Managing a small half smile, she whispered, “You’re right. When we get home I want to show you that scar.”
She was as good as her word. When they arrived back at her apartment, Lia went into the bathroom to get a shower. When she walked out of the shower she wore a pink towel wrapped around her upper body. Her hand clenched the two ends between her breasts.
They had agreed to go to her condo after returning from the horseback ride, stopping on the way home at a diner for an early dinner.
Cav had watched Lia wrestle with her decision, ached for her, wanted to help, but knew this was a path she had to walk alone. His role was as cheerleader and supporter, giving her the confidence she desperately needed to do this.
Now, as she slowly walked toward him where he sat on the edge of the king-sized bed, still dressed, he held her eyes, pouring all his love out to her. He smiled at her bare feet, those small, delicate toes and her slender legs that remained hidden from her knees upward. The late afternoon sunlight slanted through the opened drapes, the more diaphanous, cream colored ones diffusing the light.
“You look like a beautiful goddess transported from Mount Olympus, down through a shaft of light, coming to see her mortal lover,” he teased. Cav instantly saw his words had a powerful affect on Lia. She relaxed her hands, her knuckles returned to their normal pink color, and she relaxed her grip on the towel.
“That’s a beautiful way to see me,” she admitted, her voice almost a whisper. She came and stood hesitantly within an arm’s length of him.
“Well,” he murmured, lifting his hand, moving it down her moist upper arm, “you will always be that young, gorgeous goddess in my eyes and heart.” He felt such chaotic emotions around Lia, felt her waffling, torn and afraid. Yet, also wanting to trust him. He suddenly had an insight. “Hey, let’s make this easy on you.”?” he rasped, His hand moved slowly up and down on the scar on her outer arm that was nearly three inches long where his fingers were resting.
“How?” she choked.
“Come lie on the bed and close your eyes. Let me run my hands over each of the scars that are visible, the ones you don’t worry about. See how that feels to you.”
Cav knew this was called “desensitizing” a person. And he’d been deliberately doing this to Lia from the beginning. When he’d first touched the left side of her face, she’d jerked away. Now, he could touch it with no reaction from her. Being able to show her how far she’d come already, he hoped, would take her the rest of the way with the last scar, now covered by the towel.
“That’s a good idea,” she finally breathed, nodding.
Cav moved aside, allowing her to lie on her back. He watched her keep the towel draped to hide her torso, her hand trembling. Calmly, he sat down, his hip brushing against her calf.
“Good,” he soothed. “Now, close your eyes. I’m not going to do anything before I tell you what I’m going to do first. And I won’t do it until you tell me it’s all right, okay?”
She licked her lips nervously but managed a nod.
“Good,” he soothed. “Close your eyes, baby. Just trust me.”
Lia tried to be brave and to cling to his warm, hazel gaze. She saw the tenderness burning in his eyes, and also noted how relaxed he was. And that helped her relax, too.
“Okay,” she whispered, “let’s just get this over with.”
He chuckled quietly, his hands on his thighs. “You make it sound like you’re in the dentist’s chair.”
That got a small smile out of her. Cav knew he could tease and coax her with his voice, his humor. It had always worked in the past and he saw it working now.
Her hand stopped moving restively against her stomach and lay across her. She was still protecting that region.
“You’re right. I’m closing my eyes now.”
“You’re so brave,” he said. “And that’s what is going to make this easier than you think, Lia. I’m going to lay my hand on your right arm, over your scar. Ready?”
She licked her lips and nodded. “Yes…go ahead.”
Cav allowed his fingers to trail the length of the scar, watching her face. She’d closed her eyes and scrunched them shut. With each gentle stroke, he saw her face relax. For the next few minutes, he caressed each scar. And each time, Lia relaxed more.
He could feel the trust simmering between them; feel her wanting so desperately to let herself be free of the past.
Finally, he said, “I’m going to lay my hand on top of your hand that’s over your stomach. Are you ready?” He saw a slight wrinkle form on her brow, but she opened her hand from the fist that it had been in, trying to relax.