Rose saw the mother clucking her tongue, but she noticed the hand the woman pressed to her breast. For as much as she despised Peter’s presence, the woman was also affected by him. The town knew he was a Dom. He worked at Control, and his reputation for being a fair man with women had circulated.
The mother and daughter scurried out of the library leaving Rose alone with her thoughts and a few of the other staff. She continued to stock the shelves, all the time aware of the man in another room.
Her body hummed to life whenever he was around. She was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. If her family was to ever find out about her association with him they’d find some way to stop it. The best part of her day was his visits to the library. It was lame of her, but she really loved seeing him.
When he didn’t visit her the days always went by slowly.
I’m going to get caught.
Dropping her gaze to the computer, she started checking the system and typing in the reserves that had been delivered. Her family shared the old-fashioned views of the town. She’d gotten good grades and should have gone to college. Her family didn’t believe in college. They wouldn’t help her get in, so she was stuck in Cape Falls working at the library. She loved books but wished there was something else to keep her going. What didn’t help her situation was the fact she knew they were planning something. She feared it was a marriage to one of the men they’d picked out.
Putting the books on the shelf she glanced through the window and watched as Peter kept reading. How had he escaped everything?
There were times she felt like she was drowning in the open air. Her family pushed her all the time. They wanted her to be the perfect girl who would marry the man they chose. She didn’t want to end up like that.
A couple of times she’d passed Control. The only thing her parents allowed her to do was walk. She took long walks and ended up looking at the front gates of Control, wondering if her future could be inside there.
Her thoughts were ridiculous. No one would want to help her. Shaking her head, she finished working and was shocked as the clock struck noon Peter was waiting for her. He stood by the front doors smiling.
Grabbing her bag, she walked toward him, and together they headed out onto the grassed area. It was open, and she knew it was only a matter of time before she got caught with him. For now, she loved spending time with him.
“Did your mother make your packed lunch?” Peter asked.
She watched him pull a salad out of his inner pocket. It was warm in the late October day, but Peter still wore a long jacket.
“Yeah, she always does. Who packed your lunch?” She pointed at the fish salad he started eating. Rose made her own lunch. She hated it when her mother interfered with her food. Also, she wasn’t about to tell Peter that her mother had banned foods. The cupboards were locked, and all she was allowed was two meals a day.
Her parents were strict, and they hated her fuller figure. No matter how much she dieted or exercised there was no dropping the extra pounds. Banning food and putting chains on the cupboard was her parents’ next radical move. She was scared of what would happen in six months when she didn’t lose weight.
Shaking her head, she pushed the bad memories aside and smiled at Peter.
“Daisy made this for me today. She’s determined to be a good mother, but that has extended into everything. Everyone at the club feels like they’re being mothered.”
Rose smiled. Daisy sounded nice.
“How is it at the club?” Rose asked.
“You’re way too young to be told about a BDSM club, Rose. Maybe when you’re older I’ll consider it,” he said, taking a bite of what looked like a grape.
“I’m nineteen. I’m grown up.”
He stared at her for several seconds. “Have you lost your virginity yet? Been with a guy, multiple guys?”
Heat filled her cheeks, and Rose looked down at her spread sandwich. It was low fat spread, and the bread was granary. Everything was healthy, even if she did make it herself. She was only allowed two slices of bread a day. Her lunch consisted of an apple, banana, and two slices of bread.
Tears filled her eyes thinking about the extreme way she’d been living. She was nineteen and worked in a library but still felt extremely dependant on her family.
She shook her head. “No, I’ve never been with a guy or multiple guys.”
Peter reached out and touched her chin. “I shouldn’t have said those things. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s all right. We’re friends, right?” The simple touch of his fingers on her chin was doing crazy things to her insides.
“Of course we’re friends. I love spending time with you, Rose.” He looked like he wanted to say something else, but he didn’t.