Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
I nodded once and gently lifted Anurak higher on my body before I strode for the porch. Niran was already there unlocking the door. I nodded once at him in thanks before I headed up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
My little puppy lifted his head, looking up at me with sleepy eyes and whining when I set him on our bed. “Papi—”
“Easy,” I soothed, leaning over him. Slanting my lips across his in a soft kiss, I murmured, “Lay back for me.”
He quickly complied, laying back against the pillows and watching me through bloodshot, tired eyes. I slipped his shoes off, then stripped him out of his clothes. After grabbing a baby wipe out of the drawer—I kept them on hand for when we had sex—I cleaned the blood off his soft hands.
His nostrils flared when I began to strip out of my clothes. Once I was as naked as he was, I slipped between his spread thighs on the bed, pressing my fingers between his cheeks. A low sound of approval rumbled from my chest when I found him still slick from this morning.
Like the good boy he was, he lifted his thighs, letting me slide into him. His arms and legs wound around me, and he clung to me, soft, broken sounds spilling past his sweet mouth as I slowly fucked into him so he’d feel safe again.
So he would feel like mine again.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Anurak
Iwas groggy when I woke up the next morning. Rico was still in bed with me, but he was working on his laptop. His shirt was still off, but he’d pulled on a pair of sweatpants that were riding low on his hips, revealing the V on his flat stomach and a tiny smattering of dark hair right above the waistband.
“Morning,” I rasped, snuggling against his side. I was still so exhausted, but that panic attack had been so draining that my exhaustion was no surprise.
He lifted his arm, draping it over me, his attention immediately on me. “Good morning, perrito. Sleep well?”
I had. After Rico had fucked me to sleep, I’d slept for hours and hours. I wasn’t even sure I’d gotten up to go to the bathroom, which reminded me that I really needed to pee. Groaning, I reluctantly rolled away from Rico and slipped out of bed, padding barefoot to the bathroom. I slapped on the light, then did my business.
“Go on and hop in the shower,” Rico called from the bedroom. “I’ll join you in just a minute.”
I quickly turned on the water, then stepped beneath the scalding spray, sighing as the remaining tension in my body bled from my shoulders. A moment later, the shower door slid open, and then Rico was wrapping his arms around me, tugging me to lean back against his solid, broad frame. I closed my eyes, soaking in the warmth he surrounded me with.
“You scared the shit out of me yesterday, perrito,” he murmured into my hair. I tensed. He ran his hands up my chest, soothing me. My body slowly relaxed again. “What triggered you?”
“I smelled him.” A shudder wracked through my frame. “Or, well, not Master, exactly. But someone smelled like him. Like old stale cigars and that awful cologne he always wore.”
Rico turned me to face him, his hands cupping my cheeks. “I know your responses when you’re triggered are out of your control, but please always remember you’re safe. And if I’m not with you when you’re triggered, I swear to you, I will already be on my fucking way.”
I wrapped my arms around him, resting my head on his shoulder. His thick arms bound around me, squeezing me tightly as he rested his chin on the top of my head.
“I know, Papi,” I said softly. “I know.”
Ace answered on the first ring, and the worry in his voice made my shoulders rise to my ears. Rico shot me a concerned look from his desk, but I shook my head at him, trying to give him a reassuring smile. His brow furrowed, so he obviously didn’t believe me, but he let it go.
“Anurak?” Ace breathed. “Are you okay?”
I swallowed thickly, pulling the blanket around me tighter. “I’m okay,” I said softly. “I’m sorry I ruined our outing.”
“No!” Ace shouted, making me wince. “Sorry; I didn’t mean to yell. No. Anurak, your panic attack was not your fault. You went through something traumatic. Trust me, I understand.” His voice lowered. “If anyone understands, Anurak, I swear I do.”
Sadness for my new friend bled through my organs, making me hurt for him. “I’m sorry you were ever hurt, too, Ace,” I said quietly.
He sighed. “Honestly, little bunny, I’m sorry we both were,” Ace confessed. “But despite the pain I went through and all that hell, it led me to Gunner. Just as everything you went through led you to Rico. I just choose to focus on all the positives that came from all that horror now instead of on what could’ve and should’ve happened.”