Storm Front by Monette Michaels Page A

first, let’s take a bath together, relax a bit. Then we’ll get some chicken noodle soup and some more fluids into you. If you’re still awake after all that, we’ll revisit this discussion in bed. Okay?”
    Tessa leaned her head on Earl’s shoulder and sighed. “Sounds good to me.” She caressed the nape of his neck. “Just so you know—sex doesn’t bother me. I’ve had a lot of therapy.” She hesitated and buried her face in his neck.
    Earl stopped and looked down at her. “What is it? You got all stiff on me. If sex doesn’t bother you, why are you upset again?”
    “I’ve never had an orgasm with a sexual partner—ever. I can get myself off with a vibrator, but I never, well … I don’t want you to be disappointed if I don’t respond the way you need.”
    “I’m not worried about that. How you respond will be on me … and I’m very patient and goal-oriented. I just don’t want to scare you.”
    “ You won’t.” Tessa nuzzled and kissed the side of his throat.
    “God, I love it when you kiss me.” Earl walked to the toilet and sat her on the closed seat. “Do you still need to pee? I’ll turn my back.”
    Tessa blushed. God, the man had already seen her naked. She’d placed his hand on her pussy. But she couldn’t be totally exposed in that way … not yet. They had never given her privacy, had controlled her every—
    Stop it, Tessa.
    She shook off the ties to the past. “Uh, could you start the bath and then wait outside?”
    “Sure, sweetheart.” Earl leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “Never be afraid to ask for what you want or need.” He turned and opened the taps to fill the Jacuzzi tub. He looked over his shoulder. “If you feel dizzy, yell for me. I’d rather you be a bit embarrassed than get hurt from a faint.”
    “I promise.” She smiled. “If I need you, I’ll holler.”
    Earl left the bathroom and shut the door until only a crack was left. Tessa took care of her more urgent bodily needs, then moved to sit on the edge of the tub and tested the water. She added more hot water.
    “Tessa?” Earl’s voice came from the other side of the door. “You ready for me to come back in?”
    “Yes.” Her heart pounded, but with excitement, not fear. This man was her future, and she intended to embrace it, and him, fully.
    Earl walked to the tub. His gaze swept over her. “You moved without me. Any dizziness? Nausea?”
    “None. I feel weak, sore, but other than that, I’m fine,” she reassured him. “Looking forward to the bath and the food and … uh, later, in bed … with you.”
    “Let’s talk a little bit more about later, about going to bed.” He turned off the taps and put some bath oil into the water; it smelled like him, lemon and something musky. “What did your therapist say about your inability to orgasm?”
    Tessa touched his arm, and he turned toward her. She gasped at the look of deep concern mingled with desire and something more in his eyes. No man had ever looked at her in that way. She looked away from his intense gaze and watched the swirling water and inhaled the scent of the bath oil mingled with his scent as she decided how to express what she’d learned after years of therapy.
    She cleared her throat. “Um, the doctor said I had bottled up my sexuality in response to the abuse I’d suffered. Her explanation was since I had no control over what those people did to my body, I did have control over my response to what they did. So-o-o … when I started dating and having sex…” Earl growled at the mention of her having sex with other men and she had to smile, “…well, my mind refused to allow me to react even with my chosen partners, even though I knew they weren’t out to hurt me. I continued to repress my sexuality to protect myself.”
    “What did your therapist say about that?” He swept a hand through the water and added some cold.
    “She said I didn’t trust them with my heart, my emotions, my mind. While they