Page 183 of Solanum

She closed her eyes as if hanging on to my every word. "What I don't understand the most," she began, and silent tears streamed her cheeks. "Is they all say the same thing. I'm a slut. They'll put a bullet in me. That I'm worthless. Threaten to…" She stopped then, gulping down her heavy emotions. "Why do they all say the same thing? Different people, thousands of miles apart, all tell me the same thing."

"Is it mostly men, Nor, that've told you this?" I held her hand to my chest, resting my chin on it. She watched me and nodded. "Because it's the same script, baby. The same script men have been using against women for a millennium to disempower and horrify us. It's not you, Nor, it's them. It's the weapon they use."

Her gaze flickered back and forth as if she surveyed my face for a fraction of mistruth.

"You're none of what they say." I brushed my nose against hers. "Know how I know?"

She shook her head and finally released her ears to rest her hand on my chest.

"They said the same thing to me twenty years ago, in Arabic, in English. In every language. It's what they do. It's the weapon they're taught. Slut-shame, threaten our lives, diminish our value, and sexually assault. It's the ultimate weapon that our patriarchal society never condemns." I stroked my finger down her cheek. "Worst part about it is it's taught. It's a learned behavior. Men aren't born like that. And the good ones rally against it. Like Ben and Gene. Roderick, even though he's a fucking idiot."

She laughed softly at that.

"Does it make sense?" I smiled at the sweet sounds that left her.

"Yes," she said, her voice soft. "Doesn't stop me from believing it though. That part is harder."

"I know, honey. Do you believe what I say to you?"

She nodded right away, her shimmering green eyes locked on mine.

"Listen to my words and watch my lips." I paused to watch her tearful smile. "You are not a slut. You're my delicious Kitten who delights in our shared passion. You deserve to live a happy, safe life. You are the most important person in the world to me and to Maya. Your body is your own to make whatever choices you feel suit you. Anyone who touches you without permission deserves a punch in the face. I value you, Nora Brody." I brought her hand to my lips to kiss her knuckles. "You're my everything and I love you."

"I love you, too." She cupped my face in her palms and kissed me deep enough to lift my feet from the floor.

I grabbed a handful of her hair until we parted and I caught her in a hug.

"Tell me what you need, baby." I traced my finger over the curves of her sweet face. "Whatever you want."

"Can we snuggle on the sofa?" she asked, her voice soft. "And you hold me?"

"My favorite." I kissed her quickly and we shifted around to do just that.

She turned her back to me so that I could spoon her and hugged my arm to her chest. I pressed my lips against the back of her smooth neck, and she nuzzled me.

"I'm so cold," she whispered.

"Okay, baby." I pulled the blanket off the back of the sofa and wrapped her up in it. "Do you want to take a hot bath with me?"

She shook her head, then cautiously turned around to face me again. Her legs tangled with mine and I pressed my lips to her forehead. "Just nap and snuggle, honey," she said, closing her eyes while she shivered against me.

"All right, Kitten." I ran my fingers through her hair and slowly her body began to relax. My worry for her increased, until she drifted to sleep.

My phone buzzed and I lifted it to cautiously respond to the reports sent to me by Gordo and the Sumter Sheriff's Office. They had her uncle in custody, of course, and he was being held. I texted Maya for good measure, and she responded with a chipper selfie at Wildrose with a few of her friends. I smirked and set my phone down, an inkling of satisfaction settling in my heart. Maya's dad got his reckoning, at least this time, and she remained unscathed. Nora wouldn't have it any other way, save for the fact that the pain touched her in a manner that continued to fuel my fury.

For years, Nora acted as a shield against the abuse her family tossed at her and Maya. The latter having thrived throughout it while Nora suffered in silence. Only her kidnapping and treatment by Perkins seem to embolden the pain she usually kept at bay. At times like these, I worried for her. Not because of what she said, because of the things she didn't say.

While I didn't join her in the nap, I kept watch over her, knowing that was one way I could help her feel safe. An hour later, she stirred and stretched against me, flopping the blanket off herself like usual. She huffed and covered her face. The length of her overheated body stretched against me and she scrunched up her nose.

"Babe, I'm so sweaty. What'd you do to me?" she said, her voice a groggy croon.

I laughed and stole a kiss from her pink lips. "That's all you. Turning yourself into a blanket burrito has consequences."

"Uck." She flopped onto her back and sighed. "I need to shower."

"Hmm. If you insist. While you were napping, Maya sent us a pic." I showed her the image on my phone and she laughed. "I guess the party starts early for the youth of Seattle."

"Remember when we were the youth of Seattle?" She let out a dramatic sigh while gazing at the picture of her beanie-clad cousin gripping a rainbow cocktail.

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