Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
I’m so excited when I wake up in the morning that I can barely contain myself.
I keep giggling, and Daddy keeps encouraging me by tickling me.
He has to work today, but he’s working from his home office, so I don’t have to deal with a boring day with the rest of the government employees in the main office.
There is a benefit to being in the main office.
The view. I get to look out of the window, way above the city below.
I’ve spent hours sitting against the bars of my kennel watching the Venkorians move around below on the streets and sidewalks like tiny ants.
It’s kind of funny because I know they’re giants just like all the other men I’ve met, but from this height, they look so small.
Today is the day. Daddy better take his clothes off and get naked with me, or I’ll be very disappointed. He promised me surprises and sex. I’m planning to collect.
The day has started normally. I’m grateful when Daddy gives me free rein of his office. I’m leashed to an eyehook in the center of the room, but I can crawl around to all four sides.
Like his office upstairs, I enjoy looking out of the window here. I spend the morning sitting in front of it, people-watching. I’m in a pair of white footed pajamas that are similar to the other pairs he bought me. At midday, he rocks me, feeds me, and makes me go down for a nap in the kennel.
When I wake up, he’s talking to someone through a headset.
He lets me out while he’s still conversing, leashing me once again to the center of the room.
My diaper is soaked and awkward, but I don’t dare point that out.
Besides, he can’t get off the phone just to change me. He’ll get to it when he can.
Bored and lonely, I crawl toward the window, but my ankle gets tangled up in the leash, and when I try to tug it free, I lose my balance. My knees slip out from under me, and I slam nose-first into the window.
A quick shriek escapes my lips before I can stop it. I purse my lips, heart pounding. I don’t want to interrupt Daddy and upset him. Sitting back on my bottom, I bring my hand up to my face. Blood is running out of my nose. It drips down my fingers and onto my sleeves and the front of my jammies.
“Got to go, I’ll call you back,” I hear Daddy say.
Tears well up in my eyes as he rushes over to squat in front of me. “Oh my heavens, Little pet.” He disconnects the leash at my neck, scoops me up in his arms, and rushes through the apartment until we’re in the bathroom.
I can feel anxiety wafting from him. He says words I do not know. They won’t translate. I assume they are not nice words. I can’t tell if they’re directed at me or the situation.
I start crying. “I’m so s-sorry.”
He frowns as he holds a wet washcloth up to my nose. “Why are you sorry, Little pet?”
“I-I-I interrupted your call. I w-wasn’t being c-careful.”
He kisses my forehead. “It’s not your fault, Little pet.” Blood is covering his hands, too. A lot of blood.
I start to get nervous. It’s just a nosebleed, though. It happens. I’ve seen people have them before.
Daddy tips my head back, holds the cloth with one hand, and pulls his phone out with the other. After tapping the screen, he starts talking. “Yamal, it’s Julan. Luna fell and hit her nose. It’s bleeding a lot. Can you come? Thank you.”
I’m frustrated that he had to call Yamal. “I think it will stop bleeding on its own, Daddy,” I mumble behind the cloth.
His brow is deeply furrowed. “It might be broken. I should have been paying closer attention. I shouldn’t have given you that much leash. I should have waited until I was off the phone to let you out of your kennel.” He’s rambling. He’s also shaking.
I grab his forearm with my bloody hand. “Daddy, I’m okay.” I know I’m going to be fine. I’m disappointed that I’ve upset him, and now I’m worried he will tighten the reins on me even more, literally.
When a knock comes from the door, Daddy lifts me into his arms, still holding my nose. He opens the front door, getting blood on the handle.
Yamal comes in with his usual bag. He doesn’t have his table this time. “What happened?”
“She got tangled in her leash, lost her balance, and fell into the window.” Daddy carries me through to the kitchen and sets me on the table.
I’m surprised he knows that much about what happened. He must have been watching me the entire time. I thought he was too engrossed in his call to have noticed.
“Can you lower the cloth?” Yamal asks.
Daddy slowly eases it from my face.
Yamal steps in front of him, cups my chin, and tips my head back. “Looks like the bleeding has stopped.” He glances at Daddy. “Why don’t you wash your hands and bring a wet cloth to wash hers, too.”
Daddy hesitates before hurrying the few feet to the sink.
Yamal grips the back of my neck. “Keep your head tipped forward now for me, Little pet,” he commands. It’s rare for him to speak to me so directly. “I’m going to feel your nose to make sure it’s not broken. It might hurt. Can you be brave for me?”
I’m surprised by his gentle, kind words. “Yes, Sir.”
He smiles. At me. He actually smiles while looking me in the eyes. “Good girl.” He tucks a finger under my collar as if to ensure I can’t move an inch while he reaches for my nose.
When he grips it, I let out a shuddering breath. It doesn’t hurt as badly as I expected. It’s sore, but I don’t think it’s broken.
