Something in my chest turned over at his words. As if I’d just received praise I’d been waiting for my whole life. To be called a lesser asshole? Now that was totally making my day.
16
Cassius
As I walked into Malin’s house for the second time in forty-eight hours, the energy had changed. The atmosphere was fresher, warmer.
Something had happened between us. Not when he bought me. Not during shopping. But on the car ride home. It was weird. And nice. And unfortunate because if he felt it, too, it would probably make him disappear inside himself and be even more standoffish. Maybe leave for long periods to travel again. And there was no way he’d take me.
I didn’t want that. To have this whole nice house to myself might’ve seemed like a dream two days ago, and a huge vacation from my life, now I felt differently. I didn’t want to be alone here. This was Malin’s home. I wanted to explore every part of it. But with him present, at least, even if it was in a separate room.
The truth was, I didn’t want to survive on my own even if I was locked away in a newer, prettier cage.
He walked in through the garage, throwing his keys in a blue ceramic bowl on the kitchen counter. I stayed close behind him, nervously twisting my new bracelet. My computer watch glowed in the shadows until a light popped on.
Malin turned, looking me up and down. “Go look around upstairs. Pick whatever room you want. There’re four rooms. I don’t use any but the primary bedroom at the end of the hall. Two are guest rooms.”
My own room. That was pretty awesome. I took a step forward.
“They all have beds in them but one,” he added. “But if you hate them we’ll order you whatever you want.”
“Thanking you doesn’t seem remotely adequate.”
He gave a half shrug. “You’re welcome.”
Upstairs, I looked in every room. I’d seen none of this two nights ago. Malin’s room was quite large, big enough to hold a couch, coffee table and huge bed. A brick fireplace took up one wall.
Next, I walked into a room with three white walls and one red. A bed butted against the red wall with fancy black and white bedding. The curtains draped in a shade of dark maroon. There wasn’t much else to see.
The third room was like the red and black room, except the motif was blue and black.
When I entered the fourth room, my mouth opened at what I saw. Countless shelves created rows like in a library. On them were glass figures of all shapes, animals, humans, geometric patterns. One entire shelf contained all crystals and geodes.
I realized I’d just walked in on Malin’s hoard. Here was the rest of the stuff that wasn’t displayed downstairs for all to see. It was all perfectly set out, clean and glinting, not a speck of dust. Either he spent a lot of time in here or he had a fantastic housekeeper. But I had a funny vision of him wanderingthese rows and polishing each item. I’d heard dragons could lose themselves in their hoards for hours and not notice time passing. Like moths to a flame.
I went down every row. One shelf was all erotic glass, everything from carved cocks and butt plugs to intricate naked figures.
When I ran my fingers gently over the curve of a big cockhead, the glass was cool and slippery smooth. Everything was different colors, some dark, some catching the light from two windows and a skylight nested in the center of the ceiling. Rainbows smashed into each other on shelves and walls.
This was the room I truly wanted. But I would never choose it. This was Malin’s through and through.
I went back down the hall and into the red and black room. I sat on the bed. The ensuite bathroom looked freshly cleaned with red and white towels. Like a hotel room.
I leaned back on the bed, suddenly feeling exhausted from the long day. So much had happened in such a short time. I flattened myself on the mattress and turned my head side to side, taking in every corner and curtain fold, all the empty space waiting, waiting for me to fill it. I closed my eyes and imagined myself living here day to day, week to week…. Year to year for the rest of my life. Even the air here was mine now. I breathed in, then exhaled. Now the air had been in my system. Now it was floating with my essence. Mine.
I thought about the days of this current year growing shorter, the nights longer. And here I would be, warm and safe. Away from the ranch and the world that had made me an outcast. I would grow old here. Maybe take up crochet or painting. I didn’t want to be an actual recluse, but that wouldn’t happen. Malin would be here. This was his place. Here was where he had his hoard. I wouldn’t really ever be alone.
A voice startled me. I jerked myself up and saw Malin standing in the open doorway with bags in both hands.
“Deliveries have come.” He set the bags on the floor inside the door frame, eyeing me. “Did you sleep?”
“I—I don’t know. What time is it?” Instinctively, I glanced at my new watch. Five-fifty-four. The light had already started to go. My stomach growled.
“Yeah. You had a good nap there.” Before waiting for an answer, Malin glanced about the room. “You picked a good room. Well, it’s yours. The closet should have hangers in it. There’s a dresser and some shelves in there, as well.” He pointed at the bags. “There’s more.”
I got up and followed him downstairs, still not fully awake. Everything was like a dream, a bit flowy, the floor seeming unsteady.
We got everything up to my room in two trips. Malin didn’t hang out, but said as he walked out, “I’ve got menus on the dining room table. When you’re done in here, come down and pick something out for dinner.”
