Page 18 of Dangerous Refuge

A tiny voice pulls me out of my mind. I turn to see Rico standing in the doorway of my room, and I pull the bathroom door shut and walk toward him. “What’s up, bud?”

“I’m hungry. Do you have any snacks?” He rubs his eyes and I can tell he’s tired. He’s been in the game room for hours now. I crouch in front of him, uncertain what to do with a child. I’ve never been a nurturing type, but Allie isn’t really in the position to come care for him and Marta is probably off to sleep already.

“Sure, kiddo. Let me call Gerard and he will get you whatever you want. You can sleep on the couch in the game room tonight, but I guess your mom doesn’t want that to be your bedroom.” I tousle his hair as I reach for my phone and shoot the butler a text message.

“Can I say goodnight to Mom?” He looks up at me and yawns again.

“She’s having a bath. I’ll tell her you said goodnight. You go on back to the game room and Gerard will bring you a snack. Did you meet Odin?” I stand and he nods.

“He’s giant. I like him.” Rico backs into the hallway. “I hope it’s a good snack,” he mumbles.

“I hope so too.” I am ready to shut the door and go claim my bride from the bathtub but Rico is full of questions tonight.

“What about my dad? Why didn’t you want me to go with him? Why doesn’t my mom like him?”

Ten-thirty at night and this kid needs to open Pandora’s box. I clench my jaw and glance at the open bathroom door. I don’t know how much Rico knows about his father or what to say to him. Allie is passed out and useless. I don’t want to deal with this tonight.

“Your dad is not a nice person. He hurt your mom pretty badly. She’s worried he will hurt you too.” I offer the most diplomatic answer possible. Rico looks thoughtful for a moment then nods.

“Does that mean you’re a nice person?” His defiant attitude shines through. It could be a trait he picked up from his father via heredity, or he could have learned it from Allie. God knows she’s a little stubborn. I like it. It reminds me of myself when I was young.

“Nice is relative kid. All you need to know is, you’re safe here. You’ll have everything you want and need to grow up healthy and happy, and your mom will be taken care of now.” I cross my hands over my belt and pray his questions are over now.

“I’d say that’s nice.” He turns and takes a few steps down the hallway, then looks over his shoulder and says, “Thanks for letting me game in your room. I’m going to like it here.” Then, he’s gone.

I shake my head and shut the door, then head back into the bathroom. The night has been far more eventful than I’d have liked it to be for their first night here, but Rico was kept from the worst of it at least. Allie should never have seen David like that, and she will have questions for sure. I crouch next to the bathtub and watch her sleeping peacefully for a moment. She had far too much to drink.

“Hey,” I say in a low tone, but she doesn’t stir. I stick a finger into the water, not as cool as I thought it would be. She had to have started out with scalding hot temps in order for it to be this warm still. Marta probably found her wandering the hallway naked and led her here and sent her to the bath.

I glance up at the counter where a wash rag and bar of soap are sitting. She hasn’t even bathed. She probably just sank into the water and passed out. I take the rag and dip it into the bath water, then rub the soap on it, sudsing it up. When it has a nice suds, I wash her carefully, starting with her breasts and armpits, working my way down her body. She stirs slowly, moaning and blinking her eyes open.

“Sven?” she mumbles.

“Shh, you fell asleep in the bath.” I push the rag over her stomach, down over her shaven mound and between her legs. She groans, arching her back. Her tits push up out of the water, hard peaks forming. As I wash her, I remember the panties, stuffed inside her to keep her from dripping.

“Oh,” she hums, prying her eyes open. “God… my neck.”

“Yes, you passed out with your head at an awkward angle.” I chuckle, then push a finger into her, searching for the lacy panties. I find them just as she grips my wrist. Hooking a finger around the material, I begin to pull it out, drawing soft gasps of pleasure from her lips. The fabric scratches across her skin little by little until it pulls free.

“Not again,” she moans, and I can’t help but wonder if she was dreaming of me. I use the wash rag to clean her, though I’d rather be slipping my fingers through her silky folds instead. And when she is clean, I pull the plug and reach for a towel. She stands up on wobbly legs, slipping on the tile as she climbs out of the bath. I wrap my arms and the towel around her to steady her and she lays her head on my chest. Tomorrow she may regret this, but tonight I am enjoying it.

I lead her to the bed and turn it down with one arm while I help her balance with the other. Her eyes are shut again, her face resting against my skin. I’m not used to giving this level of care to anyone. I’ve lived my entire life as a leader with maids and nannies as a child, and a full staff since I bought my first home at 25. Women who come into my life are here to serve me, not the other way around.

Allie is different.

I carefully scoop her up and lay her on the bed, making sure she has a pillow beneath her head so she doesn’t wake up in more pain. Then I pull the covers over her body, but she kicks them off right away.

“Hot,” she mumbles, before curling up into a ball. That explains how she was comfortable in the lukewarm bath. Rolling my eyes at her, I walk across the room and sit down to have a cigar and watch her sleep. It appears I’m going to need to up my game for this bastard. There is no way I’m letting him anywhere near her ever again. She’s mine now, and I protect my property.

11

ALLIE

Iblink my eyes open, unaware of what time it is. The room is lit, and I’m cold, still naked from my bath. My hand is pressed between my thighs, fingers dipping into my slit, which is caked in thick moisture. Was it a dream? Sven washing me in the bathtub? Or was that real. I touch myself lightly, feeling aroused by the thought of him finding me bathing and washing me.

My head still swims with alcohol, and I realize I can’t have been sleeping that long. I probably passed out in the bath and the maid helped me into bed or something. I need to remember to thank her for that later on. For now, I enjoy the silky feeling of my swollen clit and the way my moisture makes my fingers slide across my skin. God, I’m so aroused.

“You enjoy that?”

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