Daddy is back. I look at him out of the corner of my eye, without moving my head and upsetting Yamal. He’s still frowning. He has the washcloth and is passing it back and forth between his hands absently.
“It’s not broken,” Yamal says.
“Are you sure? There was so much blood,” Daddy responds.
Yamal lowers his hand and lets me bring my head back to center.
“When a nose is hit just right, it can bleed a lot. The cartilage feels fine. Wrap some ice in a washcloth and hold it against the bridge for about fifteen minutes. That will stop it from bleeding again and reduce the swelling and discomfort.”
Daddy takes my hand and wipes it mostly clean before doing the other. He rinses out the washcloth and comes back to gently clean my face. “Will it be okay to give her a bath in a while?”
“It will be fine.” Yamal pats Daddy on the shoulder. “Venkorians get nosebleeds, too. Haven’t you ever had one? The cartilage feels identical in her face to ours.”
“Yeah, I probably did years ago. I don’t remember.”
“She’ll be fine. Call me if it starts bleeding uncontrollably again, if her face swells, or if she complains of a headache.”
“What do those things indicate?” Daddy asks, his brow furrowing even deeper.
I wrap my fingers around one of his. “Daddy, I promise it’s okay.
I bet I’ve had a nosebleed more recently than you since it’s been like a hundred years since you were a kid,” I tease.
I’m not sure I’ve ever actually had a nosebleed.
I don’t remember it, but I want him to stop panicking.
It’s endearing, but it’s unnecessary, and I’m worried this is going to mean I’ll have even fewer privileges going forward.
Yamal’s eyes widen. “Huh, she is pretty sharp. Did she just make a joke? I knew she was intelligent the first day I met her, but I haven’t heard her say much since then. I kind of forgot what all she said that morning.”
I barely refrain from rolling my eyes at him.
Daddy shoots me a pointed look. He wants me to stop talking. I purse my lips. He nods his approval. “She’s smart.” That’s all he shares. He wipes my face one more time, mouthing, “Good girl.”
He lifts me off the counter and holds me against his chest as he walks Yamal to the door. “Thank you so much for coming so fast.”
“Anytime.” Yamal smiles at me again, his head tipped to one side. “She seems pretty special. I guess I should get my name on the list. There’s a growing waiting list for a human.”
“Huh. That’s interesting,” Daddy says, noncommittally.
“See you soon.” Yamal gives a wave.
Daddy closes the door, locks it in several places, and sets the alarm before rushing across the room. Seconds later, he has ice wrapped in a cloth, and he settles us in the armchair. He tips me slightly forward and gently places the ice on the bridge of my nose.
I stroke his forearm with my hand. “I’m sorry, Daddy,” I repeat. I fear I’ve messed things up. It’s making my tummy hurt.
He kisses my forehead. “No need to be sorry, Little pet. I should have been more diligent.”
I wince, and tears start to fall down my cheeks. I don’t want to cry, but I can’t stop them. My nose runs, which is probably a mess of snot and blood.
Daddy lowers the ice so that the front of the cloth is against my nostrils. “Why are you crying, Little pet?”
I shake my head, but the tears keep coming.
“Talk to me, Luna,” he commands.
The use of my given name startles me. I sniffle and meet his gaze before lowering my face to look at my lap and fidgeting my fingers. “You’re not going to let me move around at all now.” I sniffle. “You think I’ll get hurt if you give me any freedom. I’m sad.”
He doesn’t say anything for a long time. Finally, he puts the ice back on my nose. “We’ll talk about it, okay?”
I shiver.
He glances at my arm and then chuckles. “How will I ever get those stains out of your clothes?”
“Do you have any hydrogen peroxide?”
He shifts his gaze to mine. “Yes. Why?”
“It will take the blood out,” I tell him.
“Really?”
“Yes. I can do it myself if you give me the peroxide. I’ll clean both our shirts.”
A smile grows on his face and stays there. I’m not sure why. “I’ve underestimated you, Luna.”
I swallow. He has. Over and over, but I don’t tell him that.
“I don’t want you to be upset. It breaks my heart when you cry. I want you to smile and giggle every day. Those sounds make me happy. I don’t want to do anything to make you unhappy.”
My heart beats faster. Maybe there’s hope here.
When I presume the fifteen minutes are up, Daddy stands, cradling me. He takes the ice to the kitchen and then heads for the bathroom. “Does your head hurt, Little pet?”
“No, Daddy.” My nose is sore, but I don’t have a headache.
“Your face is going to be tender for a few days. It might bruise.”
I hold my breath. If he tells me he’s not going to have sex with me because I fell, I might throw a tantrum. At least that way, I would end up naked over his lap. I’d rather get the spanking of a lifetime than have him treat me like porcelain.
Daddy bends over and turns on the water to fill the tub. “Let’s get you cleaned up, then I’ll share your surprises with you.”
This perks me up. There’s hope for tonight after all.