Page 49 of The Anaconda Downstairs

“Do you have any idea what you do to me, Pen?” he murmured, his voice husky.

My breath caught in my throat. Part of me wanted to say no, to deny that I could possibly turn him on like this. The small, traumatized part of me wanted to hide away the parts of myself I’d always been told were too much, to repulsive to be attractive, to be loved.

But a bigger, better part, the part that had been silenced for too long, whisperedyes.

“Show me,” I said, surprising myself with how much I meant it, wanted it.

Everett’s smile was radiant as he led me to the fancy new guest bedroom, and once inside the doorway, his hands were all over me again. He pulled me to the bed and sat me on the edge, then he knelt in front of me, looking up with such adoration that it made my heart ache.

“Tell me that you want me as much as I want you.” Did I... did I detect a little bit of uncertainty in his voice? Was there any question that any woman he’d ever been with wanted him? Unlikely. He was one of the hottest men in the whole entire world.

His hands rested lightly on my knees, waiting for my response. I nodded, unable to look away from his intense gaze, and I remembered what he’d said earlier about enthusiastic consent. That must be what this was. Not self-doubt from him, but just him making sure I was doing okay. That made more sense.

I smiled and cupped his cheeks in my hands. “I enthusiastically want you, Everett Kingman.”

His smile lit up his whole face, and he slowly unbuttoned my pajama top. With each button, more of my skin was exposed, and I fought the urge to cover myself.

But then Everett leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my collarbone, then another to the swell of my breast. “God, you’re so perfect,” he whispered against my skin.

And for the first time in my life, I started to believe it might be true.

Everett’s hands were gentle as they pushed my pajama top off my shoulders. For a fraction of a second, my muscles moved to cross my arms over my chest, to hide from his gaze. But theway he looked at me—like I really was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen—gave me the courage to continue to stay open, vulnerable.

“Do you want me to take this off too?” he asked softly, his fingers tracing the lace edge of my bra.

I nodded, then found my voice so he would never doubt that everything he was doing was exactly what I wanted. “Yes,” I whispered. “Please.”

He reached behind me to unclasp my bra. As it fell away, I held my breath, waiting for the moment his expression would change, for the disappointment to set in.

But it never came. Because this was not some dickface from my past. This was my future.

Everett’s eyes flashed and hecupped my breasts, thumbs brushing over my nipples. I couldn’t hold back a soft moan. No one outside of my dreams touched me so... reverently. Encouraged by my response, he leaned in, replacing his fingers with his mouth.

“Ev,” I gasped. The sensation was overwhelming. I arched into him, my fingers tangling in his hair.

He looked up at me, his lips curved in a smile. “Good?”

“So good,” I admitted, and I could hardly wait for more.

He slid his hands down to my waist, thumbs stroking the soft skin of my belly. I tensed. I didn’t mean to, but I did.

His touch lightened, but he didn’t move away. “Tell me what you like or don’t, sweet Penny. I want to hear a whole lot more of those soft little moans.”

I bit my lip, embarrassed. “I’m not sure I like having my stomach touched. It’s not exactly a sensual zone for me.”

Understanding dawned in his eyes, and I was trying so hard to be the beautiful confident Penelope that he wanted.

“Pen,” he said, his voice serious. “I won’t touch you there if you don’t want, but give me a chance to show you how every partof you is beautiful to me first. Including this.” He bent down and pressed a kiss to my stomach, right above my navel, then looked up to see my reaction.

I licked my lips and gave him the tiniest of nods.

He pulled the waistband of the pajama pants down. “And this.” Another kiss, this time to that bit of muffin top right above my panties.

Everett must have sensed my nervousness because he paused, looking up at me with those earnest blue eyes. “We can stop anytime, Pen. Just say the word.”

But I didn’t want to stop. For the first time in my life, I felt truly seen. Which was empowering, even if it was also uncomfortable.

“Don’t stop,” I said, reaching out to cup his face. “Please, Ev. I want this. I want you.”

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