Sheltered(21)

My eyes catch on the hairband on his wrist. I know it’s mine because of the small hearts on it. He’s been in my apartment. In my room. I remember the smell I detected when I got home the other day thinking someone had been in my room. I was right. It was him.

“But you’ll keep me against my will?” I snap back, and the words are out before I can stop then. Yeah, poke the crazy person, Blair. That’s seems like a bright idea.

“I don’t want to fight with you, Cricket. I want to take care of you and keep you safe.” He emphasizes the last part.

He brings a forkful of food to my lips, and I take a bite. I moan at the taste. His bright green eyes turn a shade darker and his jaw clenches. He pulls the fork back and I lick my lips once again. Why do I keep doing that? I know every time I do it, it makes his eyes go to my mouth.

“Is that from Trattoria?” I ask, and he smiles.

“Yes, it’s your favorite,” he says, bringing another bite to my mouth.

I open for him and then wonder how could he could possibly know that. I pull my eyes away from him while I chew.

“Am I in danger?” I finally ask.

“Not while you’re with me. I would never let anyone hurt you.” I glance up at him and see the sincerity in his eyes. “I’ll protect you from even yourself.”

The fork once again rises to my mouth and I take what he’s offering me. He feeds me until the plate is clean and I think I might explode.

“I have a piece of their cheesecake, too. I know how much you love it.”

His words scare me, but they do something else as well. I bet Fritz never noticed any of that. Anytime I go out to eat, if chicken parmesan is on the menu I always order it. It’s my food weakness. But this man knows this. It’s something so small, but Ryker knows. It has me wondering what else he knows about me.

He picks the plate up and carries it over to the sink. Just then, Bear comes strolling in and jumps up onto the counter like he owns the place. I watch as Ryker pulls out a small bowl and puts cat food into it. Bear purrs at him before eating and he even lets Ryker pet him. I’m going to guess it’s because Ryker gave him food, and not because Bear is a traitor.

Ryker comes back over to me, holding his hand out. I take it because I don’t really know what else to do, and he leads me back towards the front of the house. We walk up the stairs and back to the bedroom I woke up in. Thunder rumbles again just before the lightning strikes and it makes me jump. Ryker pulls me into his big body, and though I probably shouldn’t use him for comfort, I do.

“It’s okay, Cricket. I’ll keep you safe, but I had a storm shelter installed in the basement. Do you want to go down there and sleep?”

I shake my head. I love the idea that there’s somewhere safe to go during a storm, but I don’t like the idea of being locked up tight in a basement. I should probably be thanking my lucky stars I’m not locked up down there already. With the things Ryker keeps saying, he’s definitely not worried about my escape plan. He’s baffling me right now. He says the sweetest things and the craziest stuff almost in the same breath.

“If you change your mind, just let me know.”

His hands release mine and I think he’s going to leave. But instead he goes over to the closet and comes back out a few moments later in a pair of loose-fitting sleep pants. I try not to stare at the outline of the beast he has between his legs, and it’s then I notice he has a piece of silk draped over his arm.

My mind goes back to what’s in the closet. I remember seeing all the women’s clothing inside and my anger starts to grow. “Are you married?” I ask, and I realize the way it comes out is accusatory. For some irrational reason this makes me madder than when he told me I couldn't leave. Maybe it’s my newfound disgust for cheaters. Apparently, they’re worse on the hate scale than kidnappers.

He lets out a deep laugh, as if my question is funny. It only makes me angrier. My hands go to my hips and I stare up at him. He smiles down at me.

“Calm down, Cricket. No, I’ve never been married.” He leans down, and I should step back, but I don’t. I hold my ground as his mouth pauses a breath away from mine. “Yet.”

Before I know what’s happening, he pulls the shirt I have on over my head and tosses it to the floor. I don’t have time to react as he slides the silk nightgown over my head, and I stand there stunned.

“Since I’ll be sleeping with you tonight, there’s no need for you to sleep in my shirt,” he says easily, like he didn’t just take my clothes off and see me naked.

I think I should smack him, but I just clench my hands into fists. I remember my clothes had been changed when I woke up. He’s seen me naked already. Well, at least partially. Or maybe he had that woman from the kitchen change me. I think I would know if he did something. Wouldn’t I? I’d still be tender between my legs. My eyes trail down his body again as if they have a mind of their own. Yeah, I would have known if he used that on me.

I’m irritated that all this is happening around me and I don’t have any choice or say. I don’t feel threatened exactly, and I’m not scared, so frustrated is all I can seem to manage.

My hand goes to the necklace and I lift it, drawing his eyes there. “I can’t get it off,” I tell him, already knowing he put it there. Who else?

“I know,” is all he says in response. I look down at the necklace again, not sure why he put it on me, but out of everything it’s the last thing I should be worried about.