Darkness consumes me, and I’d love to curl up in here to sleep.It feels safe, like a warm blanket surrounding me.Like nothing can touch me here as I catapult through the tunnel.
All too soon, I reach the end.Amirah isn’t anywhere to be seen.I brace my hands on the slide and push out.The small room is dark—I can’t see her.After grabbing my phone, I switch on the light.There in the corner is Amirah, curled up in a ball.Her arms are wrapped around her knees, her brows drawn in, and her plump lips are pulled back in a snarl.I smile.
“You okay, little princess?”I ask, and she rolls those mossy-green eyes.
My cock twitches.I want to know her more, and I’ve got plenty of time to do just that now that she’s staying here with me for good.I’m grateful to Kai for messing up and spilling the tea about Zion’s daughter; it worked in my favor.Now I don’t have to give her back.Not now.Not ever.Christmas has come early.
Jingle bells.Batman smells.
“Fuck off,” she hisses through her teeth, and I grin.
“Come on, it’s well past your bedtime.I’ll even sing you a lullaby.”As I move closer toward her, she turns, trying to push herself farther against the wall.Like she’s afraid of me.My chest tightens.
We don’t like that.
Why don’t we like that?I’m used to people being afraid of me, but she’s different.Everythingfeels different with her.
I reach out my hand to her, but she turns away, staring at the blank wall.Releasing a loud exhale, I grab her arm and pull her up.She doesn’t fight me, and I’m glad.I’m fucking tired and I need my sleep.
When we reach the door, I lean around Amirah, my arm sweeping against her pale skin, and a weird sensation moves through me.The hairs on my arms rise, and my breathing picks up.I frown, then shake my head, brushing it off as I twist the knob and push her forward.I have no idea what that feeling was, but it felt good.
We move into the small hallway and then into my bedroom opposite.
I flick the switch on my bedroom wall, my LED lights turning the room blue, and kick the door shut behind me.I release Amirah, and she moves out of my reach, her gaze moving around my room.Graffiti lines every wall.
We write more and more and more when the voices get too loud, about all the things we’re going to do.All the people we’re going to kill.
My double bed sits in the corner of the room, right up against the wall, and I can’t wait to see her between the sheets.I didn’t intend to bring her in here to sleep.She should be in my other room, in a cage, like all the other captives I’ve had in the past.But I don’t want her there.At least not tonight.I’m worried she won’t be safe.She could try to escape again and might hurt herself.One of the other members of the Hood could hurt her.I don’t often have visitors, but if I did, it’d be just like the last time I had something so precious, a jewel so coveted, in my possession.
I can’t have that.I want her in here, in my space.I want to watch her.She’s different, and we like that.I’m obsessed with her and want to know more.
I turn off the light on my phone but leave the LEDs on, returning the room to its soothing blue.I plug my phone into the charger beside my bed and set it on the small table next to my journal.Amirah doesn’t move, stuck at the foot of my bed, her gaze still casting around the room, checking everything out.There’s nothing in here apart from my bed, a small table, and a dresser.
I snicker.She’s clearly used to big, expensive rooms with walk-in closets and en suites.
“Sorry it’s not five stars like you’re used to,” I say, and Amirah folds her arms over her chest, pushing up her bust.I tear my gaze away, staring at the colorful ceiling.
“You don’t know shit about me.Now where am I sleeping?”She huffs, and the corner of my mouth lifts.
Fuck, I love her sass.She isn’t what I thought she’d be—full of herself, too good for me and the Hood.Instead, she’s curious, smart, and fucking strong.
I point toward my bed, and she wrinkles her nose before moving and sitting down on the edge of the duvet cover.
“I’m not sleeping in here if you are,” she says, her voice tinged with worry.
“I’ll be on the floor.Hurry up and get inside, so I can read you a story and tuck you in,” I say with a playful smile.
Falling back against my pillow, she rolls over so she’s facing me and the door.
I move toward my dresser and pull out an old T-shirt that has 18hood written on the front in a graffiti-style script.I throw it to Amirah, and it lands on her body.She doesn’t move, her gaze fixed on the door.
“Don’t even think about trying to escape again tonight.I’m a light sleeper.And I’m very good at finding little mice who try to run from my clutches.”
She releases a heavy exhale, shifting around on the bed, and her black pants cling to her like a second skin.
“Now put that on.Those clothes can’t be comfortable to sleep in.Unless you wanna sleep with bloodstains?”
She doesn’t move.Whatever.
