Page 83 of Savage

He motions for me to stand, and I reluctantly get to my feet. I’m naked, but I don’t mind. It means I can please Hunter whenever he needs it.

It should worry me that that’s on my mind, but I shove the thought down.

Hunter walks over to the blinding white kitchen island and pulls a sheet of paper out from the drawer. It’s, shockingly, pink, a strange splash of color in this otherwise sterile room.

“Here,” Hunter says, placing it down on the counter. “Read it. Let me know if you have any questions.”

I nod, running my finger along the paper as I read over the tasks. It’s in his handwriting, but he must have gone through extra effort to make sure it was legible.

Walk—do not run—on the treadmill for 30 minutes

Take a bath or a shower. Do not get your wrists wet.

Have lunch—the meal is in the fridge, just needs to be reheated.

After lunch, take medication. Pills have been portioned and placed in container inside kitchen cabinet.

Take a 40 minute nap.

Tidy up the condo. Do not do any heavy lifting or scrubbing.

Find something you want to learn, and think about what you need for that goal. Ex: Art, coding, cooking, photography

Watch TV or listen to music if you’re done with everything.

Have snacks if you’re hungry.

Call me if you need to hear my voice.

Ten tasks. Just ten, but they’re so carefully thought out that it makes a lump form in my throat. That… and he’s trusting me to be alone, to do what he tells me and nothing more. I wish I had video game time in that list, but I know he doesn’t want to stress my hand or my wrists until they’re more healed.

The last one is what really shocks me, though. It’s the most unexpected thing on the entire list.

I look up at him in surprise. “I can call you?” I ask in a small voice. “Just to hear your voice if I need it? But won’t you be too busy for… for me?”

“If I’m with a patient, you can leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I’m free,” Hunter says. He opens the kitchen drawer again and pulls an old-school flip phone out, placing it on the counter. “My number is programmed in.” He pauses and levels a stare at me. “I’m trusting you.”

It makes my heart ache. I haven’t done anything to deserve that trust, but he’s giving it to me anyway. “I won’t break your trust,” I whisper, staring down at the device. “I promise, Master.” I close the small distance between us and rest my head against his arm, wishing I could just cuddle with him all day.

I don’t want to be alone, even though the list is a vast relief from all of the scenarios I’d gone over in my head the night before when he’d informed me he was going back to work.

Hunter kisses the top of my head. “All right. I need to go, or I’ll be late for work.”

Maybe it’s my imagination, but he sounds reluctant to leave, too.

I follow him to the front door and watch as he slips his shoes and socks on. He bundles up for the cooler weather, and… that’s it. There’s no more reason for him to linger.

Hunter places his hands on my shoulders and meets my eyes. “You can do this,” he says with more confidence than I feel. “Remember that I’m with you. I want you to succeed and thrive.”

I look up at him, trying not to show just how desperate I am not to be alone. I know he can see it, though. “Okay,” I whisper anyway, my voice wobbling. “Thank you, Master. May I have a kiss?”

Hunter nods and leans down to press his lips against mine. It isn’t a deep kiss, but my heart flutters and I warm anyway.

“I’ll see you tonight,” Hunter says when he pulls away.

I want to stop him somehow, but he has other people depending on him. Instead, I watch as he leaves and closes the door behind him.

I watch the door for a long moment after he departs, as though he’s going to change his mind and return.

---