Page 49 of The Redemption of Remy St. Claire

“If we just get it over with, maybe it won’t be so bad.”

A very sudden and very sobering realization hit him.

“Are you a virgin?”

“No.” Another whisper.

He cursed the darkness because he needed to see her—needed to be able to discern her emotions. Something was wrong and he needed to shed some light on it.

“Okay…you’re not a virgin. Why do you want to just get it over with?” He paused. “Have you ever had an orgasm?”

“Rusty.”

The pleading and tears in her voice ate at him. He should walk away from this, figuratively and literally, but the time for that had come and gone. He was all-in for this marriage. “Talk to me, Remy.”

She took a deep breath and released it in a long shudder. “I’m frigid.”

Not what he expected. “What makes you think that?”

Another deep breath, another long shudder. “Because every time a guy touches me, I freeze up. That’s the definition of frigid.”

“Maybe you haven’t been with the right guy.”

She barked out a laugh. “And you’re the right guy? Isn’t that a bit arrogant?”

“No.” He hesitated. “I mean, it makes me sound that way, but it’s not arrogance. I care, okay? I’m your husband. Even if I wasn’t, I’d care. I don’t want you to spend the rest of your life without making love just because some guy called you frigid.”

She sighed. “It’s not something some guy called me. I’ve tried with several guys. I could barely take it past kissing. As soon as they touched me, I had to make them stop.”

“And did they…stop?”

“Yeah.”

Thank God.Nothing was worse than a man forcing himself on a woman. “Have you tried to get help for this?”

“You mean like counseling?”

“Sure.”

Another sigh. “I didn’t because I didn’t think it mattered. After the last guy…I gave up. I decided sex wasn’t worth the hassle.”

God help me.“It’s worth the hassle. I won’t pretend otherwise. It has a way of bringing two people together in a way only physical intimacy can.”

“I tried. I really did. I wanted it more than anything.”

“What about the guy?”

“What about him?”

“Did you want him? Was he special?”

Her silence spoke volumes.

“Were you with him because you loved him, or because you wanted to please him?”

“You mean was it consensual? I wanted to do it, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“There you go again. You wanted to doit. It’s called making love. With the right person, it can be amazing.”

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