“Umm...yeah. Just going to see what was in here. Do you want anything?” I rummage in the fridge and find Chinese in plastic containers. It smells good when I open a few and sniff them, so I start pulling them out and find a baking sheet in one of the cupboards to reheat it.
There’s a little oven mounted in the wall of the kitchenette, and once I preheat it, I start arranging portions of orange and almond chicken, fried rice, lo mein, and stuffed wontons on the sheet. Finding plates, flatware, and napkins, I set them out on the little coffee table in front of the couch. I'm a little uncomfortable as Marcus is watching me move around and set everything up, but I’m determined not to let it bother me.
The oven finally dings, signaling that it’s preheated, and I pop the pan in to let the food get hot while rummaging for drinks. There’s root beer in the fridge, and, on a whim, I open the freezer and luck out with vanilla ice cream. Either they feed their slaves well, or Apollo or Marcus arranged for all of this. I’m going with the latter as I don’t really see Apollo’s father giving a crap about other human beings, besides basic care for his use.
After the food and floats are done, I take it all to the coffee table and am in the middle of filling my plate when I realize Marcus is still staring at me.
“What? Do you not like Chinese? Or is it the floats? You don’t have to have any if you don’t want to.” I’m a little grumpy since he could have said something before. It’s not like he couldn’t see what I was doing.
“No, I like it all. I actually love root beer floats. Just haven’t had anyone other than Apollo do something like this for me unless I ordered it from the kitchens.” He has a funny look on his face that I can’t quite decipher. Maybe something like embarrassment since he told me that or gratitude for the food. Deciding it's a mix of the two, I shrug it off like it’s not a big deal, not wanting to embarrass him further, and continue filling my plate.
“Eat up before I get to it all. I can eat my weight in Chinese food.” A wonton escapes as I’m putting it on my plate, and Marcus catches it before it hits the floor. Instead of putting it on my plate, he takes a bite, earning a scowl from me. With a laugh, he holds it up to my lips— I hesitate for a second, and he goes to withdraw— but I quickly open my mouth and take it from his fingers, nipping him a little in the process.
He inhales sharply, and I mumble an apology, turning my head away in embarrassment. He takes another off the baking sheet and nudges me to get my attention before he bites off it as well, bringing the other half up again for me to take. This time there’s heat in his eyes, and I’m more careful, slipping my tongue out to lick the bit of left behind cream cheese off his finger. I blush at my actions, and I’m confused as well. I shouldn’t like Marcus, but I kind of do. This place is messing with my head. He adjusts in his seat and sits back to start filling his own plate. With our plates full, we eat our food in companionable silence as we watch the antics on the screen.
“You like this movie?” He seems surprised when I nod my head. We’re almost finished with the movie and down to the bottoms of our floats when I hear a shout and a thump. I turn wide eyes to Marcus who goes to get up to investigate but stops when we hear Rex yelling at Braeden.
“Fuck, man! I didn’t do it on purpose. Lark was between us when I fell asleep.” I can’t hold back the giggles this time, and Marcus stares at me again.
“What? It’s funny. I got out of bed, and they slumped in toward each other. I was wondering when they were going to notice they were cuddling.” Marcus shakes his head with a smile at my enjoyment of fucking with Rex.
“That’s terrible, but funny too. I like when you laugh. We need to get you out of here so you have a reason to again.” Maybe Marcus really isn’t all bad. My thoughts are diverted as Braeden comes in, in a hurry, with Rex right behind him.
“Lark, damn it, wake me up next time! I thought something happened to you, and the human octopus was wrapped around me like Linus with his blanket.” I bust up laughing again with Marcus joining in while both the guys glare at me. Finally getting ahold of myself, I apologize for laughing and scaring Braeden. As a peace offering, I offer to heat up some food for him, and I’m instantly forgiven at the mention of food he doesn't have to prepare himself.
We all settle in with food to watch the rest of the movie, enjoying the downtime that we have. Apollo and Brent find us that way as Emmett trails in still looking half asleep, crease lines on his cheek from the pillow and his wedge of badboy hair firmly in mussed territory— it's ridiculous how attractive he still is, even rumpled.
Apollo fiddles with his phone before setting it on the counter and nodding to Marcus. He's been doing it randomly and I'm thinking that's how he's letting us speak freely on occasion. My thoughts are confirmed when he starts talking.
“How are you feeling, Lark?” Apollo seems to be wary of me, and I don’t blame him. I should pop him in the nuts again, but I don’t really see that he had an opportunity to do anything differently. Hey, I can be rational. Being trapped here is like being in an alternate reality, and I can’t wait to get out.
“I’m fine.” I don’t say more than that, flicking my eyes towards Rex and Braeden. I don’t want a scene, and neither of them is slow-witted, so they instantly pick up on it. Rex, of course, opens his big mouth.
“What really happened, Apollo? She’s been abused enough, we need out now. I don’t care about finishing the job.” Rex has his fists clenched next to Braeden who looks thunderous. Marcus answers for him while Apollo stands there stone-faced.
“Restraints, flogging, figging, and fucking.” Braeden’s eyes get big, and Rex just looks confused. Marcus elaborates, “She got peeled ginger stuck in her ass, while she got paddled, and then Apollo had to fuck her in the ass too. All in front of his father and his cronies. It was the minimum that could pass as punishment and keep the others’ hands off of her.” Braeden glares at Apollo and comes to envelope me in his arms. I snuggle in, trying to decide what to say to take the worry from my friend.
“It wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I’m embarrassed, and my ass is still sore, but I’m fine. I also agree with Rex, we need to get out of here before things escalate. Robert is seriously looking more and more deranged, and I don't even know the dude." I shudder a little when I remember him watching his son fuck me. Rex is pissed along with Emmett while Marcus looks sympathetic, and Apollo is still frozen.
With a sigh, I pull out of Braeden’s arms and move over to Apollo. I pat his arm and quietly say it wasn’t his fault. He glances down at me with those eyes, begging for forgiveness. “Really, Apollo, it wasn’t your fault. Now, who’s hungry? Because I’m not heating more food up after this.” That seems to break the ice, and they all chime in with various yes answers, so I heat up everything that’s left in the containers. After everyone is settled and eating, I sink down next to Braeden with Apollo on my other side. He seems shy or maybe humbled that I’m that close, but again, there really wasn’t anything he could have done. I’d rather be alive and with these guys than dead or given to some other perverts that only want to cause pain for their own pleasure.