smiling with unexpected tease. “That isn’t polite.”
She started brushing her fingers over Evie’s body, carefully and slowly. She touched her shoulders and arms, trailed over her ribs. She caressed her breasts, her waist, and her hips. Every part of Evie she could reach without moving from where she was standing, her lips so close Evie only needed to lean forward, and they would be kissing again.
Natalya removed her bra and underwear, taking them off slowly. She traced a finger over Evie’s collarbone, down her sternum between her now bare breasts. It made a trail of delicious fire where it moved. Her touch was stronger than before, and Evie drew in a sharp breath.
“Too much?” Natalya asked. Evie shook her head.
Natalya kept touching her gently, letting Evie get used to the sensation. So many people had touched her body that she’d learned to deaden against the feeling. Natalya’s faint caresses were waking up her nerves. The desire she thought stolen being coaxed out by warm, careful touches.
“Come here.” Natalya sat down on the couch. She spread her legs slightly, moving the flowing fabric of her dress. With the slits, it bared her thighs.
She pulled Evie down so she was hovering over her, knees on either side of her hips, facing her. She put her hands on Evie’s waist, easing her down until she was resting all her weight on Natalya’s lap.
At first, Evie just felt warm skin against hers, but then a fluttering feeling started through the back of her thighs. She stiffened, and the sensation stopped.
As she relaxed, it returned. Coming slowly until she sensed the usual buzzing warmth she always felt when she touchedNatalya’s skin. Except, with how she was sitting, the feeling was getting very close to touching between her legs.
