Page 216 of Fury

She stared at the dark red corset hanging from my hands. Tania speechless? The mark of success.

Her fingertips slid over the textures of silk bands and lace. “It’s gorgeous. It’s—”

“I made it for you. I’m almost finished with it. One piece. One size. Yours. Try it on.”

Her eyes darted to mine. “Lenore—”

“Ah, Tania, trust me. I know these things. With your skin and hair...”

All she needed was encouragement, a last push up the mountain’s peak to see the Promised Land beyond. The air got thin up there, you needed support. I knew the signs, and I knew how to encourage. But I wasn’t only offering a dream here. Reality’s beauty was reaching out to Tania. Her very own beauty.

She took in a deep breath, her gaze magnetized on the corset. She was envisioning herself in it. My pale skinned, black haired, dark eyed Cinderella and her scarlet ballgown. I made one hell of a fairy godmother. My heart swelled. If I could be Tania’s fairy godmother, just this once.

“You can’t take your eyes off it, can you?” I asked.

“Give it here.”

I carefully laid it in her arms, the fabric gliding over our skin.

“Go,” I ordered.

Kicking off her shoes, she went into her back room.

I gave her a few minutes. “Honey, you need help?” I stepped into the room and my heart thudded in my chest.

Hell yes, best Fairy Godmother ever.

“It’s perfect. This color on you—it’s even better than I hoped.” I smoothed my hands down her back and across her waist. “Fantastic,” I murmured to myself.

Her skin trembled under my touch, and my eyes went to hers in the mirror. “Hon, you okay?” I stood up again and put my arms around her, my chin on her shoulder. “Tania, what’s wrong?”

“You’re amazing,” she said, her voice small. “This is a beautiful work of art. I feel beautiful.”

“Babe, you are beautiful. Only you could carry this one off. The color on you is—”

“Stunning. Somewhere between blood and wine.”

“Exactly. Your eyes really pop, and your skin is glowing, that dark, shiny hair.”

She pressed a hand against her middle. “I don’t even mind my tummy.”

“Stop. Your body looks great. I think you’ve lost a few pounds lately. Stressed out much?”

“Just a tiny little bit.”

“And don’t say a word about that ass. It’s glorious.” My hand slid down the curve of her hip.

She let out a small breath, her eyes ungluing from her reflection.

“What is it, Tania? What’s wrong?”

“I haven’t felt this way in a long, long time.”

“What way is that?”

“You know what I mean.”

I squeezed her hip. “Say it out loud right now while you’re feeling that shit.”

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