Dear Rosie, (Love Letters #2)

He looks up at me, his eyes traveling over my robe-clad body. “Waiting for you.”

His black T-shirt clings to his body, and his sweatpants should be illegal.

He’s been wearing lounge clothes all week, and I don’t know if it’s out of solidarity or if he really dresses like this at home. But either way, I appreciate it.

And I appreciate it even more now becausedamn.

Nathan lowers a hand to his lap.

“What exactly are you waiting for?” I ask as I take a step closer to the bed.

Instead of answering my question, Nathan sits up and pats the bed next to him. “You need to take a rest.”

“A rest?”

Nathan stands and circles around the foot of the bed, not stopping until he’s right in front of me. “A rest.”

Nathan takes my crutches and rests them against the wall. Then he wraps his arms around me in a hug and lifts me, carrying me to the edge of the bed.

He sets me on my feet, and I keep just the toe of my bad foot on the ground for balance.

Letting go of me, Nathan leans in, lowering his voice. “And if you listen like a good girl… I’ll treat you like my good girl.”

Something heated rolls down my spine, settling between my thighs.

We’ve been so close to each other. Waking up wrapped together. But not touching beyond that… And fuck if I’m not ready for more.

“You gonna do that for me, Rosie?” he whispers. “You gonna give me that control you hold on to so tightly?”

I swallow.

I never wanted to be the way I am.

Rigid. Paranoid. Scared.

And as I look at the man in front of me, I understand.

I don’t have to be this way.

Not with him.

My fingers move to the tie at my waist, and I pull it free.

The robe parts, exposing my nakedness. And I shrug it off, dropping it to the ground.

A noise rumbles in Nathan’s chest, but instead of stepping into me, he steps back.

To look at all of me.

I still have scrapes.

Still have bruises.

Still have a plastic brace on my ankle and wet hair lying across my shoulders.

I still have the same soft body I did a month ago.

Heavy tits and stretch marks and parts I’ve never wanted a man to see in the light.