She glanced down at her hands resting in her lap. “If it is an improvement from home, I’ll be happy.”
There was silence for several moments between them. “I don’t expect you to tell me exactly what went on in your home now, but in time I’ll need to know everything.”
He patted her knee and then got up.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“To bed.” He moved away from the sofa. She got up from her seat and followed him.
“Where do you want me to sleep?”
“I’ve only got one bed, sweetheart.” He walked into a room with a massive bed. It looked comfortable and inviting.
“We’re going to have to share a bed?” she asked.
“Not like that, princess. I can’t get anything more than what I’ve got. You either share this with me or try the sofa. I’ve only got one set of sheets, and it gets cold.” He pulled his shirt over his head.
She couldn’t stop staring at his defined muscles. They were bulging in his arms and back. She didn’t even know muscles were in a person’s back. His back and arms were covered in tattoos. She’d never seen so much ink on a person. A couple of the men who’d worked on the farm with her had shown her the tattoos they’d gotten. None of their ink looked half as threatening as his did.
Great, Penny, remind yourself how little you know. No education at all.
“I don’t want to do that for you to keep me,” she said, feeling the blush stain her cheeks.
Damon turned to her. She saw he was angry with her from the frown on his face.
“Listen, princess, I’ve never had to make an exchange for a fuck, and I don’t intend to start now. You’re here because I can’t leave you to them. I don’t have many fucking morals left, but raping a woman is not something I can accept. You want a fuck from me, you can, but I’m not going anywhere near your pussy for your stay. You got me?” he asked.
She was horrified and took a step away. Penny didn’t know what to say to him.
He took a step toward her. She took a step back, hitting the wall on the next step.
Damon put his hands on either side of her head, trapping her against the wall and his hard body.
“Do you understand me?” he asked.
“Yes, I understand.”
“Good.”
He kissed the tip of her nose and moved away. She grabbed her throat trying to still her beating heart. Damon was not a small man. She only came to his chest, and she knew there was a great deal of strength inside him. Anyone who thought otherwise about his strength was a fool.
“Put this on and get in.” He threw a shirt at her. The shirt hit her in the face.
“Is there a place for me to change?” she asked.
“Change there. With those bastards lurking I’d rather not risk having you out of my sight.”
She turned her back to him. “Do you rescue all the damsels?” she asked.
“No.”
His answer sobered her up.
Why was he saving you? You were not worth saving.
She pulled the shirt over her head, removed the old bra she still wore, and pulled his top over her head.
When she was covered enough for decency, she stepped out of the pants, leaving her knickers in place.
Penny moved to the bed. Damon had his arms folded under his head. He was staring at the ceiling.
She climbed under the blanket and settled back. This was the first time she’d been in a bed with a man.
“Relax, Penny. I won’t hurt you.”
“I know.”
“Are you scared because of those thugs?” he asked.
“They took me by surprise. I didn’t think when I opened the door.” She wrapped her arms around her body trying to protect herself from the invasive images.
“Don’t think about it, Penny. You’re here, and I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She didn’t ask why. The “why” at the moment didn’t matter to her. For the time being she was safe, and that was all she cared about.
“Tomorrow I’m going to have to take you to Don.”
“What’s going to happen?”
“He’ll talk to you. I suggest you treat him with respect. He’s a good guy, most of the time.”
Penny turned to look at him. “How old are you?”
“Thirty-five.”
Her father and brothers had been older. She was the youngest in her family and the one they’d used as a slave. They’d scared her with horror stories about other women and their circumstances. At least they hadn’t been completely wrong. The world they now lived in was no place for a woman to be alone and independent.
“Do you have a family?” she asked, wanting to know everything about the man who’d saved her.