Page 136 of Scatter the Bones

Yeah, no way in hell do I want to explainanyof that to Margot.

“I’m not stupid.” Her voice is steady but soft. “You had a life before me.” She arches a brow. “A very active life with lots and lots of variety, apparently.”

That stings like a motherfucker. Not because she’s wrong. But because those jealous little vipers threw it in her face to hurt her. And I wasn’t there to stop it.

She tucks her hair behind one ear and almost smiles, but it’s fragile. “I know when I first asked you to…help me, I said I just wanted basic instructions.” Her lips form a weak smile. “No master-level sex classes.”

My chest squeezes and I groan. “Margot, we are so far past sex lessons now.”

“Yes. We are,” she whispers. “I want you to be yourself with me.”

The rawness of her voice curls around me in an almost physical way. Barbed wire wrapped in satin.

She’s not angry.

She’s scared I’ve been holding back. That I don’t trust her enough to give her all of me.

Fucking hell, why can’t I be better with words? Why can’t I explain how perfect she is for me? How with her, I feel whole for the first time in my life.

I reach for her, curling my hand around the back of her neck, grounding both of us. “I’m exactly who I want to be when I’m with you.” That’s a truth I feel deep down in my bones. “Ilikewho I am with you. Who I ambecauseof you.”

She stares up at me like she wants to believe every word.

“I love you,” she says, her voice strong and sure. “but I want you to be…happy. Not feel like you’re missing out or you have to hold back.” Her lips tremble into a brave smile. “I’m a sturdy girl. I can take it. Teach me anything you want.”

Fuck, the brave way she says that hits me hard—like she’s offering me some sort of weapon and daring me to use it.

But what she’s implying leaves me…unsettled.

“Margot.” I tip her chin up, forcing her eyes to meet mine. “I don’t know what those evil little bitches told you, but I don’t enjoyhurtingmy partner to get off. Never have.”

She frowns, still unsure.

The weight of what I need to say turns my tongue to lead.

I swallow hard and force the words out. “I’ve survived enough beatings and punishments in my life. Nothing about hurting someone I care about does it for me.”

Pain flickers across her face and it damn near guts me.

I can’t breathe seeing that ache in her eyes.

I shift her in my arms, curling myself around her from behind. My arm sweeps over her chest and pulls her tight until her back is pressed to my front.

That’s better.

She wiggles, trying to turn around again. But I slide my arm around her waist, trapping her in place.

Leaning down, I brush my lips against the curve of her ear. “Have I ever given you the impression I have trouble asking for what I want from you?”

“I don’t think so,” she whispers.

I gather the hem of her dress in one hand and slowly drag it upward, the fabric whispering against her thighs until my knuckles graze soft skin. “Aren’t you always saying how demanding I am?”

She laughs softly, her breasts jiggling with the movement. “I think the word I’ve used isbossy.”

“Same difference.” I trail my lips along the side of her neck, enjoying the way her chest rises and falls faster. “So if there was something I wanted to do with you…” I pause, kissing just below her ear. “Don’t you think I’d say so?”

“I guess.” She hesitates. “Unless you thought I couldn’t handle it.”

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