Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
I’m entranced as Daddy fixes my hair. He sits me on the counter in the kitchen, so my head will be up high enough, and then he proceeds to brush out the thick waves.
Just like when he was petting me, this feels good. I’m not used to being pampered or even touched more than necessary. I’ve done my own hair for as long as I can remember. There was no time on the space station for frivolous styling. We pulled our long locks back either into a braid or a ponytail.
“Do all your females have long hair like this?” he asks as he sets the brush down and divides my hair into three sections.
“Most. It’s not a requirement or anything. We don’t often have the time to cut it.”
“It’s stunning, Little pet. Do you like it this long?”
I tip my head down. “It’s kind of heavy.”
“Would you be happier if it were a bit shorter?”
He’s done, and I twist around to look at him. “You would let me cut it?”
He shrugs. “I’m just being practical. It’s going to get in your way when you crawl.”
I wince. I hate the idea of crawling. Is he really going to force me to remain on the floor? The idea is so humiliating that I may silently rebel by not moving.
Daddy taps my nose. “You’re having naughty thoughts. I’ve discovered I can smell more than your arousal. Your body gives off a different scent when you’re conspiring.”
My eyes go wide, and I gasp. “That’s evil.”
He chuckles. “What were you plotting, naughty girl? Because I know you well enough to tell when your mind is jumping around while I’m talking.
Beware. It would behoove you to focus on me and nothing else when I’m speaking to you.
If I catch you not listening to me, it’s as bad as disobeying an order. ”
I swallow. “Yes, Sir.”
“I’ll have someone come to the apartment to cut your hair for you. How does that sound?”
Giving him a slow smile, I nod. I’ve never had my hair cut by anyone who had a clue what they were doing. On the space station, we simply chopped off some whenever it became annoying. Some women kept their hair longer than others.
“That sounds nice. Thank you, Daddy.”
“Settled. Now, would you like me to take you outside?”
My smile splits wider.
Daddy inhales deeply. “Oh, Little pet, the scent that your body emits when you’re pleased is heavenly. It’s not as sweet as your arousal, but it’s a close second.”
It’s weird that he can scent me like that. I can’t do the same. Or maybe that’s not true. Daddy definitely has a specific scent, and I’m addicted to it. I want to bury my nose in his neck and inhale him forever. But I’m not aware of his smell changing with his moods.
As I draw in a deep breath, it occurs to me that perhaps he hasn’t had any other moods since I met him. Maybe his potent, alluring pheromones are overpowering any other scent.
Daddy sweeps me off the counter. “Can you hold your head up without help, Little pet?”
“Yes, Sir.” I do feel heavy, but I’m getting used to the sensation. It might be awkward to walk, lifting my feet as if they were concrete, but I wouldn’t fall. He’s being overly cautious by not letting me walk.
The truth is, I like being pressed against him. The more of me he touches and the closer he holds me, the calmer and more centered I feel. So I don’t really want him to put me down and leave me on my own.
There’s a battle in my head, because I know I shouldn’t be so attached to him. It’s dangerous for my mental health. I should be angry with him. I also know that neither of us is in control of our feelings because of the injection.
Would he find me so alluring if we’d met without the shot? That part scares me. What if it wears off and we wake up one day and find we don’t even like each other? Or worse. What if I’m still magnetically drawn to him, but he loses interest in me?
“Zoey…” he warns as he carries me from the kitchen.
Darn him. I don’t like him reading me like he does. It’s bad enough that I can’t school my face to keep him from guessing what my expressions mean, but he’s scenting me. I can’t stop myself from smelling like fear. That’s impossible.
Clinging to him, I try hard to shove my concerns aside and focus on the exciting part. We’re going to the roof. I never expected to be able to go outside, so this plan makes me giddy.
When Daddy opens the door to his apartment, I’m taken aback for a moment to see a man in the hallway. I’d forgotten that he told me there was a guard posted outside. I think this is one of the men who escorted us from my original Venkorian prison yesterday.
He has a serious expression on his face as he nods in acknowledgment to Yozef without looking at me directly. He’s not smiling. His brows are furrowed in a way that I believe is permanent. He’s at work; his job is to keep me safe.
It’s such an odd concept. I can’t grasp why anyone would want to kidnap me, but it would seem that attempts have been made to take at least one of my friends. I wonder which one, what happened, and if she was scared out of her mind.
At the same time, it’s kind of hard to reconcile why I would care if someone took me from my owner.
I woke up as a prisoner, and technically, I still am.
Never mind that Yozef intends to be kind to me.
He’s also made it clear that if I’m not obedient, I will be punished.
He’s given me plenty of examples already.
Trying not to think about my plight, I grip Daddy’s neck harder and lean into him, not wanting this other man to see my naked chest. I’m not as stressed about being exposed to Yozef, but I don’t want random strangers to see my nudity.
“We’re going up to the roof,” Daddy tells the guard.
The man gives a quick nod and presses the elevator button. When it comes, he gets in with us. Apparently, we can’t go outside without him.
And that becomes abundantly clear when he steps out of the elevator with us and holds the door to the rooftop open for Daddy to carry me through.
I squeal in delight, unable to stop my reaction the moment Daddy steps outside. The air hits my face, and it feels so good. It’s warm out. I wasn’t expecting that. I don’t know what I was expecting. But the temperature is much better than inside.
Have I ever been this warm? Not on the space station. Certainly not in the warehouse in that cage.
We didn’t have much clothing on the space station. We had to make do and reuse everything, so we didn’t have a lot to work with, but the climate control kept us comfortable.
I’m not sure it’s actually hotter out here than in the space station, but the sun makes it seem so inviting. I’ve never been exposed to sunlight. It feels so nice.
Yozef turns to the guard. “Come meet Zoey. I haven’t formally introduced you.”
I’m surprised by this development.
The guard is slightly taller than Daddy. Maybe close to eight feet. And he’s broader. I didn’t think that was possible. His skin is dark. So are his hair and eyes. That’s not unusual to me. The women on the space station have all different skin tones.
Daddy rubs my back as he faces the guard. “Galar, this is Zoey. Zoey, Galar will be your personal security detail.”
I frown. “What is that?”
Daddy chuckles. “It means he will always be nearby when we go somewhere. His job is to protect you, above all else. If there’s ever a threat to your life, he will ensure it is squashed immediately.”
“Oh.”
Daddy lifts my chin. “You will speak respectfully to Galar, Little pet. Manners.”
My face flushes at the reprimand, but I lift my head. “Nice to meet you, Sir.”
“That’s a good girl,” Daddy praises, making me feel far inferior to both men. I shouldn’t be surprised. And I’m not pleased with what happens to me physically when Daddy expresses his approval.
The words good girl always make my pussy clench. I don’t get it. It’s frustrating.
Galar nods in my direction, finally making eye contact with me. “You will be safe with me, pet.”
Sigh. Must I be a pet? I’m treated as though I’m a combination of being a trained animal and a young child. I’m neither.
“Zoey has never been outside, so we’re going to spend some time up here,” Yozef informs Galar.
“I will guard the entrance,” Galar says before pointing past us. “I have installed the eye hook you requested. It’s heavy-duty and anchored deep. It will keep her safe.”
“Thank you, Galar.” Daddy turns back to me, smiling, as Galar moves toward the door. He stands sideways, seemingly keeping an eye on both the entrance and the entire roof.
I don’t know what he’s talking about when he refers to an eye hook. I know what one is, but what is it for? Assuming it has nothing to do with me, I turn and look around at the spacious rooftop.