Page 30 of Faith
She nodded, her throat tight. She remembered the first time a man looked at her like that. A boy really. Her high schoolboyfriend was not right for her, but she learned a lot from dating him. He was kind and good to her, but he was never Zeke.
The bathroom door closed behind Zeke, and Nina let out a breath. The tingles of awareness coursing through her were not new, but they were welcome for the first time in a very long time.
Nina didn’t choose the life she had, but she did what she could to make the most of it. Some men she was with were nicer than others. They wanted her to enjoy their time. She knew it was mostly because it brought them more pleasure if she had an orgasm, but it allowed her to trick her mind into enjoying the experience. There were times she convinced herself it wasn’t so bad.
When she forgot about the threat to her life if she left and pushed aside the lack of choice.
Sex was as much of a punishment as drugs, but once Gwendolyn trusted Nina wouldn’t run, Nina had more agency in her choices. She had some repeat clients. Ones of her choosing. It was the best she could do, and the only way she could feel like her life wasn’t completely out of her control.
The men who became her regulars were good to her. One asked if she was safe when she walked in with bruises. She never saw him again, but Nina appreciated the concern he had for her.
She was never grateful for her situation, but she knew it could have been so much worse than it was. And she learned to enjoy sex. She learned to make it enjoyable for her partner. And she couldn’t help but wonder what kind of lover Zeke was.
Would he be commanding in bed? Maybe he was generous. She expected him to be demanding, wringing every ounce of pleasure from his partner.
Thinking about sex with Zeke had Nina wet and curious by the time the bathroom door opened and Zeke reappeared. He turned off the bathroom light and plunged them into darkness. He didn’t move for a moment, then he walked toward her.
Slowly, like he was stalking her. Or afraid of her.
He laid down on the mattress next to her and tugged the sheet and comforter over both of them.
Awkwardness settled over them again, Nina shifting in the bed and wishing she’d left the bedroom while Zeke was in the bathroom. She hated making him uncomfortable.
“I don’t want you to leave,” Zeke whispered, his voice gravelly and rough.
“I don’t want you to feel weird with me here.”
“It’s fine.”
“That’s not making me feel better.”
“Let’s get some sleep.”
Nina stared at his profile, faintly visible in the dark room. He laid on his back, hands on his chest. Every inhale lifted his chest, every exhale lowered it. He didn’t move otherwise. Didn’t settle and rest.
He sat up all night the night before, guarding the door where she slept. He had to be exhausted. But he still wasn’t sleeping.
Nina inched closer, wanting to feel the heat of his body next to her, the reminder he was there. She rested her hand on the mattress between them, stretching until her hand brushed his bicep.
He sucked in a breath but didn’t move away from her.
She closed her eyes and let sleep come. Finally safe.
Exhaustion finally claimedZeke an hour after Nina fell asleep. He’d been in much worse positions when he fell asleep, but he’d never had a woman in his bed.
Zeke’s dream was a good one. A great one. Nina was there, her hand draped over his middle. Her gray-green eyes were full of desire, her body lush and full and ready for him.
Zeke plucked one nipple, watching her face for a reaction.
She closed her eyes and moaned softly. “More.”
He was more than happy to comply. He brushed his thumb over her nipple, the peak pressing into the cotton top she wore.
She hooked a leg around his hip, rubbing herself on his erection.
“Fuck,” he growled.
“Please,” she begged.
