His entire body visibly relaxed.
"He was part of a .
phase? That's it?" I nodded and tried to pull my hands free of his, wishing I could get past my feelings of shame.
I didn't blame Brett or any of the guys who'd drifted through my life then.
I had no one to blame but myself.
"Come here."
Gideon caught me by the waist and pulled me closer, tucking me against his chest again.
His embrace was the most wonderful feeling in the world.
His hands stroked the length of my spine, gentling me.
"I won't lie.
I want to beat the hell out of any man who's had you - you'd be smart to keep them the hell away from me - but nothing in your past can change how I feel about you.
And God knows I'm no saint."
"I wish I could make it go away," I whispered.
"I don't like remembering the girl I was then."
He rested his chin atop the crown of my head.
"I get it.
It didn't matter how long I showered after I'd been with Anne, it was never long enough to feel clean."
I tightened my arms around his waist, giving comfort and acceptance.
And gratefully accepting both in return.
* * *
The white silk robe I found hanging in the closet was gorgeous.
It was lined with the softest terrycloth and embroidered with silver thread at the cuffs.
I loved it, which was a good thing since it was, apparently, the only article of clothing for me in the entire house.
I watched Gideon pull on a pair of black silk pajama pants and tie the drawstring.
"Why do you get clothes and I get a robe?" He glanced up at me through a lock of inky hair that draped over his brow.
"Because I'm the one who arranged everything?" "Fiend."
"Just makes it easier for me to keep up with your insatiable sexual demands."
"My insatiable demands?" I headed into the bathroom to take the towel off my head.
"I clearly remember begging to be left alone last night.
Or was it this morning, after an all-nighter?" He filled the doorway behind me.