Page 12 of Bleeding Blackheart

I cross my arms in protest, and he approaches me swiftly, causing Karissa to stumble back. His fingers flip through the clothing options in my fitting room, and he hands me three sundresses. “Try these.”

Feeling defeated, I take the dresses from him to try on. He stands there like he’s waiting for an invite in, but he surprises me by pulling the curtain shut. His deep, gravelly voice floods my ears. “Come out and show me each one.”

This fucking man. I change quickly, wincing slightly as I pull the fabric off my bandaged body. I hate to satisfy him, but it’s good he picked the sundresses. They’re easier to get on and off. I pull open the curtain and show him the first one. He does nothing but grunt in approval. I show him the second one which he likes, and when I get the third one on, he reaches forward and touches the fabric that wraps around my shoulders. “You’ll wear this one today.”

He turns to Karissa. “Find me five more dresses like this one. And a few pairs of boots.”

She rushes away, and his eyes trail over the light blue dress that covers my body. It hits mid-calf, and it has cap sleeves and is decorated in white flowers. It’s really pretty. Too pretty for anything I have coming up.

My attendant returns with more garments and footwear along with socks and a denim jacket. I try on the shoes to make sure they fit. There’s a stylish pair of boots for looking cute more than anything. They’re light tan. Then there’s a rugged pair of black leather combat boots. They’re sturdy and comfortable. I keep the black boots on, and Blackheart turns to Karissa. “Ring all this up.”

She looks between me and the intimates still hanging in my fitting room. “Don’t you want to try on the lingerie first?”

He doesn’t give me a second glance but looks at the lingerie. “No need. We’ll get it all.”

Sicko. I look toward the pieces. They’re beautiful, but there’s no way in hell he’ll ever get to see me wear any of it. I trail my fingers over the black lace bra in front of me. “What if I don’t want it?”

He snatches it out of my hand, handing it to Karissa to ring up. “Then don’t fucking wear it.”

As soon as we’ve finished checking out, he carries all of the bags back to the truck while I walk beside him. Once he puts them in the back, he goes to help me in, but I stop him. “Can I sit up front?” My ankles and feet still hurt, but I think I’d be more comfortable with some cushioning under my butt.

He pauses then goes up to the passenger door, holding it open silently. As soon as I get seated, he shuts the door and goes over to his side, and we head to our next destination.

It takes a few minutes for us to arrive at a general store, and I get out of the car as soon as we park, not waiting for my door to be opened. I get a cramp in my stomach, and my reality turns worse when we walk inside. Blackheart keeps his hand around my wrist while he uses his other to carry a basket, and he drags me through the store with him while he gets canned goods, a first-aid kit, and other supplies. We’re almost to the checkout when I blurt out my issue to him.

“My period’s about to start. I need pads.”

He looks down at me like I’m the biggest inconvenience in the world and lets go of my wrist. “Go get whatever you need. Don’t forget anything. When we get back in for the night, we’re not leaving again until morning.”

I move away from him slowly while he follows closely behind me, and I find my preferred brand. They’re organicand expensive, but he can afford it. Especially after I give him everything I have. He pulls the package out of my hand as soon as I pick it up and tosses it in our basket. I pick up wipes, and he repeats the action. For every item I pick up, he takes it from me, adding it to the load.

After I’ve grabbed shampoo, conditioner, a detangling brush, bonnet, hair oil, scrunchies, and a few hair clips, I look up at him. “That’s all I need.”

His jaw tightens, and he places a hand on the back of my neck, pushing me to the front while he pays for everything.

It takes no time at all for us to get back to his beat-up truck, and he opens my door again to help me back inside. “Do you need the bathroom?”

I know my body well enough to know that my flow might start today, but I can make it until we get back. “I’ll be fine. I might need another bath later though.”

I manage to get a nod of acknowledgement before he goes to his seat and drives us back the way we came from.

Once we’ve returned, Blackheart carries all of the bags with his gun over his shoulder and makes me open the door for us with his hands full.

“Take off your shoes.”

I slide out of my cozy boots, feeling my ache return when my feet hit the wood floor. He hands me one of thefood bags, and I walk with him to the kitchen while we leave everything nonperishable on the table.

After he picks my clothing bags back up, he tilts his head in the direction of his room. “Upstairs.”

I start walking up there slowly, but he doesn’t follow behind right away. By the time I get in the doorway of his room, I hear him following behind me. I step in and he points to his bed once he gets inside.

I freeze, scared of what he’s planning next.

He puts my clothing bags on the dresser and and pulls two things from under his arms. “Sit on the bed, Montana.”

Frozen peas. He has frozen peas. My cramps get a little worse, and I grab my stomach. “I need the bathroom first.”

He drops the frozen goods on the bed. “Go on. Keep the door open.”

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