WANTED

Chapter 29

Elizabeth paced the floor, badfled by the events of the night and early morning. She replayed it over and over in her mind.
If her Pa or any of his disgusting friends had found her in that state, they would have taken and taken violently what they thought they deserved.
But Nickolas had cared for her, worried over her all night.
All she'd ever known from men was pain. Men take what they want at others expense.
But Nickolas, Nickolas is so different. He's kind and gentle, he speaks softly, he apologizes when he's wrong, he doesn't punish me. And when he could have taken, he chose to give. He had asked to pleasure her, and pleasure her he did.

She'd never known anything like the sensations he'd awakened in her. He made her body tremble, and her core ache. For the first time, a man's hands on her body hadn't made her sick, but had felt intoxicatingly sweet. His lips on her skin made her tingle all over. And when he dipped his head between her thighs, the pleasure completely overcame her.

Beyond pleasure, she felt as though he was mourning for her. She felt his grief for her pain and his promise to cherish her in every feather light kiss on scared flesh.
Yes, Nickolas was different. Elizabeth realized just how lucky she was to find a man who was genuinely good in a world where men like Pa existed.  She determind to strive to be good enough for him.
Silent tears began to fall as she thought of her Ma. Ma was good, she was the best, she didn't deserve a man like Pa. So why? Why had Ma married a man who beat and raped her, a man who cursed her and spat in her face. Why was I even born? Just to watch Pa slowly kill Ma, and be left at the mercy of that monster for twelve years? Elizabeth sunk to the floor. Why? She sobbed. Why did her own father feel entitled to her flesh? Why did he take his anger out on her, at six years old? How could a father sell his daughters body to pay his debts?

After a long hard cry Elizabeth looked up to find Nickolas sitting on the floor in front of her. She hadn't heard him come in.
" Why are crying 'Lisbeth? Did I go to far?"
She shook her head and wiped tears and snot on her sleeve. "How long have y-you b-been here?"
"Not long, you've been in here a while. I thought you might have fallen asleep, I came to get you for lunch."
Elizabeth snifled. She should be the one making him lunch. He'd done so much for her already.
  "Can you tell me what's wrong?" His gravely voice and the pain in his eyes made her want to tell him everything. "Did I upset you?"
"N-no. Nickolas it's not you. I-its just, y-you're different. Y-you make me question e-everything. I-i was just thinking, I-i d-dont deserve y-you."
"You don't have to, Elizabeth. You are enough, just the way you are. I would like to help you heal because it's what's good for you, not because I want some different version of you."
"My Ma deserved a man l-like you, a good man but she got him instead. I-i don't understand Nick." She choked through her tears.
Nickolas stretched out his arms and she buried herself in his chest and sobbed.