Reconstructing Meredith Read Free Page A

hurt me like he did.”
    I turned my hand over underneath hers, lacing our fingers together. “What if I told you I know a therapist who understands kink?”
    She blinked. “You do?”
    I nodded. “She’s involved in the lifestyle herself, and she’s helped a lot of traumatized subs.” Squeezing her hand gently, I said, “If I give you her number, will you call her?”
    “Will you—” She hesitated. “Will you go with me to see her?”
    “If that’s what you want, yes.”
    “It is.”
    “Set up the appointment, then. I’ll be there.”
    She smiled. “Thank you.”
    I returned the smile, pretending this wasn’t all killing me from the inside out.
    “What about the rest?” she said. “About helping me find a Dom? Will you?”
    I said nothing for a moment, nor did I look at her.
    She ran her thumb along the side of my hand. “Scott?”
    “There’s only one Dom I’d let anywhere near you right now,” I said. “And that’s me.”
    Meredith’s spine straightened and her hand twitched in mine. “Scott, we’re—”
    “Do you trust me?”
    She gulped. “Yes, of course. That’s why I called you.”
    “Then let me help you.”
    “But what about our—” She bit her lip, twin creases appearing between her eyebrows as a grimace threatened. “Our past?”
    “It’s in the past,” I said. “I’ve never given you a reason not to trust me, though, have I?”
    She shook her head.
    “Which puts us well ahead of the game versus if I paired you with a Dom you’d never met.” I slid my other hand under hers.
    “I can’t ask you to do this,” she said, dropping her gaze.
    “I want to.” Lifting her chin, I said softly, “I don’t care what happened between us before. I want to help you now.”
    She closed her eyes, pressing her lips tightly together as if struggling to keep her emotions in check.
    “If you’re not comfortable with me,” I said, “I can find you someone else. But I’ve guided inexperienced and traumatized subs before. And I’ve been there, you know that.”
    “I know.” She opened her eyes. “And I do trust you. I’m just…” She bit her lip, looking away once again.
    “You what?”
    She blinked a few times, and a tear slid down her cheek. She reached up to wipe it away, but I beat her to it, brushing it away with my thumb.
    I caressed her cheek. “Talk to me, Meredith.”
    “There are…” She met my eyes. “There are scars.”
    Sweet Jesus, what did that bastard do to you ? “What kind of scars?”
    “Ugly ones,” she whispered.
    I moved a little closer to her and stroked her hair. “Do you really think I’d be repulsed by some scars? I’m not that kind of man, Meredith, you know that.”
    She looked me in the eye, and when she spoke, her voice shook. “You haven’t seen them.”
    “Doesn’t matter.” I touched her face again, then gently pulled her to me and kissed her forehead. “That son of a bitch hurt you, and I’m not about to let a few scars keep me from helping you pick up the pieces.”
    She managed a slight but genuine smile. “Thank you, Scott.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    Ages-old habit took over, and before I realized what I was doing, I leaned in and kissed her lightly. It was only when my lips had been against hers for a few long seconds that panic swept through me. I pulled back, thankful I hadn’t gotten completely carried away and deepened the kiss like I’d very nearly done.
    “Sorry, sorry,” I whispered. “I didn’t mean—”
    “Don’t be.” She put her arms around my neck. When she spoke again, her voice shook more than before. “Do you know how long it’s been since someone’s kissed me like that?”
    I shook my head.
    She drew me closer. “Way too long.”
    I wrapped my arms around her. “Do you want me to do it again?”
    She nodded, and when she swept her tongue across her lips, a shiver ran down my spine.
    I moved in slowly this time, certain with every inch I gained that she’d come to her senses and pull