. Her naked... This was something that did me absolutely no good to think about, yet I'd spent many hours doing it. And, if I reasoned why, was the basis for everything that'd happened with us. Her naked... That photograph Tom Bennett sent to me was the same one I bought at the show. From a pragmatic view it was just a picture of a beautiful naked body anyone would appreciate, male or female. But even with the little he told me in the beginning, paired with that picture of her in all its vulnerability, allure and stark beauty, the thought she could be in danger or that someone would purposefully hurt her galvanized me to go out to the street and get her safely into my car. I just couldn't walk away from her and keep my conscience intact. And once we'd met my mind went mad with fantasies. All I could see in my head while we talked was... her naked,My bath started losing its heat after an hour and, understandably, its appeal. So I got out, and dressed and went in search of the book. L

"Ethan, I-I got your letter." Her voice sounded thready and the urge to go to her was so great I didn't know how I would manage to keep away. "Thanks for sending it. The flowers are beautiful too. I-I just wanted you to know that I talked to my dad and he told me some stuff.....She lost her composure then. I could hear the sounds of muffled crying. I knew she was, and it broke my heart wide open. "I have to go...maybe later we could talk." She whispered the last. "Bye, Ethan." And then she hung up.I thought I would crack the glass in my mobile punching buttons to redial praying she picked up and would speak to me. Time slowed down interminably while the call connected. Once, twice, three rings. My heart pounded and the need for air increased- "Hi." Just one little word. But it was her voice and she was directing it to me.I could hear noises in the background. Like traffic. ... how are you? You sounded upset on your message. "Brynne.....I was in a meeting..." I trailed off realizi

"Shutting up now." I grabbed at her fingers with my other hand and held them to my lips. I kissed her fingers and didn't let go. Hell. I'd take any small opportunities I could get."Your honesty and bluntness is one of the things I love about you, Ethan. You always told me what you wanted, what you intended to do, how you felt. You were true with me and it made me feel safe." She tilted her head and shook it. "You have no idea how much I needed that from you. I didn't fear the unknown because you were so good at telling me exactly what you wanted to happen with us. That really worked for me. But I trusted you implicitly and you damaged that part between us by not being honest, and by not telling me you were hired to protect me. The fact I need protection at all is a mind fuck for me, but don't you think I'm entitled to fucking know about it?"God, she was sexy when she was all fired up and said bad words. I gave her a moment of triumph because she was completely in the right.When she

"Nine Inch Nails I Wanna Fuck You Like an Animal. They made it like a music video with the lyrics to the song printed out over the screen in big letters... You let me violate you-You let me penetrate you "She faltered, and my heart just broke in two for what she'd suffered. I knew only how much I wanted to make it work between us. I stopped her then. I had to. I couldn't listen to any more and restrain myself in public. We needed privacy for this. I just wanted to take her home with me and hold her close. The rest could be figured out later. I squeezed her hand so she would look up at me. Big luminous eyes, in colors that all blended together, filled with glassy tears I only wanted to lick away, looked into mine. "Let me take you home, please." I nodded to make her understand it was what we needed. "I want to be alone with you right now, Brynne. Everything else doesn't matter so much."She made a sound that just ripped my heart apart. So soft, but injured and raw. I stood up from the

"I want you too." She nodded and leaned up to kiss me. "Take me to bed, Ethan." The most beautiful words I'd heard in days and days met my ears. I took those sweet lips she offered and scooped her right up off the floor, her body tight against my chest.She wrapped her legs around my hips and buried her face at my neck. I groaned out loud and started walking. When I got us to the bedroom, the sight of the bed made up with clean sheets had never been more welcome. Monday! Annabelle had come, thank the blessed gods! If those sheets from this morning had still been there with the evidence of my pitiful wanking session all over them, I don't know what I would have done. I made a mental note to give Annabelle a nice thank you for being discreet-tip.I laid Brynne out on her back and just looked down at her for a moment. The need to go slow was important this time. I wanted to cherish her and accept this gift she was giving to me. I needed to savor her. Her hair swept over her shoulders and