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I’d told her I loved her, she’d burst into hysterical tears, then went after me like if I wasn’t inside her soon she’d explode If I didn’t know the htmares she still battled I may have not stopped her How many times had I taken her wild reactions to our sex as a turn on and used it for ently taking her hands in one ofa stray tear from her chin "You are very much awake And I am in love with you I have been for a while but was scared to accept it Trust this Trust h I don’t deserve it GiveI can to love you Protect you Make you happy To erase all the shit I’ve done in the past"

She didn’t speak Her eyes never leaving mine Her pupils were dilated Lashes wet and eyes red She was the ht ht to live Things I thought I’d known but I had no fucking clue Until Scarlet

"How?" she finally whispered I could see she didn’t believe me She wanted to but the fear to do it held her back

"How do I love you?" I asked for clarification

She nodded, and that stake inshe kne to receive easily And I had run fro life

"I was broken I didn’t believe I could love, when in reality I didn’t love ht hand and pressed it to my cheek "You loved me Even when I couldn’t love myself"

She reached up with her other hand and touched ht me a lot, Scarlet What real bravery is, what deter, you’ve taught ain I ain This ti at me as if I were about to vanish Instead, her hands fisted in my shirt and she sank intoabout Was her past and the hurt and destruction she’d endured haunting her? Had she learned to block it out? Or was this her giving in to relief That she wasn’t alone She had me I’d love her I’d protect her I’d hold her

"I love you," she said, tilting her head back to look at as was how I ed I knehen she did loveterrified, but I wanted to hold onto her and how she made me feel, and how her loveaze I would be satisfied holding her like this all night But I’d be lying toher body the way I should have before wasn’tmy hands itch to explore her With ently caressing her neck

An alasp escaped her mouth and I took that as an invitation to take ive iven pleasure without pain Without harsh words but sweetness only

Sliding ed it free froive her nipple attention while I nibbled and licked her collarbone Her soft skin was salty from fallen tears and sweat Scarlet arched her back and pressed her breast intothis No matter how badly she wanted me to I pulled the other cup down and the lacy fabric let her left breast pop free I ranher She always reminded ainst led inher belly button with ertip, then unbuttoned her shorts so that I could continue ers the roan She ainst my hand ie

With a careful, drawn out touch I gave the gentlest attention to her swollen clit The begging began with her head thrown back and her neck exposed to rabbed a handful of my hair "Bray" My name was a raspy sound from her lips

I studied those lips, swollen from my extra attention I eased my hand out of her panties That rabbed my wrist

"No!" she cried

I slidlove to you, Scarlet But not on this tiny excuse for a couch"