After that’s finished, she gets up and leaves. “Hey! Alexander told me I could shower!”
“You think we’re going to let a housekeeper shower you?” It’s Gruff’s voice. I still haven’t heard his name so he’s still Gruff to me. It suits him, he’s a beast of a man, one you’d likely find chopping wood somewhere far in the mountains. His beard is groomed, his hair long but slicked back. He’s dressed similarly to Alexander, his suit black rather than grey and I have no doubt he’s packing too.
“Well you’re not showering me,” Gruff flashes me a grin.
“Don’t knock it till you try it.”
“I’d like to maintain at least a little dignity, dickhead.”
“Come on,” he makes quick work of the cuffs, and instead of putting them in front of me when he restrains me again, he puts them behind my back, so tight it pulls my shoulders, my muscles protesting at the unnatural angle.
“I can still use my feet you know,” I tell him smugly, “I could break your neck just as easily.”
His warm chest presses into my back, “Lex might be stalling to put a bullet in your head, but I won’t hesitate little girl.”
I tuck that little bit of information down about the stalling and snicker, “But you won’t.”
“Why’s that?”
I was baiting him but if I was going to die anyway, what did it matter?
“You’re too scared to disobey your master.”
He growls menacingly behind me.
“Am I wrong?”
I’m shoved hard, losing balance I hit the hard wood floor on my knees, pain vibrating up my thighs and hips.
“How someone hasn’t cut your tongue out already is beyond me.” Gruff grumbles, tugging me back to my feet. The quick glance I get of his face I swear I see a smile but that can’t be right.
The bathroom we stop at is on the same floor as the room I’m being held in and it’s huge, a clawfoot tub sits in the centre with brass taps, and off to the left, up against the far wall is a marble vanity, the mirror above it taking up the entire wall, the gold frame intricately weaving over the sides and edges with vines and flowers. There’s a shower big enough to fit four on the other side and a toilet. It smells floral in here, clean and I take a deep breath. Despite the situation, a shower is going to be delightful.
“You can leave now.” I tell Gruff.
“I don’t think so.”
“I’m not showering in here with you!”
“You can always go without.”
“No!”
Gruff laughs, crosses his arms and leans against the counter, watching me, daring me.
Is he serious right now?
I want to hit him but with these damn cuffs I can’t do shit.
Frustration makes my eyes sting. Damn it, I’m not going to cry.
“I can’t wait until I can wipe that damn smile off your face.”
“You can try,” he growls.
“Now, now,” Alexander steps into the bathroom, amusement tilting up his delectable mouth. “Carry on Ryker, I might just let her take a shot at you. Now what’s the problem this time?”