He dipped his head closer, his warm breath fanning my lips. “But you’re not smiling, love.” As if waiting for me to do so, he watched my mouth. A few seconds passed before he said, “Remember what I said. I’m not your Master, I’m your savior, and I’ll work hard to make you smile.” He walked away to sit and then nodded to the lady standing to one side to bring the dresses to me.
Not sure why I felt disappointment racing through my body, I didn’t immediately notice what she was saying. When I did look at her, I saw her displeasure before she called for another lady to help her.
Once they hung them up on a rail, Suman looked at me. “Which one would you like to try first.” She waved her hand over the dresses.
I walked up to them, letting my fingers run over each one, feeling their softness while my eyes followed patterns and danced over colors. Although they were all pretty, I lingered at one longer than the others. It looked like what I imagined Cinderella wore to the ball, with a floor-length full skirt, tight bodice, and soft long sleeves. Cocking my head to one side and then the other only because it looked blue from one angle and green from the other, I sighed, knowing it was too pretty to wear every day like I did my tunics.
Never in my life had I ever thought I’d be standing in front of such pretty dresses other than my tunics. More importantly, a stranger who’d become my unexpected savior was intent on buying them for me. Still, I didn’t want to accept anything without some form of payment, and unfortunately, I had nothing to offer. Except my body.
Why would he take your scarred body?
He was clearly spoilt for choice. Eying the woman beside me from beneath my long eyelashes, that bizarre dislike for her blinded me once more. Aware I was being rude, I pulled my gaze back to the dresses and paused on the blue-green one.
“That might not suit you. Would you like to look at something else?” Suman stood next to me.
I frowned. “If it doesn’t, why show it to me in the first place.”
A soft chuckle had me looking over my shoulder. Legs stretched out in front of him, one elbow on the armrest, and his face resting in the ‘u’ of his forefinger and thumb, Xavier watched us. Embarrassment creeping up my neck, I blushed. Turning back to the dresses, I moved away from the blue-green dress. Given the way Suman glowered at me, I should’ve apologized. I didn’t.
After they’d brought more dresses for me to look at, I went into what Suman called a change room, put them on, and walked out to let Xavier look at me. His expression rarely changed with each one, but his gentle nod and smile showed me the ones he liked.
“You look nice,” Suman said for every dress until the last. “That’s very pretty.” She secured the button at my neck.
By this time, I’d put on ten dresses, my body started to itch, and I began fidgeting. I wasn’t paying much attention to the dress, just mechanically moving as Suman helped me into them. Her words had me looking down at the long dress that felt tight against my throat, chest, and stomach, ending around my ankles. I grasped the red material, squeezing lightly and unsure why I felt like vomiting.
I couldn’t breathe. Whether it was my imagination or not, I felt the stiff material constrict around my body, strangling my throat.
“I think it’s the best color on you,” she said.
I wasn’t sure if she was laughing because my eyes stayed fixed on the crimson skirt of the dress I was now twisting in my clenched fists. The more I looked at it, the more I hated it. Suddenly I began squirming, pulling at the dress. “Get it off,” I choked. Suman gasped. I didn’t care and started trembling. “Get it off!” I screamed, yanking at the sleeves and ripping the material from my arms.
Two arms tightened around my struggling body, my hands shoving hard for freedom. “Shh, love. I’ve got you.” Xavier grasped one of my hands and placed it on his chest, the other cupping my chin, he forced it upward. “Look at me,” he whispered, his authoritative voice guiding my eyes up to his. “It’s okay. Breathe. You’re safe.”
Like a hypnotic rush, I stopped fighting. My chest heaving from the exertion, I drank from the warmth in those blue eyes, I felt my shoulders dip and closed my eyes, seeking the soft beat beneath my palm.
“Unbutton it,” he ordered.
Someone came up behind me, and their fingers moved quickly down my back. Completely sagging into Xavier’s body, I felt the material release my body and slide down to pool around my legs. Something warm settled around my shoulders before Xavier lifted me into his arms.
“Back passage to Queensland, Suman,” I heard him say.
“But that’s—” she sounded confused.
“Queensland. Now!” his voice boomed.
“This way,” came the softer reply. “They’ll be closing in a few minutes.”
“Good,” he said, then added, “Ramone, clear out Queensland. I’m on my way there.” He began walking.
All around me, different sounds buzzed in my ear, yet through it all, I focused on just one sound. Xavier’s breathing. With my eyes closed and my face tucked in the crook of his neck, he carried me snugly against his body. I didn’t know how long we walked or waited, but I’d stopped trembling by the time he set me on my feet. Opening my eyes, I looked down as if not believing the scratchy material had been removed from my body. I was wrapped in Xavier’s coat.
“Are you okay?”
I looked up to find his concerned eyes on me. “Yes.”
“Want to tell me what happened?” he asked.
All I could think of was the red room, my body covered in cuts and blood seeping out of my wounds. “Red room. Blood. Master,” I whispered, unable to string together what I wanted to say.
