Chapter 42 Chapter 42: One Step At A Time

Chapter 42 Chapter 42: One Step At A Time
Sebastian Silverow's POV:

I could tell that she was still nervous. She was right to be nervous, knowing of her current physical condition... I could only imagine what effects had been done to her physically. As a special unit officer working for a coastal police department, I have come across some fairly heinous hate crimes towards women. However, none of those compared to the extensive length of time she was apparently forced to endure.

She finally started to pull on my hands, allowing herself to stand as I took a step back from her, giving her sufficient room to stand there without feeling like I was crowding her. The bench she was sitting on was still right behind her heels.

"Very good," I told her as I took yet another step back away from her. I was holding her hands down about her waist whenever I could tell she was nervous and held on tighter. "I'm going to let go."

She instantly started speaking when she said, "You're not going to..."

"No," I said, not exactly intending to cut her off. "My eyes will remain closed. I will not look at you. I want you to know... that no matter what, you can trust me. As for now, I will keep my eyes closed, and then you tell me otherwise. Now, however, keeping that in mind, if you happen to fall, I will open them to ensure your safety. That being said, while you undress, I will keep my eyes closed as I told you I would."

I heard her take a deep breath before she let it out again and then loosened the grip she held onto my hands. I took that to mean that she was willing for me to finally assist her in undressing.

Just as I tried to reach my hands closer to her waist, she still lightly held onto my hands, moving my hands along as she closed the distance to where I would need to touch her next. I was pleased that she was guiding me.

At one point, right before my hands made contact with her waist, she stopped the movement of my hands, preventing me from touching her. I heard her taking in yet another breath before she finally allowed my hands to come in contact with her waist. I was pleased that she trusted me to help do this for her.

My hands were partially touching the bearskin on her waist now, with two fingers that were set above the waistline of her scrub bottoms. My other two fingers were hovering there, feeling the stiff material of the scrub bottoms. I knew in the back of my mind that she would be thankful whenever she finally managed to get these things off, knowing that she was completely bare underneath.

"I know these things can be comfortable," I said in that moment, trying to let her know that I understood more than I appeared to.

"They are," she said as I could tell she looked up at me. "But how are you... How are you going to take them off, since you were standing?"

"That part is simple," I said as I slowly began to kneel, ensuring that my hands stayed firmly positioned on her waist as her hands were placed on top of mine at this point. "When you are ready, remove your hands from mine, and I will slowly pull these down. Just know that my eyes will remain closed."

"Will you look up at me?" She asked in that moment. "That way..."

"Yes," I said as I looked up whenever I spoke just then. "As you can see, my eyes were still closed."

I could hear her sigh a sigh of relief whenever I had my face focused upwards as I was kneeling down on one knee.

"Okay," she said right then. "I think I'm ready."

"All you have to do is remove your hands," I said in the same reassuring tone that I had spoken the entire time so far. "I will take it at that moment that you are ready, and I will slowly pull these down."

I heard her breathe, taking in several more breaths and letting them out several times before she finally slid her hands around and placed them on her stomach. I knew she was nervous, but no matter what, I ensured that my face was pointing upwards towards hers.

I knew in the back of my mind that she would never fully be ready for this. Be ready to physically undress, or to be undressed in the presence of someone else other than herself. I can only imagine everything that she has been through. I just wanted her to know that I was not there to take advantage of anything that she had to offer. She has nothing to offer anyone. She needs to heal. That is her job now.

After a moment, I could tell that she was ready. I slowly started to slide my thumbs inside the hem of the waistband. I slowly slid the material down the exterior sides of her legs, ensuring that I moved at a slow and steady pace. The last thing I wanted to do was make her think that I was trying to obtain something by ripping these off. That couldn't have been further from the truth.

I finally had managed to reach the material all the way down to her ankles, and that's when I spoke.

"I'm gonna need you to lift one ankle, and then the other one after a moment," I instructed her right then. "Can you do that for me?" However, before she had the opportunity to speak, I added one last bit of instruction when I said, "It would make it easier if you placed your hands down on top of my shoulders. That way you can steady yourself as you lift your ankles out of the pants."

Her hands were still placed in front of her abdomen, from what I understood. I could tell she was nervous as I still held onto the material down by both of her ankles. I felt slight movement in her posture as she reached forward and placed her hands on top of my shoulders.

"You're doing very well," I told her.

Right then, I recalled something that I had mentioned while we were at the hospital. I said the word safe. I told her that she was safe with me, and the reaction I got was one I didn't expect or anticipate. Despite the fact that I knew she was going to be safe with me, the last thing I wanted her to do was hear that word until I knew she knew what it meant.

"Now, if you will kindly place your hands down firmly on top of my shoulders," I said as I could feel the weight slightly intensify. "Good. Are you able to lift your like of choice? Could start with whichever like you choose."

Again, she made a decision, lifting one leg and then the other as I assisted her out of the scrub bottoms. Once both her feet were firmly on the floor, I stood up again.