Page 26 of You Are My Every Reason

“I’ll get you thousands. I don’t like that any of that man is on you.” He leads me upstairs and back into our room. The lock clicking into place is music to my ears. Rich lets go of my hand, leaning up against the door.

“Are you okay?”

“I want to ask you something, and you can say no.” His brows furrow together.

“You can ask.”

“Remember, you can say no.”

“I know that.”

“I want to wash you.”

“Wash me?”

“Get you out of those clothes and any blood off you.”

“You don’t have to wash me.” A bark of a laughter comes from Rich. He doesn’t give out a lot of laughs, but when he does, I love each of them. They always make me smile.

“Babe, I want to wash you.”

“Like together?”

“Any way you’ll let me.”

“Together,” I agree.

“Are you sure?” I notice his hands are fisted at his sides. He’s holding himself back. I am sure of it. The man always wants to touch me unless there is a reason he can't, and there isn't one right now.

“We’ll be naked,” I squeak. Then I want to pinch myself for sounding so naïve. There were a million girls there tonight. All of them wanted him and would know what to do with him if they did have him. I have absolutely no clue or experience with any of this.

“Typically in a shower you’re naked.” He cocks his head to the side, giving me a playful smile.

I’ve never been curious about seeing a man naked until Rich. Heck, I have avoided any man before him. When Rich comes out of the bathroom in a towel, I always perk up. But seeing him naked will mean me getting naked as well. A sudden wave of shyness and insecurity washes over me.

“I don’t look like her,” I blurt out. I put my hand over my mouth. What is happening to me? I have always been good about keeping my mouth shut. Now things blurt right out of me. I know it’s because I feel safe here.

“What?” Rich is utterly confused. I don’t blame him.

“The blonde.”

“What blonde?” He pushes off the door, coming toward me. “You know what. Whatever blonde you’re talking about doesn’t matter,” Rich says. “You’re the only girl I want to see naked. The only one I want to touch. That I've even thought about touching or being touched by. No one else exists in my eyes but you. Only you.”

“You want me to touch you?” I lick my lips.

“Fucking love your touch, dollface.” I lay my hands on his chest. “You think I’ve ever been naked with another girl before? When I don’t want people touching me.”

“You haven’t?”

“Dollface.” He cups my face, tilting my head back to stare up at him. “You gave me my first kiss tonight.”

“How?” I suppose it’s not so hard to believe with all I’ve heard and seen for myself.

“Pretty sure I've been waiting for you.”

Tears fill my eyes. “Happy tears,” I rush to say before he panics. “I want you to be my first everything too.” I slide my hands up his chest and around his neck. “Now.”

I’m done waiting. Waiting for my father to show up. Waiting to make plans with my life. Waiting to live.

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