Page 317 of Phobia

Naomi chews her ravioli, washes it down with red wine, and shakes her head. “I don’t have one. It depends on my mood.”

“That’s a cop-out,” I challenge.

“That’s the truth,” she smiles. “Music feeds the soul. I take what I need from it when I need it.”

“Hmmm.”

Naomi narrows her eyes. “Hmmm, what?”

I mirror her expression, and a grin spreads across my face when she smiles in response. “I just appreciate the honesty, that’s all.”

She watches me intently, having refrained from asking any questions herself. If she looks long enough, Naomi will find the only answer she needs. Fuck, I feel like I’m wearing it on my sleeve at this point.

Breaking eye contact, as I knew she would, Naomi sighs, “I’m so full.” Leaning back, she rubs her stomach for effect.

My own sigh is one of sheer contentment. This meal has gone better than expected. Naomi inadvertently enchanted Vinny, and he charmed her right back. Lucky for him, he’s 65 and not a threat—if it had been his greasy son, that would’ve been another story. If anything, Vinny’s presence helped her relax.

Now, it’s time to chip away some more.I’ve got one question left.“Tell me about your dad.”

Naomi pauses, hand on stomach and stares at me, the easiness in her demeanour disintegrating before my eyes. “Is that a question or a command?”

I hold her gaze. “It’s a request.”

She tosses her napkin on the table and reaches for her wine glass. Rubbing the stem between her fingers, she looks me straight in the eye. “As if you don’t know.”

“I know the official version, not yours.”

“I was two. I don’t have a version.”

Leaning forward, I place my hand on hers. “I’m not trying to hurt you.”

Naomi stares at the ceiling, clenching her jaw, before locking her eyes on mine—deciding to let me in. Taking a deep breath, the words burst from her; “My mother’s death destroyed him. His mum and dad helped him look after me. He managed until I was two, then decided he couldn’t stand looking at me anymore. He walked in the woods, found a nice peaceful spot, and hung himself.”

She says it bluntly, having built a barrier over the years to keep her dad’s betrayal from breaking her.

“That sounds like your version to me.” No way her aunt and uncle would’ve put an ounce of blame on her shoulders.

“Well,Granny and Grandaddisappeared soon after that, and the only common factor was me.” She yanks her hand from my grasp, rises from her seat, and heads towards the toilets.

***

The car journey was silent and uneasy. Any progress I made has gone out the window. Naomi’s walls are firmly erected, but I got the glimpse I needed. Naomi doesn’t just blame herself for her mum’s death; she also bears the weight of her father’s cowardice. She readily took on Ant’s debt because she felt she owed it to his parents for sticking around.

Soon she’ll see just how worthy, how wanted she is.

Naomi stands by the bed, and I move behind her and ease down the zip of her dress, pulling her lace briefs down with it.

Of course, she doesn’t object.

Slowly, I kiss and lick from her ankle, up her calf, over her firm thighs until I reach her perfectly peach arse. My dick throbs, but I ignore it. Naomi’s got plenty of sperm in her—one night won’t make a difference.

“Bend over. Keep your hands on the bed.” She does as I ask, and I go straight to work, worshipping her delicious clit. I’m going to push her to the edge and keep her there until she’s begging for my dick, which I’ll then deny her. Instead, I’ll make her ride my face and fingers until she’s completely spent.

My queen will be free from her nightmares tonight.

Chapter 25

Friday Evening