Page 54 of Rescued

It also gave his Bonding Scent time to work on her. Davrik well remembered that his own Sonya had been hesitant with him at first until his scent had broken down her defenses. She’d been especially uncertain about their extreme height and size difference.

“I feel like a little kid around you!” she’d complained on one of their first dates.

“Is that so bad?” Davrik had swept her into his arms and swung her around, surprising a laugh out of her.

“Put me down! I’m a grown-ass woman!” she’d protested, still laughing. “I have a job…a life…responsibilities…”

“Haven’t you ever wanted to put those aside for a little while?” he’d asked her. “And just let someone else take care of you? Someone who knows you, who cares about you and wants your happiness more than his own?”

She’d looked up at him quizzically.

“Do I know someone like that?”

“You do now.” Davrik had leaned in to kiss her possessively and after a moment she had given a little moan and kissed him back.

It had been the start of their D/s relationship—though neither of them had known it at the time. A relationship where Davrik took care of his mate in every aspect of her life. Not in a controlling way, but with gentle dominance and occasional punishment like spankings which—to be honest—turned then both on. From the moment he’d met Sonya, he had just wanted to take care of her. To love her and protect her and make her feel good in any and every way he could.

He felt the same way for this Sonya, so when she tentatively nodded to indicate she was willing to trust him with her choice for Last Meal, his heart soared.

Calling over a waiter, he dictated a complicated list of demands, telling exactly what ingredients to use and exactly how to prepare them. Then, when he was certain the waiter had gotten everything exactly right, he sent him away and sat back with a smile.

“Whew…you certainly seem to know how to order,” Sonya remarked, giving him a look of surprised respect.

“I know the cuisine and ingredients and how to make them into something familiar—I hope,” he told her.

“Well, now I’m really intrigued.” She smiled across the table at him—a genuine smile, that actually reached her beautiful brown eyes. “I’ve really enjoyed today, you know,” she added. “I’ve never had a, uh, client take me out like this.” She made a face. “They mostly just want to hear me sing while they suck my toes.”

“While they what?” Davrik frowned.

“Oh, sorry.” She looked abashed. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Why not?” he asked.

“Well…because the number one rule around here is never talk about another client in front of your current client,” she explained. “So I shouldn’t have said anything at all.”

“No, please…” Davrik reached across the table and put a hand over hers. “Please, I want to hear anything you want to tell me. And if some other male has hurt or abused you, just point him out to me,” he added, a low protective growl creeping into his voice.

“No, no—you don’t have to do that—you don’t have to try and avenge me or anything,” she protested quickly. “Honestly, I haven’t been here that long—the toe sucking is the worst thing I’ve had to put up with so far.”

“Really?” Davrik felt a tiny, hopeful spark of relief. “I was afraid…I mean, considering the kind of place this is—”

“If you really want to know about my other clients, I’ll tell you,” she said candidly. “Most of them just want me to sing or hum to them. I mean, some of the requests are pretty bizarre, but I haven’t had to do anything really, er, sexual yet.”

Davrik felt a full-fledged burst of relief this time, which he couldn’t keep off his face.

“Goddess be praised!” he muttered. “I’m so fucking thankful you were spared, baby girl.”

Sonya frowned.

“Why do you care so much? If you’re hoping I’m a virgin, I’m sorry to tell you I’m not.”

“No, no—it has nothing to do with wanting to be ‘first’ to stake a claim on your body or anything ridiculous like that,” Davrik tried to explain. “I’m just grateful you haven’t been abused or molested or hurt.”

“Well, give it time,” she said dryly. “After all, look where we are.” She nodded around the opulent dining room with its thick carpets, immaculate white linen, and shimmering chandeliers. “Not a single girl here is free to leave at the end of the night. And I’m not free either,” she added. “I’m stuck here until the clients get tired of me or I lose my voice or get too old to look good singing in the lounge, I guess.”

She sounded so unhappy that Davrik’s heart ached for her. He wished he could promise her freedom—he wanted to swear that he would take her away from all this and she would never have to service another client again. But he hadn’t yet worked out how to go about that.

He could ask the Sluggorn manager about buying her again, but last time the male had been extremely resistant to the idea. Perhaps he could be talked into it, for the right amount of money. In the meantime, Davrik just wanted to enjoy spending time with this new Sonya, who he was already having protective and possessive feelings for.

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