As Rachel ran down the hall she heard Guy running up the stairs. She managed to get inside her room and close the door just as Guy was about to reach the door. Guy put his hands on the door for support and leaned against the door.
"Rachel?" he asked quietly. Rachel was leaning with her back against the door on the other side. "Rachel?" Tears ran down her cheeks as his dark, soft, seductive voice said her name. Rachel. He only sees the woman I've worked so hard to become. Not the fragile, scared teenage girl named Amy who has crept up to just under the surface of my skin; the girl who reminds me of where I came from. "Rachel, are you there?"
"Yes." She said quietly. Her eye closed and she smiled at the word she had just said. Yes, I'm Rachel; not Amy. Rachel. I've been Rachel for nearly ten years. Rachel is who I am. He doesn't know. He doesn't know that I've never said "yes" to man. "No," I've said "no" a lot, "no" and "please stop" and at times nothing at all; but never "yes". "Yes;" she said again "I'm here."
"May I come in?" Rachel eyes grew wide; she turned and looked at the door in fear. Her mind drifted back to the fairytales that she used to love when she was a little girl. The wolf was at the door asking to be let in. Her fingers rested lightly on the doorknob. She stood there, unsure of what to do. "Rachel, I'm-I'm sorry. I never meant to upset you. I was just trying to tell you how beautiful I thought you looked. Just, let me see your face. Please?" I guess opening the door a little won't hurt. Slowly, Rachel opened the door part way.
"I truly am sorry." Guy said and Rachel heard the sincerity in his voice. Rachel's heart ached for Guy as he stood there. She looked into his eyes. They were kind and gentle. She knew in her heart that Guy would never hurt or betray her.
"Come on in." Rachel said quietly. She stepped back as Guy entered the room and quietly closed the door behind him. Guy stood by the door and Rachel stood a few feet away. Both looked at each other in silence.
"Rachel I am sorry. I'm sorry if I offended you." Guy said taking a few steps towards her.
"Thank you." she said quietly, not looking at him. She turned her head and looked at him as though trying to find the answer to a silent question. She began slowly, cautiously, walking toward him. "For the past fifteen years I've had a fortress of stone and barbed wire around my heart. How did you break it down?" She came to stand in front of him. He looked at her face and his gaze finally rested on her eyes.
"The sheriff was wrong;"
"What do you mean?"
"That first day, he said no man would want you. I do. I won't act on my feelings unless you want me to." Rachel was silent for a moment then looked at him.
"I want…I want to be loved. I want you to love me." Rachel said standing on her tiptoes. "I trust you." She said, her lips inches away from Guy's mouth as she took out the pins that were holding her hair in a bun. Still, Guy didn't move. Rachel saw the question in his eyes. "Yes." She smiled. Guy's lips gently brushed hers. Rachel kissed him just as tenderly. Guy lovingly returned her kiss; he broke the kiss and turned her left arm so her palm was facing up. He ran his thumb over the scars on her wrist. He brought her wrist to his lips and kissed the scars. Rachel cried quietly. At hearing her crying, Guy looked at her. Tears ran down her cheeks; he released her arm and went to step away, but she put her hand on his shoulder. "Happy tears." She said. Guy smiled at her and kissed her again, tasting the salty tears as they slid on to his lips. As they kissed Rachel unbuttoned Guy's jacket. Guy deepened the kiss, pausing only as Rachel helped him take his shirt off. Guy broke the kiss and came to stand behind her. Rachel felt the fabric of her dress loosen as Guy untied the ties at the back of the dress. Guy kissed her shoulder as the sleeve of the dress slid off her shoulder. His gaze fell on her back; on the scars that the hot wax and water from the torture session had left. He lightly touched her back. His fingers felt as cool and soothing as the cloth of cold water he had used on her back that first evening in the dungeon. Guy kissed her scarred back.
"I would kiss all your scars away if I could." Guy whispered against her ear. Rachel turned and leaned up to kiss him. The undressed each other slowly and lovingly; both knowing they could not rush a moment this precious. Their kisses grew more passionate as Guy turned down the covers of the bed and placed Rachel on the mattress as gently as one might a sleeping child. As Guy kissed her, Rachel didn't distance herself as she had learned to do. Instead, she clung to Guy as though her life depended on it. She smiled, as Amy and all the unbearable memories associated with her disappeared.