Lio bites his lip. “So…I can have my Daddy, my Owner, and my Master slash Papa Bear?”
I groan and press a firmer kiss to his delectable mouth. “So long as you know who you belong to.”
“Always, Daddy.”
My insides still churn with discomfort, but I don’t think there’s anything I won’t give this Boy. And…unlike with Benjamin, I know I don’t have to worry about him abusing my trust.
Fuck, how did this even happen? Never in my life did I think I’d ever get Hollis to give me a chance, and now I have him, a Little Lamb, a Toy, a dumbass soulmate, and a Little Monster. And I will kill whoever I need to in order to keep every single one of them. Life has a twisted sense of humor.
Shifting to my side, I gather Lio close, holding onto him as if my life depends on it, and given the way I’m feeling, it just might.
He snuggles in, warm and soft, and feelingso fucking rightin my arms. I press another kiss to his head. “Thank you, Daddy.”
“Don’t thank me, Little Monster. I’ll burn the world down for you.”
Lio sighs, and whatever tension he was holding eases at my words, as if violence is soothing to him, and knowing my Mostrotto, it probably is.
I hold Lio until his breathing evens out, the excitement of meeting a new mental health professional and showing me his vulnerabilities wearing him out. I close my eyes, as the sleep I’ve gone without recently catches up to me now that my monster knows its soulmate is safe in its arms. And he always will be.
Snuggling into my Daddy, I smile. Fuck it feels good to have cuddles. I…I didn’t think I’d still have this. I know I’ve got a long way to go. Nothing feels normal yet, and fuck knows if that’s even a thing anymore, but there’s hope. Daddy knows what I did, and he doesn’t hate me.
With a sigh, I realize I still have to face the person who has the ultimate power to break me. I…I’m scared.Fuck. That’s a hard realization to swallow. I’m supposed to be Death, and yet I’m so fucking scared that Roman will turn away from me.
My stabby soulmate…and yet, he’s so much more than just that. But, like a fucking asshole, I tortured him. Sure, I understand what everyone has been saying about me not having a choice, but still, how can he even look at me? How can I not be a reminder of that cold cell and the pain we lived through in that hell?
I stifle a whimper as I snuggle deeper into Tennant. Fuck, at this point, I may as well be trying to get under his skin. Maybe that’s creepy, but it’s true. I want his protection, his love, surrounding me completely. Yet, somehow, I have to be strong enough to face this on my own… Right?
Two arms squeeze me tight and I breathe out, relaxing into my Daddy’s embrace. Fuck. How does he know?
“You alright, Baby Boy?” Tennant’s voice rumbles, morning roughening it further.
I nod into him before pulling back and reaching for a kiss. My intention is to keep it short because of morning breath, but Tennant must not give a fuck. His lips claim me, and the sweet feeling of submission fills me, the heavy chains of pain falling from my heart one at a time.
When he pulls back, I whisper, “I love you, Daddy.”
His brows furrow as he runs a finger down my cheek. He doesn’t say the words back, but I’m alright with that. I know how he feels. He shows me it with every action, and really, that is even better. Sighing, I give him a small smile, my body still exhausted from the fuckery that’s been playing havoc on my mind.
“What are your plans for today, Little Monster?” he asks as he tugs on my way too-greasy hair.
Biting my lip, I glance up at him from under my eyelashes. “Uh, I was hoping to see Roman. I… It’s time. Javi wants me to start seeing people again, and…I need to see him. I’m scared though.”
“You know Roman loves you,” he hesitates, “and so does Benjamin.”
I shrug at the reference to Benjamin. My heart isn’t ready to go there. That situation needs to be fixed too, but…my stabby soulmate comes first. “Do you think I could take a shower today?Javi said he’d find me clothes that aren’t a suit. He was going to have someone help me in there, but I’d rather it be you.”
“Hmm…I’m not thrilled about another man picking clothes out for you.”
I wrinkle my nose while shaking my head. “It’s not like that’s fun for him. I just want to see what it’s like to wear something different…to be different.”
“Baby Boy, it doesn’t matter what you wear, you will always be our Emilio. And you’d better remember your ass belongs to your Owner and your Daddy… And,” Tennant pauses with a shudder, “Your Master and Papa Bear has a role as well. A small, very small role.”
I giggle before staring at him in shock. It’s the first time I’ve giggled in way too long. From Tennant’s smug face, he knows it. Still, he slides out of the bed and offers me a hand, pulling me up. I stumble into him upon standing, the new medications making me groggy and off balance.
He guides me out of my room, and it feels good to actually be moving, even if I’m not a fan of walking around in a fucking patient gown. Still, the idea of having a shower and getting some clean clothes make it worth it.
I keep my eyes out for Rose, but don’t see her anywhere. I barely hear Tennant check in with the staff before I’m led toward a bathroom with a shower. My room, unfortunately, doesn’t have a shower—or a lockable bathroom. Tennant nudges me into the bathroom, taking the pile of clothes from the assistant. He’s new to me, which worries me.Where the fuck is Rose?
While Tennant takes a moment to make sure the water gets up to the right temperature, I shift from foot to foot, anxiety creeping in. The shower…fuck. I forgot. I forgot how much it scares me now. I don’t say anything while Tennant wraps plastic around the bandages on my arms, but the tension coils in me until I’m shaking.
