Taking in a deep breath, I sent up a silent prayer that I wasn’t sure would ever be heard or answered, that I could do the right thing with this boy that was now in my care.
Chapter 8
Dakota
It took my body a moment to get with the program. My mind was awake, while the rest of me wanted to stay sleeping for as long as possible.
I hadn’t expected to fall asleep on the floor. I just came there to watch out the window and wait for Sir to find me.
I should have known that sleep came whenever I could get a few moments. It was how I was programmed. I was taught to be ready to serve at any moment.
Holding in a grunt, I pushed myself to sit up slowly as pain spiked.
I was always in pain, so I should be used to it by now. My life was painful in every possible way. There was, and never would be, any type of release.
Not until my heart stopped beating and the air disappeared from my lungs.
After a few minutes of sitting there, I finally pushed myself to stand. Thankfully, the room didn’tspin on me this time. My legs still threatened to give out; not used to me having to walk all that much. I was used to crawling, and my knees would forever have bruises from doing so.
I used the bathroom, which took my body too long to figure out how to release my bladder without being watched. My mind and body were a strange thing. After so many days, or maybe it was months, where someone always watched me do everything, my mind was used to it, and it didn’t work quite right.
I didn’t know what to do now that I was awake; I wasn’t used to having so much freedom. No one had ever taken care of my needs like Sir was before, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was a trap or something. He needed to stop with the kindness. There was no way I’d enjoy getting used to all this, only for it to be stripped away with the snap of his fingers.
Yawning, I left the room. My feet took me to Sir’s office, which was empty.
Had he left the house? Did he think I wouldn’t try to go if I was left on my own?
Okay, the last question was easy. No, I wouldn’t leave. I had nowhere to go. If I did run, I’d be found and dragged back.
Padding softly towards the kitchen, I still didn’t find Sir. Since I didn’t feel like walking all over the house, I knelt on the pillow that was still placed on the floor. Once my knees touched the soft material, my mind went a little blank, but I forced it to stay in the here and now.
Listening, I heard no noises. There was none of the yelling or grunts of men from above. There was no man demanding to use my body. There was no loud TV somewhere in the house. And, most of all, there were no sirens or revving engines out in the yard.
I wasn’t sure what to make of the quiet here—the feeling of something different than what I had been forced to get used to.
I knew none of this would last long.
Dropping my head to my chest, I settled in to wait. I ignored the pain that was starting to seep in more and more with every minute I kneeled. I needed to feel it to remember my place in this life.
I was worthless, and I lived to serve those who owned me.
***
I jerked, returning to the present as a hand ran across my hair. My eyes flashed open, coming to the sight of Sir’s hips.
I gulped. Was now the time he was going to take what he wanted from me?
“Did you have a good nap?” His voice was soft, as though he did care.
I nodded, dropping my gaze to the floor.
“Good. I ordered lunch. It should be here in a few minutes.”
I get lunch?Wasn’t breakfast more than enough for the day? I wasn’t hungry. Or, my mind wasn’t. My stomach, on the other hand, decided to growl.
“Do you have any allergies?” He stepped back, taking the gentle hand in my hair away. “I should have asked this morning.”
It took my mind a few extra seconds to think. I wasn’t sure if he wanted to know so he could use it against me or because he just wanted to know.
