Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR

Anurak

W hen I woke up, I was by myself. The spot where Rico had been when I’d fallen asleep was cold, which meant he’d been gone a while. I slowly rolled onto my back and sat up, taking in the room. I hadn’t really taken the time to look at anything last night. I’d been so unsure of my place and what was expected of me that I’d only focused on Rico.

The bed I was in was a four-poster, wooden bed, and the thread count of these sheets had to be pure insanity because they were so soft. And the comforter draped around my hips and over my legs felt like I was beneath a soft, fluffy cloud—if I knew what clouds felt like. I imagined they felt like this blanket though.

A long, black dresser sat along one wall, and then another tall dresser sat in a corner. A nightstand rested on either side of the bed, both with lamps sitting on them. A clock hung on the wall above the bedroom door, reading a little after nine. Judging by the light trying to peek around the edges of the blackout curtains over the windows, it was morning and not night.

I gripped the blanket in my fists, twisting and untwisting the fabric in my fingers. I didn’t know what to do. Was I allowed to leave the room? Was I allowed to get up and use the bathroom? Rico had seemed so nice last night, but what if that was all a show and he’d be a monster this morning?

Master had been kind at first, too. Had gotten me to let down my walls, and then he’d torn me to pieces.

I hated being unsure of my place. Master had been a horrible human being, and I was so glad he was dead and could no longer hurt me, but I did miss his rules. I knew what to do and when to do it. I knew what was expected of me. I didn’t have that here. Rico hadn’t told me anything except the small orders he gave me last night before bed.

Oh and showers. I was allowed to take long showers whenever I wanted. Did that mean I could use the toilet, too?

Taking a chance because my bladder was about to explode, I slipped out of bed and quickly rushed to the bathroom, clutching at the hem of Rico’s boxer briefs to keep them up. Once I’d emptied my bladder, I rushed out of the bathroom to hurry back to bed, only to come to a halt, my heart slamming against my chest bone when the bedroom door opened and Rico stepped inside.

But instead of the anger I’d been anticipating, he just smiled at me in a way that made my insides feel all gooey. Some of the tension bled from my body.

“Good morning, perrito ,” Rico greeted. That name sent a shiver racing down my spine. I didn’t know what it meant, but I didn’t care. I just liked it. “How long have you been awake?”

I glanced at the clock, noting the time, then looked back at him. “Only a few minutes.”

He held up his other hand, which had been tucked behind his back. I flinched, but then felt stupid when I realized it was just a shopping bag. He set it on the bed and removed the items, revealing a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, a hoodie, socks, underwear, and a pair of sneakers. My lips trembled when he looked at me expectantly.

“Are those… mine?” I croaked. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had clothes to wear. I’d become so used to being naked. Even when Master let me wear a shirt, that was all I was allowed to wear. But wearing anything at all was seldom.

Rico nodded. “They’re yours, perrito . We’ll go shopping after breakfast to get you more clothes. I want you to have things that are all yours, okay?”

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.”

“I need a guard?” I squeaked. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. On one hand, it made me feel safe. On the other hand, it terrified me. What could happen to me now that I needed an actual bodyguard?

Rico led me to the head of the table and sat down before tugging me down onto his lap. He grabbed a plate and began piling food onto it. “I won’t take chances with your safety, perrito . So yes, a guard is necessary, even if there’s not an immediate threat to your safety.” He set the plate down, then forked up some eggs, holding them up to my lips. “Open.”

I obediently did as he said, moaning and letting my eyes flutter closed when I closed my lips around the fork. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had something other than tasteless corn flakes for breakfast.

Rico’s hand tightened on my thigh, and when I snapped my eyes open to look at him, a hungry, dark look had entered his eyes. I quickly swallowed the food, my cheeks flushing under his intense, burning gaze.

“Sorry,” I whispered.

Rico just smiled, though that predatory, hungry look didn’t leave his eyes. “There’s no reason to apologize, perrito .” He grabbed more eggs. “Open. You need nutrients and protein.”

“And pancakes?” I asked hopefully. It was the only thing he hadn’t grabbed and put onto my plate.

He chuckled. “And pancakes. But only after you eat your protein.”

I eagerly nodded, letting him feed me. And when I finished all my food and that first bite of syrupy, sugary, buttery pancake hit my tongue, I could’ve cried. I think Rico sensed how I was feeling because he cradled the side of my head and pressed a kiss to my temple, letting his lips linger.

If Rico didn’t stop being so kind to me, I was going to fall in love with him. Hard.

But even if he never loved me back, I didn’t think loving him would be a terrible thing.