19. Nineteen
Tucker’s bedroom is awash in the gentle light of the sunrise, and I just want to bask in it. To soak in every detail of the morning, and how this new, beautiful light catches on everything. But my body is restless, and it’s been ready to move since the moment I opened my eyes.
I’m ready to do something! Preferably something that will get me free faster. Since yesterday, I’ve reframed this whole situation. Yes, I’ve been thrust into all of this and forced to do someone else’s bidding, but now I have a purpose. A goal. For the first time ever, I have the opportunity to direct my life, and I’m not going to waste a second of it.
A slight pang of embarrassment hits when I remember Silas’ rejection, but I refuse to dwell on it. The wounds of rejection still sting a little bit after Silas pulled me off of him and erected some sort of wall between us, but I can’t force him to want me any more than I can force myself to fly.
And that’s okay.
I dress quickly, hardly putting any thought into the clothes I throw on, and braid my hair back, tying the ends with a rubber band I found wrapped around some papers on Tucker’s desk.
My feet move so quickly down the stairs that I’m impressed I don’t trip over myself and fall down half the flight.
Silas, Tucker, and Ray are in the kitchen, eating breakfast that, by the smell of it, Silas cooked. I wasn’t very hungry before, but my empty stomach clenches at the sight of the food on the table. Ray grins at me when I plop down at the table directly across from him, and I can’t help but smile back.
“Good morning, Princess.”
“Morning!” I say back, my voice sounding just about as chipper as I feel, and Ray’s eyes light up in response.
Tucker, on the other hand, looks a little worse for wear. Definitely not a morning person. Between the mug of coffee he’s cradling to his chest and the generally rumpled look to him, I would even guess he’s allergic to mornings.
“Didn’t sleep well?” I ask him. When he looks up at me, the dark circles showing prominently under his eyes, I remember I’m probably the reason he looks like this, and my chest squeezes with guilt.
“The couch is a little uncomfortable, but I manage.” He fixes a smile to his face, but I see right through it. He’s miserable, and I’m the one to blame.
“Look, thank you for letting me stay in your room, but I don’t want you losing sleep on my account. I’ll take the couch.”
He and Silas both reject my proposal with a firm and simultaneous, “No.”
The force of their matched barks make me jump in my seat.
I turn to face the massive man sitting next to me, his hair is unbound, and the waves hang just below his shoulders, still damp from his morning shower. He doesn’t return my gaze, his ‘No’ being the only acknowledgement of my presence.
I blink, surprised at the ferocity in his refusal.He doesn’t want me camped out in the common space? Doesn’t want to accidentally stumble across me any more than he already has to?
Fine.
I shove the thought away as quickly as it wriggles into my mind. I don’t care. I don’t.
“You can take my bed, sweetness.” Ray’s voice pulls me away from my thoughts, his smirk commanding my attention.
“And you’ll take the couch?”
“I was thinking we could share. I could keep you warm,” he purrs, punctuating his offer with a wink, as if there was any way I could misinterpret the intention behind his words.
Silas stands sharply and excuses himself from the table, not offering a goodbye or an explanation.
Ray shoots me a conspiratorial look as if riling up Silas was his goal.
I’m not sure what to make of the expression, but I’m too hungry to care. I load up a plate with food and immediately dive in, savoring every bite. Fortunately, today I have a better handle on the noises of sheer delight that want to escape out of me, my self-restraint managing to smother any groans, aside from a couple appreciative hums and happy bounces.
“What’s the plan for the day?” I ask between bites. ”Are you boys sticking around?”
“Today, you’re all mine,” Ray smiles at me. There’s not a salacious undertone to his comment this time, and I can’t help but blink in shock.
“Alright, then what’s our plan for the day?”
His little smile turns into an outright grin, his teeth sparkling in contrast with his honey tan skin, his dimple showing as proudly as ever. The sight of him like this steals my breath momentarily. Then I consider why he looks so gleeful.
“Why do I feel like I should be afraid?” I ask, mostly joking, but there’s a definite line of anxiety starting to creep up my back.
“You should be, he’s tough,” Tucker mumbles between sips of his coffee, his eyes closed as he slumps against his seat.
“We’re getting you trained up today, Princess. Today. Tomorrow. Every day until the end of time, it’s you and me.”
That doesn’t sound so bad,I think while rolling my eyes about his ‘end of time’ comment. I don’t know what I was expecting when Dane said they would have to get me ready for this big secret mission of his.
I smile back at Ray, the nerves disappearing the more I think about it. I’m desperate to do something physical, to let my body truly wake up after the week it’s had.
“Sounds fun!”
“Yeah, tell me that after you’re done for the day.” Tucker’s pessimism is almost enough to temper my excitement. Almost.
“When do we start?” I stand, somewhat hopeful Ray will say we can start right now. He gives me an appraising look, taking extra time to scan over my body and that flutter of need stirs up in my stomach.
“You’re going to have to change; cargo pants aren’t the best for training.”
“Oh, yeah. Sure thing.” I clear my place at the table and set my plate in the sink as quickly as possible so I can rush up the stairs and get ready. I feel giddy, knowing this is the first step to the rest of my life.
I rip through the pile of clothes, tossing everything on the bed and sorting out the best options. The once neat collection is now in several crumpled piles, but I’m too excited to care about neatness. I settle on a sports bra, shorts, tank top, and sneakers.
Hard to think there would be an objection to this outfit.
Before I leave the room, I catch a glimpse of myself in the full-length mirror by the door. There weren’t many opportunities to see myself in the facility, and I didn’t mind it. It was useless to care about my physical appearance when my main focus was survival and keeping my mind from running off without me entirely.
Now I see myself fully, and it’s like I’m looking at a completely new person.
I love her.
She’s soft and round, filling out her clothes, and she has a determined look on her face. I love the way the waistband of her shorts creates slight ridges in her hips. I love the way the fabric of her top pulls and stretches across the curves of her bust. I give a little shake, and the body in front of me comes to life, continuing the movement for a second as if it wants to continue dancing around.
I want to keep admiring her. I want to praise her for her strength, but even more than that, I want to get going.
I give a little nod to the woman in the mirror and head out, more than ready to show Ray what I can do.