"Not…not like that," I said. I glanced down at the bed covers.
"What about before that?"
I looked back up at him. "Before that I did. I mean, I was, you know…"
"A normal eighteen-year-old woman?" His jaw clenched, clearly furious at my father and Kurt for stealing those years from me.
"If you could call me normal," I said lightly. I didn't think there was much normal about me back then, but compared to now I supposed I was.
"What did you think about?" he asked. "When you touched yourself."
I thought back. "I don't know. Guys I knew. Book boyfriends. You."
A flicker of surprise crossed his face. "Me?"
Should I have said that? I couldn't take it back now. His raised eyebrow was a clear insistence that I explain.
"Why not you? You're strong, powerful and handsome. Dangerous. Like an open fire a girl shouldn't step into."
"But you wanted to?" His eyes darkened in a way that, under other circumstances, in another lifetime, I might have peeled off my clothes and begged him to fuck me.
"Yes," I said simply.
"Touch yourself," he whispered. "I want to see you."
I swallowed. "It's been so long."
"Exactly. You deserve to know your body belongs to you." He looked like he was about to add 'and me,' but held the words back for now. "Touch yourself."
I slipped my hand down between my legs and lightly ran the tips of my fingers over the front of my pyjama pants.
My eyes on his, I ran them up and down, barely touching the fabric, or my pussy underneath them. It felt good. Better than good. It felt as though a part of me was slowly coming back to life. That maybe I could put what Kurt did behind me. If I wasn't ready for a man to touch me, there was no reason I couldn't give myself pleasure. And give it to Reuben by doing this.
I slipped my hand down the front of my pants and over my damp pussy and throbbing clit.
"Are you wet?" Reuben asked.
"Very wet," I whispered. I traced circles around my clit with my fingertips before sliding my fingers inside myself.
"Fuck," Reuben said breathlessly. "Does that feel good?"
"So good," I murmured. I hesitated for a moment before I hooked my thumb around the waistband of my pants and pushed them down, exposing my pussy to him.
"Good girl," he whispered. "You have the most beautiful pussy I've ever seen."
I worked myself slowly, driving my fingers in deeper while I rubbed the heel of my hand against my clit. I slipped the other hand up the front of my singlet to roll my remaining nipple between my thumb and forefinger.
"That's my girl." He hadn't moved, but I saw his arousal tenting the front of his pants, his cock straining against the seams. He didn't touch me or himself, just watched while I drew closer and closer to coming.
"Reuben," I whispered. "I'm going to come."
"Good girl," he said again. "Let me see you come."
I moaned and drove my hand faster and faster before I came in a rush of sensation I hadn't felt in so long. It wasn't the most violent or intense orgasm I ever had. Instead, it was a gentle sweep of pleasure that curled my toes and made me cry out loud.
I slumped back against the pillows and pulled my fingers out of my wetness.
"You're even more beautiful when you come," he said. "So perfect."