Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“You can try again later, Little Tiger. Enough.”
He carried me into the bathroom, setting me on my feet. “Okay now?” he asked.
“Yes.” There was no way I was peeing with him in the room. I needed to maintain a little pride.
“Call me when you’re done.”
I planned on walking back to bed myself. But I stayed quiet, relieved my bladder, and carefully stood, waiting until the dizziness had passed before shuffling to the vanity to wash my hands. I glanced in the mirror, my face as frightening as I thought it had looked last night. The bruises were vivid and dark. My lip was split. I saw marks on my neck, and when I looked down, my stomach and legs showed trauma as well. My head ached, the constant pounding a dull roar in my ears. I gripped the edge of the sink and took in some deep breaths. I moved to the door, opening it quietly. Roman wasn’t in the room, but I heard his voice, so I knew he was close. It took all my energy and effort to walk toward the bed. My legs ached and I felt exhausted. I was almost there when he stepped back into the room.
“So stubborn,” he muttered, winding his arm around my waist and helping me the last few feet. I leaned into him, relying on his strength, but I was grateful to feel the plush mattress under me. He pressed two more pills into my mouth and let me sip the cold water until the glass was empty. It felt good on my throat. “Back to sleep,” he ordered. “I’ll get you some breakfast when you wake up.”
I was too tired to argue, so I shut my eyes. I heard his sigh, and I felt his eyes on me.
“What am I going to do with you, Little Tiger?” he mumbled.
Keep me, were the words that drifted through my head as I succumbed to the exhaustion. Where they came from, I didn’t know. And it didn’t matter. That wasn’t what I really wanted.
Was it?
The next time I opened my eyes, Roman was gone. In his place was a woman roughly my age. She was tall and slender, her dark hair short. She was curled into the chair Roman had slept in, and she was reading. On a table beside her was a steaming cup of coffee. I wondered if the aroma of it had woken me up.
I gingerly sat up, and she snapped her Kindle shut. “Hello,” she greeted me. “I’m Vi. Violet if you prefer, but I prefer Vi. And you’re Effie. The breathing miracle.”
I blinked. “The breathing miracle?”
She laughed, waving her hand. “Private joke between Aldo and me.”
“Aldo?”
“My husband. He was the other guy last night with a gun. The big one.”
“Oh.”
“You probably have to pee, don’t you? Roman said last time you woke up, it was five. That was six hours ago.”
“Oh. Ah, yes.”
She approached the bed, flinging back the blankets and extending her hands. “Come on, then. Can’t have you leaving a wet spot in Roman’s bed.” She started to laugh. “At least not yet.”
I was confused but took her proffered grip and got out of bed, barely holding in my grimace.
“Wow, you are tiny,” Vi said. “You have a lot of power for someone so compact. I always wanted to be short. But Aldo loves that I’m so tall. He says it makes us perfect for each other.” She helped me stay steady on the way to the bathroom. “I think what makes us perfect is his massive dick and my willing snatch, but there you go.” Once again, she laughed gaily. Then she glanced at me. “You want a shower while you’re up and fresh clothes? Roman had me get you some. They might be a little big. He said small, but I didn’t expect small, you know?”
“I’m five one,” I protested.
She chuckled. “I’m five ten.” She extended her leg. “Over six feet with my heels. And I love my heels.”
“Oh.” I frowned. I rarely wore heels. They made my legs ache. “Yes, I would like another shower,” I said. “I still feel dirty.”
Instantly, she was sympathetic and bustled around. “You get in the shower. I brought conditioner because Roman was worried about knots in your hair. Believe me, I howled every time I thought about him saying knots. Roman. Worried about knots.” She snickered.
I was even more confused, but I let her set the shampoo and conditioner on the bench, a fresh towel on the vanity and a hairbrush. I wondered how hard she would laugh if I told her Roman had brushed my teeth for me last night, but I decided to keep that to myself.
“I’ll get you some breakfast. I’m under strict instructions to make sure you eat.”
Then she was gone.
I sat under the spray, enjoying the heat. I used the expensive shampoo and conditioner, recognizing the name. It was one I could never afford.