Stacey had never felt this vulnerable in her life.  Sharing on an intimate scale was a new experience for her and yet that’s how she felt around Jake.  He was tall, athletic and a cop.  The last thing she’d expected was to feel vulnerable around him.  More than that, she hadn’t expected the relationship to go anywhere for any length of time.

She’d laid her cards on the table at the outset.  Having been burned on so many levels, she’d become cautious, wary, watchful.  With every man she met, she watched for tell-tale red flags.  Once beaten twice shy.

Although she’d never expressed any personal concerns at the outset, she’d made a point of stating open-ended for as long as the fun lasted.  Jake had taken a different path.  He’d been gentle, caring, strong when he had to be but had given her great latitude.  No strings, no quid pro quo, just kept giving of himself, opening up, allowing her in, witnessing first hand who he was.  No shields, no bars, no dead ends.

When she’d questioned him regarding anything, really, he’d answered looking her dead in the eye with unwavering honesty, a straight shooter from the start.  She’d been drawn to that quality instantly.  Still, there was more to learn, to see to feel. The idea was so appealing.  Somewhere deep inside, she yearned for that release of emotion.

Stacey knew she could lose herself in him.  Did she want to? Could she be that free? With each passing day, she let down her guard. Yes, she really did want that for herself, for her partner.  It was a goal worth reaching for.