They were in the laundry room. People could still see if they walked by, but closing the door would have been a bad idea. She was pretty sure she saw Noah give him a thumbs up. Noah had probably encouraged this, but it was clear what Jackson wanted. Sterling had spoken true - Jackson couldn't keep his eyes off of her.
What surprised her the most was that him looking at her like that didn't bother her. She was okay with it. She even liked it. It was quiet in the room for a moment, but Marta returned Jackson's smile in an encouraging way. She could feel her heart beating in her chest in nervousness and anticipation. Her smile broadened as he called her pretty. His nervous stutter was endearing.
Jackson shuffled his feet and moved closer. Her heart beat faster as he asked if he could kiss her. Marta met his gaze. She knew the panic would come, but for the first time in a long time, she was brave enough to face it now. She wanted him to kiss her. She took a moment and steeled herself as she responded with a smile. "That would be okay."
Jackson pressed his lips to hers and Marta felt the panic rise. She told herself that it was okay - that she was safe. The panic retreated. His kiss was soft and tender, unlike any she had received in the brothel. She began to relax into his kiss and as she did her hand moved, but she was unsure if he was okay with it. Trauma was rough and she didn't want to push things farther than they were comfortable. One step at a time.
When the kiss ended, Marta her hand was still raised and reaching for his. She put it down as she looked at him and let out a breath with a smile. "That...wasn't so scary it was really nice. I really liked it." She couldn't think of a better first kiss, and she was considering this her first kiss. She raised her hands as if to put them on his shoulder. "Can I put my hands here and kiss you? It would be okay if you hold me a little." She looked at him, her golden eyes bright, but serious. "But if you're not ready for it, that's okay too. I would understand." She doubted many people asked this much, but it was a necessary step for them. Consent was very important.
What surprised her the most was that him looking at her like that didn't bother her. She was okay with it. She even liked it. It was quiet in the room for a moment, but Marta returned Jackson's smile in an encouraging way. She could feel her heart beating in her chest in nervousness and anticipation. Her smile broadened as he called her pretty. His nervous stutter was endearing.
Jackson shuffled his feet and moved closer. Her heart beat faster as he asked if he could kiss her. Marta met his gaze. She knew the panic would come, but for the first time in a long time, she was brave enough to face it now. She wanted him to kiss her. She took a moment and steeled herself as she responded with a smile. "That would be okay."
Jackson pressed his lips to hers and Marta felt the panic rise. She told herself that it was okay - that she was safe. The panic retreated. His kiss was soft and tender, unlike any she had received in the brothel. She began to relax into his kiss and as she did her hand moved, but she was unsure if he was okay with it. Trauma was rough and she didn't want to push things farther than they were comfortable. One step at a time.
When the kiss ended, Marta her hand was still raised and reaching for his. She put it down as she looked at him and let out a breath with a smile. "That...wasn't so scary it was really nice. I really liked it." She couldn't think of a better first kiss, and she was considering this her first kiss. She raised her hands as if to put them on his shoulder. "Can I put my hands here and kiss you? It would be okay if you hold me a little." She looked at him, her golden eyes bright, but serious. "But if you're not ready for it, that's okay too. I would understand." She doubted many people asked this much, but it was a necessary step for them. Consent was very important.