Page 14 of Curves of Steel

Not by a long shot.

Sex was always a chore. I initiated it because I thought I was supposed to want it. Donny executed it like it was his duty, not his desire.

I figured I must be the problem, not realizing he was getting his rocks off with other women on the side. He never needed me to be anything other than another trophy to shine for the media and our fans.

In our years together, I never wanted Donny with as much fire as I crave Dan in this moment.

If Donny was “meant to be,” I want the opposite of that. I want surprising and exciting and life-giving.

I want Dan to make me feel as good as I thought Donny would when I gave him my virginity, but he never did.

“Too many clothes,” I gasp, wanting to feel my skin next to Dan’s.

“Are you sure?” he rasps. “Here, like this?”

I nod, tugging at his clothes. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

Dan wraps his arms around my back and sits us both upright. He slips my off vest, then peels away my top and bra. I do the same for his sweater, and he clasps me to his chest.

I rest against him, thanking whatever deity that might be listening that the truck has tinted windows.

“You’re spectacular,” Dan murmurs into my hair. “I can’t believe something this good is happening to me.”

I pull away, needing to look at his face in the light filtering into the truck from the few streetlights. “How can you say that, that I’m spectacular? We barely know each other.”

He smiles down at me, the warmth of it melting me like the sun coming out from behind a cloud on a cold day. “Sometimes you just know things,” he says as if that’s explanation enough.

“That doesn’t make sense,” I say, shaking my head.

“I didn’t say it made sense. I just said that, somehow, I know it’s true. Now,” his eyes twinkle with mischief, “take off your pants.”

I’ve never kicked off my boots and socks so fast. Dan opens my pants, and I return the favor for his jeans, then we both wiggle out of our bottoms.

And then, finally, we’re bared to each other.

Naked, his skin against mine, wholly ourselves together.

Vulnerable.

Real.

It feels so right.

I lay back again, and he nestles between my dripping thighs. He teases my opening with his rod while stroking my belly with gentle fingertips.

For the first time since I left skating and gained weight, I don’t feel like too big or too fat or too much. I feel cherished just as I am.

It brings tears to my eyes.

Quickly, I swipe them away, not wanting Dan to get the wrong idea.

But he doesn’t miss a thing.

As quickly as we got naked, he’s scooped me into his arms and is cradling me with such care my heart could break.

“You’re crying — what is it?” he asks, concerned eyes searching my face. “What’s wrong? We don’t have to do this—“

I shake my head. “Nothing’s wrong. Quite the opposite.”

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