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)
Things that are all mine.
I walked forward, stopping by the bed, and reached out to finger the fabric of the hoodie. It was so soft. A tear ran down my cheek. “I haven’t had my own clothes in a long time,” I croaked. Before I could think better of it, I flung my arms around Rico’s waist, clinging to him. Instead of pushing me away like I’d expected him to, he wrapped his own arms around me, bringing one hand up to cradle the back of my head, his fingers sliding into my dark, sleep-mussed hair.
“I promised you I would take care of you,” Rico said softly. “Let me do that.”
I nodded and slowly pulled back from him, even though I didn’t want to. Rico was strong and warm and safe. So safe. I felt like the world couldn’t touch me when his arms were wrapped around me.
“Go on and get dressed,” Rico gently ordered. “I put out a new toothbrush for you this morning. It’s on the bathroom counter.”
I gathered all the things he got me and rushed into the bathroom. Pausing, I glanced at the bathroom door, frowning. Was I allowed to close it?
“You can close it, perrito,” Rico called from the bedroom. “You’re allowed to have privacy.”
That was something new, too. When was the last time I’d been allowed to shower or get dressed without Master watching me? Granted, whenever I actually got to wear clothes, it was always one of his shirts and nothing else, but still. I hadn’t even been allowed the privacy to tug it on by myself.
I hadn’t even been allowed the decency to use the bathroom on my own.
I shut the bathroom door behind me with a quiet click and quickly pulled off Rico’s shirt and briefs. I hoped he let me wear his clothes again tonight to sleep in. I didn’t want my own pajamas. Maybe if I asked nicely enough, we could leave pajamas off the shopping list so I had to wear his clothes.
After getting dressed and brushing my teeth, I padded out in my socks to the bed, where Rico was sitting, watching me and waiting patiently. I nibbled on my lower lip and thrust my shoes at him, a blush heating my cheeks. “Can you help me?” I blurted. “I don’t…” I swallowed thickly, nervous as hell. “I don’t know how to tie my own shoes.”
Rico gently tugged me onto his lap, which made my skin flush, and lifted my leg so my foot rested on his thigh. With his arms around me, he slid my shoe onto my foot. “Watch closely, perrito.”
I nodded, watching as he grabbed the laces and began to tie them. When he was done, he grabbed my other leg, raising it as well, and slid that shoe on, doing it again. I turned to him, clasping his face in my hands. His stubble prickled along my skin, but I didn’t mind. I kind of… liked it, actually.
“Thank you.”
He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the tip of my nose. I giggled, and he grinned. “You’re adorable, perrito. I’ll gladly tie your shoes anytime you want me to, okay?”
I nodded. He lifted me off his lap, then grabbed my hand in his, leading me from the room and down the stairs. When we entered the dining room, I clutched Rico’s hand even tighter. Three men were sitting at the table, which was heaped with eggs, bacon, sausage patties, pancakes, fresh fruit, a pitcher of juice, and a carafe of coffee.
Rico gently tugged me in front of him and wrapped his arm over my chest, which forced my hand to come up with his. “Anurak, you need to remember these men and their faces,” he told me, his voice gentle. “You’ll be seeing them quite often.” He pointed to the man in a black t-shirt that strained against his biceps and black cargo pants with scuffed-up boots. “That’s Alfonzo. He’s my second in command and one of the only men I trust with my life. I’ll be trusting him with yours, too. If you have any problems and I’m not around for whatever reason, you go directly to him, understand?”
I nodded, my body warming beneath all the protection he was placing around me. “I understand,” I said quietly.
He pointed to the man in a suit sipping at a cup of coffee. He was slim and clearly of Asian descent, like me. Straight, dark hair hung over onto his forehead, and dark eyes met mine, steady and calm. “Niran is my personal bodyguard. You’ll be seeing him quite often as well.” He gestured to the other man. His skin tone was a few shades darker than Rico’s, and his eyes were just as dark. Dark curls clung to his forehead and hung over his ears. “Bento will be your personal guard.”