Page 18 of Bought By the Revenant
He’s so stubborn.
“What, Riven?”
“I don’t know anything. How to do this… How to…”
His arms drop to his sides and his shoulders sag. He lets me hold him, but it’s a game of push and pull. His expression is so wretched that I almost feel guilty for asking him to step out of his comfort zone, to do something he’s never done…
Wait.
Something he’s never done… in his life?
The realization strikes me.
Is Riven a virgin?
“Talk to me,” I say softly, placing feathery kisses on his jawline. I trace the stitch that leads to the corner of his mouth. “I’m your bride, Riven. Despite what you said earlier, I don’t think you made a mistake when you bought me. You deserve togetherness, connection, love. And do you know who else also deserves all that? Me.”
“But that’s the thing, Amity. I don’t know how to… do all that. How can I offer you something I never had?”
“I can teach you.” I kiss his lips tenderly. “We can learn together.”
“This body.” He huffs in frustration. “I’ve lived in it for so long, but sometimes it still doesn’t feel like it’s mine, like I know what to do with it.”
I take his hand in mine and place it on my chest, over my heart.
“It’s big, and clumsy, and…” he continues, but I stop him by placing my thumb on his lips, tracing them gently. He shakes his head instead, still stubborn. Still so insecure that he’d rather ruin this thing we’re trying to do, to achieve, than accept that I’m actually attracted to him.
“I’ll show you. Follow my lead.”
“Amity…”
“Do you trust me, Riven? I trusted you earlier when you stitched me up. It’s your turn to trust me. So, do you?”
After a moment’s hesitation, he nods.
I smile.
“Good.”
When I pull him toward the bed, he obeys. He even closes the door behind us. I turn us around and make him sit on the edge of the bed. He doesn’t say anything about the curtains, and I don’t mention them either. I want to see him. And I want him to see me.
“I’ll start,” I say as my hands go to the buttons of my blouse. “Watch, and after, I will help you.”
He swallows heavily.
“Help me get undressed?”
“Don’t think about it now. Think about me,” I say, realizing I might’ve gotten ahead of myself. I need to keep him anchored in the present. “Focus on me and only me.”
He nods, and I undo one button at a time. My injured arm makes it difficult to take off my blouse, but I push through the pain. I don’t even wince, not wanting to alert him. I’m in only my bra before him, and he can’t take his eyes off my round breasts. My pants are next. I know it’s not ladylike to wear pants all the time, but they’re more convenient, especially when I work in thegarden. I roll them down my legs and remove my boots in the process. Riven shifts on the bed, his fingers flexing on his knees.
“Here. You do it.”
I take both his hands in mine and bring them to my breasts. I can feel him trembling. I lean over so he can reach behind and unhook my bra. He fumbles, his fingers clumsy. He looks at me with a sort of horror in his eyes, and it almost makes me laugh, because this man has just sewn my flesh back together, but can’t unhook a simple piece of lingerie.
“It’s okay,” I encourage him.
My breasts are in his face, and… is that a bead of sweat I see forming at his hairline? His brows furrow in concentration, and finally, the bra is undone, the straps sliding down my arms. I take if off and throw it onto the floor. Before Riven can retreat, I grab his hands and place them firmly over my breasts.
