Page 78 of Freedom Mine
Kayo carried her back to the house, the entire way, despite his bad leg. She would have protested, but he seemed to need to carry her. She wished she had learned what was bothering him, but he had closed himself off to her. If nothing else, she had learned patience during her time as a slave. For Kayo, she could certainly be patient.
She needed to feel Kayo’s arms around her, to be held, as if he’d let no one take her from him. Garitt had taken her freedom away. Granted, it had only been less than a day, but it reminded her of how vulnerable she was until her chip status changed.
After showering, Kayo fixed them a light dinner. Alli considered learning how to cook, though she couldn’t imagine doing any better than Kayo.
She had yet to figure out what she would do here. So much of her life had changed in the three weeks since she’d arrived, the best part being Kayo, but she still had no idea how she could help out, short of doing odd jobs as they arose.
“I’m almost done.” Alli had two more pots to scrub.
“Forget about those. We can get them in the morning.”
He seemed nervous as he led her to his room. It was kind of cute, given how he’d taken her at the lake. Then again, she had invited him earlier. He always seemed skittish about making the first move, perhaps because he still saw himself as her owner. Maybe that’s what was bothering him.
“I’d like you to stay with me tonight,” he said as he drew her into the hallway at the base of the steps. It was the junction between heading down the hall to his bedroom or going up to the attic.
“We don’t have to do anything. You have the right to refuse me, even though we’ve already enjoyed ourselves together. Freedom is freedom, Alli. But I’d sleep easier knowing you’re safe, at least until I figure out how to keep what happened last night from happening again.”
“Tieg’s not likely to come back.”
“No, but, there are other men here.”
“There will always be other men here. Maybe you can teach me some self-defense. I’ve always wanted to learn, but wasn’t allowed, for obvious reasons.”
“That’s a good idea.” He flashed a quick smile, but it didn’t stick as he stepped aside, clearing her path to the stairs. He had misunderstood her.
Instead of heading up to the attic, she stepped past him, letting her hand slip into his as she headed to his bedroom.
“Are you sure?” Kayo asked, looking hopeful.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in my owner’s beds.”
He winced. Yes, he still worried about his status and hers. She almost regretted her words, but he needed to understand that she wasn’t the same woman he’d purchased three weeks ago, thanks to him.
“But I’ve never shared a bed with someone I cared about, Kayo, until now.”
She laced her fingers around the back of his neck. It was brief, the smile that graced his face before his mouth came down on hers, but it was all Kayo.
He wrapped her in his warmth for a second time this evening. This was what she wanted in her life. . . a man who cared about her, a man who would help her grow and become more than she’d ever dreamed, a man who would give her the freedom to dream once more.
