“What are you doing?”

“Getting you into the shower.” At what must’ve been my

skeptical expression, he added, “It’s the fastest way to get you warm.”

“I see,” I murmured.

He made quick work of turning on the water and testing it

with his fingers. When it seemed to his satisfaction, he turned back to me. I

still sat on the toilet, shivering and trembling.

We stared at each other for a moment. Rev jerked a hand

through his hair. “Yeah, uh, I guess I better let you get in now.”

When he started to go, I grabbed his arm. “Wait. I need help

getting out of this dress.”

His eyes flared at my request. It wasn’t a come-on in

disguise. I had needed the help of one of our maids earlier tonight to get it

zipped. Instead of asking me to stand up, Rev bent over my back, bringing his

hands to the zipper. Slowly, he tugged it down.

As the front gaped open, I didn’t bother trying to cover

myself.

Rev’s hands momentarily faltered, and when I looked up, I

met his gaze, which was staring at my bare breasts. I hadn’t needed to wear a

bra because of the tight-fitting bodice. He cleared his throat several times,

then tugged the zipper the rest of the way down.

There was not a doubt in my mind, heart, or body about how

much I wanted him. I knew he expected me to want to take things slow in the sex

department, but that’s not how I felt. Regardless of the ghosts of the past, I

wanted him more than I had ever wanted any man. I wanted him to be the one who

proved to me that sex was physically and emotionally safe. That it could be a

loving act between two consenting people.

But with the roller coaster of feelings rocketing through

me, it was more about an all-consuming lust and desire.

When Rev stepped back from me, I rose to my feet. The dress

slid down my body

and pooled at my feet, leaving me in only my panties. Both

empowerment and vulnerability raced through me.

“Rev, I want you to look at me.” He shook his head and kept

his gaze on the floor. “I said I want you to look at me,” I repeated.

“That’s not what this is about. It’s about you getting warm

before you catch pneumonia,” he countered.

“I could care less about getting sick. Right now what I care

about is seeing the man I love want me sexually. To look at me like he wants to

devour me.”

His eyes, which burned with lust and unfilled desire,

snapped to mine. “How can you ever doubt even for a second how I feel about

you?”

I threw my hands up. “Because I’m standing practically naked

before you and you won’t fucking look at me!”

“We’re both teetering at the edge of uncharted territory.

After everything you’ve been through, I would rather die than hurt you.” “You

hurt me more when you won’t look at me or touch me,” I protested.

With an agonized sigh, Rev finally allowed his gaze to rake

down my body. There was no feeling of embarrassment or inadequacy. Just the

look on his face warmed me from head to toe. “You’re so beautiful,” he

murmured.

Tears stung my eyes from his adoration. “I am?” I

questioned.

He smiled. “Every inch of you.”