Chapter 6
Simone
Two things happen at the same time when I open my eyes. One, I quickly remember where I am, thank God. And two, everything hurts, especially one of my eyes. I moan before I can stop myself.
Camden is behind me. His arms are wrapped around me, holding me close. He eases his arm out from under my breasts and strokes my bicep. “Where does it hurt, Baby girl?”
“Everywhere,” I whimper. The room is filled with sunlight. It’s probably mid-morning. Also, I need to pee.
He leans over me. “I’m going to go downstairs and get you some juice so you can take some more painkillers.”
“Okay.” I miss his warmth immediately, and I moan again as I push to sitting.
“Stay there, Little one,” he orders as he pulls a T-shirt over his head.
I only have one good eye. The other is swollen shut entirely now. But I can see well enough to know I’d rather he didn’t put that shirt on. I’ve never seen Camden’s chest. I’ve never seen his legs, either. He’s fit, and heavens… Hotter than I imagined.
I slide off the edge of the bed. “Have to go potty.”
“Ah, okay.” He hurries over to the attached master bathroom and reaches in to flip on the lights. “You okay alone?”
I nod as I rush past him, shove him out of the way, and shut the door. If he’s half as overbearing as Jameson, he’ll want to accompany me to the bathroom. I’m not ready for that yet.
He chuckles on the other side of the door before I assume he walks away.
I quickly pee in the attached smaller room that contains only the toilet, and then I wash my hands in the bathroom before looking up in the mirror.
And gasp.
Holy fuck. I look much worse than last night.
My face is so swollen on one side that I can’t even recognize myself, and around my eye is a mix of black and blue.
I look down at my arms and legs. There are bruises all over from fighting against my assailant.
Most of them are obviously from that fucker gripping me.
My elbows are tight. There are abrasions on them I didn’t notice last night, too.
Without thinking, I pull off my T-shirt and move to the full-length mirror attached to the back of the door.
Blue circles have formed on my breasts, and I honestly don’t remember him grabbing my boobs that many times. My thighs have similar markings. When I turn around to look at my back, there are numerous red scrapes. I think those are from being dragged across the ground.
My face is definitely the worst. It’s going to take some time before I’ll be able to show myself anywhere. And shit. I’ve got interviews lined up for internships. I’ll have to cancel them.
Emotions well up inside me. I try to tamp them down, but I can’t stop the onslaught of anger and sadness. I’m pissed at myself. In the light of day, I can’t believe I told the police officer I didn’t want them to pursue my assailant.
It doesn’t matter, of course. Camden asked so many questions about my rights that I grasp them better now. I have none . The state decides if they want to prosecute. I’m nobody in this situation. Just the victim.
There’s a brief knock on the door before it opens.
I don’t even consider covering myself. He saw me naked last night. He’s not likely to give me privacy. I’d be shocked if he did.
My tears still fall, though, as I meet his gaze.
He comes to me and wraps me in his arms. “You’ll heal, Baby girl. I promise.”
I nod against him as he guides me back into the bedroom under his arm. I know he’s right, but every time I look in the mirror, I’m going to bubble with anger.
Camden pats the bed. “Sit. Drink some juice.” He hands me two pills. “Take these. I’m going to get the antibiotic ointment from the other bathroom.”
I take the pills and drain the entire sippy cup of juice before he gets back. I was so thirsty. I didn’t even notice until I started drinking.
“Good girl. I’ll get you some more.” He takes the cup from me and sets it on the nightstand. “Lie on your tummy, Little one.”
I do as I’m told. I’m kind of surprised by my weird lack of modesty. I’m sort of disconnected from myself. I think that’s keeping me from caring about much.
I wince as he rubs the ointment onto the scrapes on my back and then my elbows. “These will heal quickly. I promise.”
Instead of putting my T-shirt back on, he pulls the covers over my naked body. “Rest. I’m going to make you some breakfast and get you some more juice. How do scrambled eggs and pancakes sound?”
I roll onto my side and look at him. “You can cook?”
He covers his heart and gasps, giving me dramatic, offended wide eyes. “What kind of Daddy Dom would I be if I didn’t know how to make my girl breakfast?”
I giggle, which hurts, and makes me moan in pain.
“Sorry. I’ll try to be less funny for this week.” He kisses my temple and leaves me alone again.
I hate it. It’s so quiet, and I start shaking when I’m on my own. Am I going to become one of those women who can’t stand to be alone and wakes up screaming from night terrors? I hope not.
