Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
“To be fair, I’m easily scared.” She tried to smile.
“So brave, my little Bunny.” He cupped the side of her face. “Will you both stay here with me? Let me keep you safe? I know it’s hard to trust me. But I’ll do whatever it takes to look after you both. Stay?”
She looked at Brody, then they both turned to him with a nod. “We’ll stay.”
Relief flooded him.
Autumn leaned back, looking exhausted.
Brody picked up a razor and some gel. He eyed him curiously. “What are you doing?”
“Oh, Tutu wants her legs shaved.”
Curious. And Brody was going to do that? He opened his mouth to demand that she let him do one leg. Then he thought better of that.
“Might I help?” Hmm. It was odd asking rather than taking. But when she smiled at him, he realized he’d done the right thing.
“Okay,” she said shyly.
He watched Brody as he carefully shaved her leg. “I didn’t know this was part of caring for a woman.”
“Well, some women might not like this,” Brody explained.
“You don’t have to do this.” Autumn watched him warily.
He snorted. “I thought you’d know by now that I never do anything I don’t want to.”
“You’ve really been watching us?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I’ve been keeping an eye on you for a long time, Bunny. There were times when I couldn’t be the Fox around you. So, I disguised myself.”
“What? Who were you?”
“Ken Jones.”
“The guy that delivered my check? Oh, that’s how you knew about my fear of boxes? How else?”
“Hmm. Remember Frank?”
“Yes . . . that was you? Oh my God! Who else?”
“Owen, the mechanic.”
Her mouth was wide open.
“Xavier, the guy who delivered and built the flat packs.”
“Oh my God! I never knew. I mean, I thought you all had cute butts. Jesus. It was the same butt!”
“Huh, I never thought of someone recognizing my butt. Maybe I should be disguising it.” That was something to consider.
“I did stare at it rather closely,” she said shyly.
He liked the idea of her staring at his butt. A lot.
Brody handed him the razor and gel.
Intently, he started to shave her leg. This was strange. He got such satisfaction from doing this.
Odd.
“I need a list of things you need for your period.”
“Oh, um, I don’t need anything.”
“Tutu,” Brody said warningly. “Tell him what you need.”
She bit her lip.
“I want you to be comfortable here. I will show you some things I’ve prepared tomorrow. But I did not prepare for a period. Would you like some painkiller?”
“Did we bring any of my liquid stuff?” she asked Brody.
He nodded.
“Then yes, please.”
“I have some in every bathroom.” He got to his feet and rummaged around in the cupboard, pulling out the bottle and pouring some into the cap.
She was staring at him when he turned. “What is it?”
“You have the medicine I like?”
“Yes, of course. I want you to have everything you need.”
She swallowed the medicine before smiling at him. “T-thank you.”
“What else do you need?”
“Um, tampons, night-time pads, a heating pad, and chocolate.”
“I can get all of those things.” He’d go out soon. He hated leaving them, but he knew this place was impenetrable.
“Thank you.”
He finished shaving her legs.
“Maybe we should get out now,” she said to Brody.
He nodded and they both looked at the Fox.
What? Oh, they wanted him to leave? Right. He didn’t want to go, but he guessed he shouldn’t push. He’d done that enough lately.
He really was learning.
An hour later, Brody lay in bed, curled around Autumn. She was still and silent, but he knew she was awake.
They weren’t in the Fox’s bed. But they should be.
Although, Fox was trying to be thoughtful.
Which was odd.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked.
“Maybe rub my tummy. If you don’t mind.”
He kissed the top of her shoulder. “You know I’d do anything for you.”
The Fox had prepared them a snack, but she’d barely eaten anything. She’d gotten into her pajamas after her bath. He’d noticed that she’d put her wristbands on, which pained him.
“Everything will be okay, Tutu.”
“I know.”
“He messed up, but we have to expect that.”
“Yes. I know. I understand and forgive him. I just feel a bit emotionally drained right now. I’ll be okay tomorrow.”
She yawned, and eventually, he felt her fall asleep. He slid from the bed. He didn’t want her to wake up without him there, but he needed to talk to the Fox.
Moving out into the living room, he looked around. Where was he? He didn’t want to just search through the place without permission. It felt wrong. So, he settled down on the sofa to wait.
It took about an hour for the Fox to come back, and by that time Brody was pacing the room, stressed to the max.
“Where have you been?” he snapped as soon as the other man appeared.
The Fox paused, then set the bags down on the floor before moving toward him. “Excuse me?”