More silence was all I got from Damien as he wrapped his arm around me and drew me into his chest. I sniffed his scent as a smile spread across my face from how caring he could be.
The ride was silent and all I could do was listen to his heartbeat due to how attached to his frame I was. I enjoyed every bit of this treatment, latching onto it enough to remember it when it'd finally be over.
I didn't know when I slept off but a gentle tap on my wrist roused me to the knowledge that we were back to his compound. Leaning into me, he whispered, “Can you walk?” My stiffness said it all but he had to ask. What a gentleman.
I shook my head in response and in a swift second, he leaned over and wrapped his left hand around the upper part of my back and his right cupped itself under my thighs. I felt light in his arms, like I could fly as I leaned into his chest, savoring every bit of the moment.
In silence, he walked into his living room and took to the stairs. Pushing open the door to a gigantic, sparsely furnished room, he took me inside and laid me on the bed as gently as he could. My whole body arched and I began to give myself an inner admonishing never to try such again. He walked into the bathroom and I heard water running soon he was out again with a hand towel that was steaming.
Slowly, he crouched to my feet, feeling them tenderly then the hot towel met with them, I winced but who doesn't love a good massage? I relaxed as his fingers and the towel worked to bring back blood flow into my feet then he stopped.
“Try stamping it on the floor.” His tone was cold but his face told another story. It wasn't as hardened as before, it had a tenderness to it. Warmth spread upwards in my body as I obeyed his command. My feet reacted as soon as it met the ground. I could move my formerly stiff toes and the numbness under my feet was much less. Looking up, I nodded at him and he managed a smug smile. What a character. Hmph!
“You can continue sleeping now.” He commented with his back turned to me as he was making another trip to the bathroom. I relaxed into the bed still keeping my feet on the ground. He returned with a bowl of warm water and dipped my feet into it slowly. “You'll be fine, just be careful in the rain.” He admonished dismissively.
“I didn't even realize that there was a downpour until you gripped my wrist. I was lost in thoughts.” I offered an explanation, looking directly into his masculine face. I could tell that everything in him wanted more details but he stopped himself and headed for the door. “I need a bath.” I called after him and he turned to me with a playful smirk.
“Do you want that from me?” His eyes danced mischievously and I averted my gaze. “There, see why I need to get you help from one of the maids? Oh! You don't know we have lots of them around here. You ran off before any proper introduction.” His tone was accusatory this time and it stung. I folded my arms under my breasts in annoyance.
“You know nothing about what happened. You could have just asked!” I chided and he stopped in his tracks. Yes! The room was so big that I could run a marathon inside of it.
“Tell me then.” He quipped as he started retracing his step with the same boyish swag he put into every step. I loved the way he walked, not like an extremely busy businessman and not completely like a drug lord. There was a good blend to it that brought the two characters together.
“You don't wanna know.” I stated, unsurely and he arched a brow with an unreadable expression on his face.
“Are you serious, miss? I just said, tell me then and I'm prepared to hear all of the drama there is to the story. So start spilling.” He paused, then quickly added before my lips could form words, “You have really beautiful feet. I can't just fathom why.” It was both a compliment and an assertion to himself. I smiled and edged up into a sitting position.
“I was a happy kid. A bright one. The kind that brought joy with her and a truckload of questions too.” I chuckled, seeing little me running happily around the house, trying to tape it with water bubbles. Silly me.
“Every child deserves a happy childhood unless your parents are monsters or life is a bitch to take it away from you. You sound like there's going to be a lot of gory details to this story.”
“Can you shut up and let me narrate my story?” I chided in a jocular manner and he smiled stiffly, zipping up his lips with his fingers. “Better. Very much better!”
“Like you said, unless your parents are monsters. Mine weren't, they just didn't know how to manage such a boisterous being.” I lied, knowing that what I'd overheard today told me exactly why my stepmother changed after that Christmas when my dad showered me so much love and gave Audrey not more than one look per day. Audrey almost wandered off into the dangerous woods behind our house and that was the last straw for her.
“Okay?” His voice brought me back from my reverie and I continued.
“They began to change after I turned 8. Playtime was shortened, dinnertime was silent, I was only allowed to wear Audrey's hand-me-downs, the punishments became much more severe like locking me up in my bathroom for 4 days without food but I was given water, sending me into the streets to beg when I'd gotten into a fight with Audrey and broke a glass cup. I had to replace it.” I touched my cheeks and sighed. They were wet. I'd lived in denial all these years, making excuses for them ones I couldn't justify, I just didn't want to accept that. Knowing the woman I'd called mother couldn't stand me was much worse.
“They let Audrey beat me several times and if I tried to retaliate, I was punished for “fighting with an elder.” The house became ruled by what Audrey wants and what Audrey likes and I soon learned to succumb to it too. As soon as I succumbed to her leadership, it was easier - school, home life and punishments.” I sighed in exasperation.
“Audrey ruled until a week ago when I stood up to her again. She'd still rule in the house but at least, I'm not under her rulership.” I concluded and turned away on the bed, my eyes closing to the world.
For a moment, I wished I'd not wake up but remembering the camera safely hidden in my purse, I knew I had business to finish when I was done playing with little me in my dreams.
“Sleep well, Soph.” He cooed, his voice far off as I journeyed to meet with 7-year-old me on a horse.