Page 36 of Beautifully Wounded

Ringo smirks. “Best behaved kidnappers you’ll ever come across.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m bored. I was hoping to listen to some music or play a game.”

He stares at me for a long moment, right before he grips the top of his towel and pulls it free.

Spinning, a squeal flies from my lips as I cover my eyes with my hand, hearing him chuckle behind me.

“Not so boring now, is it?”

“Oh, my god! I don’t want to see your penis!” I squawk and he roars with laughter.

“Penis? Angel, this thing isn’t a penis. It’s a cock.” I feel him step closer behind me, and a moment later his words come right at my ear. “And when it’s hard, it’s a beast.”

Lurching to the side, I squeal again and bolt for the bed, throwing myself down, face first, so I don’t risk seeing said beast.

When the bed dips beside me, I rear up and scurry to the head of the bed, pressing myself up hard against the cane frame, my eyes wide with fear as I prepare for him to finally take payment for kidnapping me.

“Relax, Charity. I’m only messing with you.” He leans down, tugging on some socks. He has a pair of boxers on. When the hell did he put them on?

“Why would you do that?” I ask, timidly.

Sitting tall, he glances at me, his face more serious than moments ago. “I get that what you’ve been exposed to was traumatic, but since you’re going to be here for the next week, and I know you’ll probably sneak a peek out the window, you’ll likely see some crazy shit fit for the filthiest porn sites that are legal to visit. I’ll make sure you’re not threatened in any way, but you’ll need a thick skin and to know you’ll likely see a whole lot ofdick through that window. Especially later tonight, when Spud’s birthday celebrations get a little crazy.”

“I won’t peek.”

He smirks. “You will. Eventually. The things you’ll hear will pique your curiosity. But I want you to know that the women here consent to everything. Sometimes things can get a little hardcore. Rough even. But it’s all consensual, and no one is really getting hurt.”

“Like what happened in your bathroom?” I whisper, before worrying my lip.

“Yes. Just like that.” He reaches to the floor and picks up his jeans and then proceeds to feed his feet into the legs. “But you’re safe with me. Okay?”

My brows shoot up. “Until you want to flash your penis at me again.”

Standing to pull his jeans up, he grins and shoots me a wink. “I had my boxers on under the towel. And for the love of anything, stop calling it a penis.”

“But that’s what it is.”

He slips his t-shirt on. This one is light grey. “Technically, yes, butthatword is not sexy.”

“Newsflash. I’m not trying to be sexy,” I counter and his eyes lift to mine, a sinister look flashing in his eyes. He looks like he wants to say something, but whatever it is, he keeps it to himself, instead sitting back on the bed to pull on his boots.

“I have to go to church. I’ll be about an hour. Can I trust that you won’t try to run?” He moves around the corner to the wardrobe and reappears a moment later as he shucks on the vest that was hanging there.

“When will you tell me who wanted you to kidnap me?” I ask instead of answering him, and his eyes narrow before he sighs.

“I’m waiting on a call. As soon as I get it, I’ll have more information for you.”

I can’t tell if he’s being honest or stalling, which means I have no other choice but to trust him.

“What if someone tries to get in here?” I ask, genuinely concerned.

“They won’t. Everyone will be busy getting ready for tonight and the lockdown. But if you really are concerned, use that phone,” he points to the old, corded phone sitting on his bedside table, “dial six and let it ring once and hang up. I’ll hear that and come back straight away.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“And before you go thinking you can use it to call someone on the outside, think again. The old phones only work internally.”

My heart sinks because I was thinking maybe I could call someone. An old friend that may or may not take my call.

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