Page 36 of Need

The food was wonderful, but I wouldn’t have expected less. I offered her a bite of my cannelloni. It might not have been the right thing to do, as watching her lips wrap around my fork sent sensations to areas of my body that I was desperately trying to keep repressed.

I wasn’t ready to go home after dinner, so I took a detour to a park a few blocks away. The night was warm, and it wasn’t raining. There wasn’t much more you could ask for this time of year. It was still light out so there were people walking, kids playing. If it bothered Brianna, she didn’t show it. I held her hand as we walked. There was nothing about this that felt wrong.

She talked a little more about her mom and about her dog, Rusty. It seemed as though she’d had a normal childhood until her mom had gotten sick. I wanted to know more about her father, but she seemed so relaxed by the time we headed back that I didn’t want to bring it up.

It was after nine when we arrived at my condo. I followed her into her room. She walked over to her nightstand, picked up her journal, and handed it to me. I opened it, and flipped through the pages as she went to her dresser to get something for bed.

She’d written more both yesterday and today. After leaving her hanging yesterday, I could feel the tension in her writing. She wanted to get closer, but she was still so scared.

Today’s entry was less emotional, but still filled with her feelings regarding me. Confusion again seemed to be the prevailing one; however, safe, warm, and fearful seemed to be following close behind.

Although I would probably never fully understand what she had gone through, I knew without a doubt that she didn’t want to be that scared little girl anymore. Everything she was telling me, showing me, confirmed that.

I placed the journal back in its place and turned to find her sitting on the bed, the tank top and shorts still sitting folded beside her.

With deliberate steps, I walked to stand in front of her. My hand came up to cup her chin and raised it. There was such a mixture of emotion on her face, just like in her journal. I released her and took a step back.

“Stand up, Brianna.” She did. “Turn around and face away from me.” Again, she did as instructed.

I stepped closer and took the clips from her hair. The newly released locks tumbled down into their rightful places on her shoulders. I grazed my fingers along the soft skin where the hairs now touched before following the outside of her dress until I reached the zipper. Watching her closely, I made sure I wasn’t going too fast for her. She was doing well, and appeared to be okay.

With a gentle tug, I began slowly lowering the zipper, making sure that the back of my knuckle brushed against her spine all the way down. A narrow V of flesh showed down her back with only a hint of bra halfway down and red panties visible at the bottom. Even with the scars marring her skin, there was no way for my body not to react to that sight.

The tips of my fingers ran up her sides, causing her to shudder a little. I wasn’t sure if it was from excitement, nerves, or if she was just ticklish. I paused for an extra-long moment when I reached the top of her dress before pushing it off her shoulders. Material slid down her body and pooled at her feet, leaving her clad only in her underwear.

I leaned down and placed a soft kiss to the top of each shoulder, and then reached between us to unfasten her bra. With a little assistance the straps fell, giving me the amazing view of the tops of her naked breasts.

My hands went to her waist. Her panties were simple. They were red satin with just a little lace around the edges. My fingers slipped just under the edge of the lace at the top, lingering just enough to tease her.

She was responding very, very well. Not once had she tensed in fear, but I asked anyway. “Are you all right, Brianna?”

“Yes,” she whispered, and it was huskier than normal.

I smiled against her shoulder. “Good.”

Removing my fingers from inside the satin, I began doing the same along the outside of the lace. At first, I stayed at the top, just as I had on the inside. Then I started tracing the outside edges starting in the back.

This time, she tensed. “Shhh, Brianna. It will be good, I promise.” I gave her a minute to register this. “Do you want me to stop?”

She shook her head and squeezed out a no.

“All right. Just relax. Remember you’re safe with me.”

All through the conversation, my fingers had not stopped brushing over the smooth round flesh of her backside. I kept them there until I felt her relax again. Then, I started to move them with a slightly more deliberate purpose.

I slid my fingers down to the junction of her legs still following the lace. I felt her tense momentarily before willing herself to relax. “Good girl,” I whispered and placed another kiss on her shoulder. “Now spread your legs a little for me.” She complied and I began the plan that had formed in my mind.

Ever so slowly, I began to draw small circles. For the most part, I stayed on the edges with the lace, but every now and then, I would divert from my path and place a circle farther in.

I continued this pattern as I watched her body start to respond. She was taking deeper breaths, and I began to feel the moisture under my fingertips. “Do you like this, Brianna? Does it feel good?”

“Yes,” she breathed.

“One day, I will make you feel better than you’ve ever felt before,” I promised as my finger moved forward and I placed a deliberate circle directly over her clit.

She gasped.

I pressed again a little firmer. “Is that something you want, Brianna?”

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