So many questions are running through my head. I need to call Natasha. I need to cancel my appointments. I need to figure out what’s happening in my life.
And what role does Camden play in it? He’s repeatedly insinuated that he’s taking over my life now. Is he serious? Is that what I really want?
I spent years lusting after this professor. It was taboo in the beginning. It was more of a crush. Sexy older man. Single. Serious. Fit. I know he’s only forty-two. It’s not like he’s sixty. He’s young. But I’m so much younger.
He’ll tire of me. I’m so na?ve and ridiculously innocent. At every chance I got, I pretended to be confident and sassy around him, but the truth is I’m not that woman on the inside. I have a Little in me who wants to be snuggled and pampered like he did last night.
It was a gamble coming to him in the night and asking him to let me sleep with him. It could have backfired on me. He proved he won’t always give me what I want while we were in the emergency room and he turned around so he wouldn’t see my naked body.
But he let me climb into his bed. He told me he would never let me out of it from now on. Does he mean that? I can’t wrap my head around the idea.
Where’s Pinky? I panic when I realize I’m not holding her. I sit up, look around, and finally pull the covers back before I find her tucked underneath them. After snagging her, I pull the covers back over me as I gingerly curl up on my side. Fuck that hurts .
I yank the comforter completely over my head so I can shut off the world. Maybe none of this happened. If I squeeze my eyes closed…eye. One eye. I can’t even pretend it didn’t happen because every time I move my eyes, I’m reminded.
I’m not this person. I’m brave and sassy. I’m bold and smart. No attacker is going to cause me to shut down and hide within myself. They can’t take my power.
I’m a smart girl. I know about empowerment. Intellectually, I’m well aware that I should get out of this bed, stand tall, and reclaim my life. But I’m not thinking rationally yet. I’m ruled by fear and anger. I can’t shake it off.
My breath hitches when the mattress dips next to me. It takes me a second to realize it’s Camden. “You okay, Baby girl?” he asks as he places a hand on my hip.
I shake my head under the covers. No sense in lying. I’m not okay.
“How about if you sit up and eat some breakfast? I bet you’ll feel better when we get some food in you.”
I wince as I push to sitting. I don’t really want to eat. I want to wallow in self-pity, but the smell of pancakes and syrup is making my tummy rumble.
Camden is holding up a shirt. “Arms up, Little one.”
I whimper as I lift my hands as high as I can. My shoulders are sore for some reason. Hell, all of me is. It’s like I was in a fight and lost.
I was.
But I guess I also sort of won.
Camden gently lowers the shirt down my body.
He sets his hands on both sides of me and leans in close.
He’s wearing jeans and a white T-shirt now.
He must have gotten dressed while I was in the bathroom, too.
“You may be bruised, Baby girl, but you’re every bit as sexy as you always have been in my eyes.
My libido can only take so much before I’m going to spontaneously combust from seeing you naked. ”
He gives me a wry smile.
I know he’s sort of teasing me to lighten the mood. “Okay, Sir,” I mutter.
He kisses my forehead before sitting next to my legs—which are still under the covers—and picking up the plate of food.
I look at it and then up at him. “Holy shit. You’re a gourmet cook.”
He chuckles. “Let’s not get carried away. I can make scrambled eggs and pancakes.”
I point at the plate. “No. That looks like it was used for a foodie photo shoot. The eggs are perfectly cooked with melted cheese on them, and the pancakes are all equally round and flipped at the perfect moment.”
He laughs. “I think I better make you an eye appointment.”
I cock my head to one side. “Just the one eye, though. Maybe you’re right. Maybe my vision is distorted. Let’s see how it all tastes. That’s what really matters. Is it plastic?” I reach for the fork, surprised when he pulls it back.
“Let me feed you, Little one.”
“You want to feed me?”
“I’ve waited four years for this, Simone. Do not deny a man his moment when it finally arrives.” He scoops up a forkful of eggs and brings it to my mouth.
I open for him and let him feed me. My heart is racing, though, and I stare at him while I chew and swallow.
A dozen new thoughts are rushing through my head. The first of which is that although Jameson is very dominant over Natasha, I’ve never seen him feed her. I’m not sure how this makes me feel. Does Camden think I prefer younger age play than Natasha? Or maybe he’s even more controlling?
Camden cuts off a bite of pancakes next. When I reach forward, he sets the plate on my lap and gently circles my wrist with his free hand to lower it to my side, carefully holding it out of the way.