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ꃴꀤꉓꀤꂦꀎꌗ ꌃꀤ꓄ꍟ, ꀭꍏꀸꍟꀸ ꃅꍟꍏꋪ꓄ (ꌗ꓄ꍏꀤꈤꍟ ꊼ ꌃꀎꈤꈤꌩ)

In truth, she wasn’t trying to frustrate him. She’d been left with no choice all her life and suddenly she had them all. Or close enough to all of them. There was what she was in the world, what she was in this house and what his father would see her as. It was her feelings for him and her own issues with how she felt. It was giving her a headache and making her act irrationally. He was frustrated now and she didn’t blame him. The tears that sprang to her eyes were hidden as she turned her back on him. That was all she needed to do was start crying to round off this whirlwind of crazy.

Hugging herself Riley tried to not cry. Even as she told herself over and over to not cry, she felt the hot tears slip down her cheeks and it took her a moment to realize she was trembling. Her gut reaction was to flee. Run to her room and slam the door. It wouldn’t have helped anything. Her emotions were making her dizzy.

It was as if she’d never felt anything but anger and suddenly she was overwhelmed. Like the choices of options. She’d tried to be big. Brave and failed. That much was clear. She sniffled and turned to him, her cheeks tear stained and fresh tears fell.

“I don’t know..” Her voice broke. She was meant to hate him. He was supposed to be a monster. Not kind. Not sweet. Not handsome. She shouldn’t find comfort in his touch. In his scent. “I’m sorry..” That broken voice was oh so soft as she creed in his office, dressed in that too small outfit.. The thought suddenly made her give a blubbery giggle. “Super sexy, huh..”
 
Tobias hadn't meant to sound as angry as he did but his voice had definitely been raised an octave or two when he'd been saying how he felt. It wasn't meant to be like this...it was naive of him, he knew that now, to think that this would all just be okay. He would bring her here, he had known Riley would be scared and angry when he'd arranged for her to be delivered, but he had been confident that eventually she would come around and even be happy here. It had seemed to be going well, all according to plan but there was so much that he hadn't considered. How she would be overwhelmed by choice, how she would be frustrated just like he was by the situation, how he would start feeling affection for her, not just a small amount but strong affection and a desire to protect her that was overwhelming in it's own right. How hard it would be to navigate all of this and suppress his own growling feelings for her. Emotional feelings, and physical, lustful feelings that made him feel guilty just for thinking them and wanting them. Trying to be the gentleman when he'd wanted to pull her to him and give her a real kiss, when he wanted to call her his.

He was barely starting to calm himself when she turned away from him and another feeling cascaded down with the rest, more guilt. This was to be expected of somebody who had been through what she had, she was a strong person, he could tell that but the horrors she'd faced, the future she'd expected to have would mess with anybody. He should have been the pillar of strength here, he should have been more stable, calm, calculated. He made to step forward and at the same time, she turned. He could see the tears, hear it in her voice as she spoke, and apologized, and his heart melted. He couldn't be angry or upset at her already and now she seemed so...small and vulnerable. Something she definitely hadn't seemed like when she arrived, like all the things she'd hidden were coming out. He heard her giggle but he was already moving closer, he pulled her tight against him and his arms wrapped around her. He didn't like seeing her like this, he didn't like that she had to feel this way and pulling gently he navigated them through the room to his chair, he sat down and pulled her down with him so he could just hold her, pulling her head to his shoulder just like he had the night before. "Shhh...you don't have to be sorry, you've done nothing wrong Riley, you really haven't. This is just...a tough situation. We will get through it, I promise we will, and then you'll be as free as you can be." He rocked while he held her, his fingers glided through her hair and over her ear, his eyes were closed and his voice soft and how she was dressed was the last thing on his mind. "I know it's hard but try not to think about what we have to do and the past, try to think about what's on the other side, the life you can lead, here, with me."
 
His warmth surrounded and she stiffened for a moment before turning into his chest curling into that warmth and comfort. Riley knew she shouldn’t cry, at least not anymore and yet she started anew. Her tears were hot and hit his chest soaking into his shirt as her arms wrapped around his waist. Tears were not new, not really but she’d never cried before anyone else. Tobias felt safe though and that felt dangerous but Riley didn’t know what to do with those feelings. They were at odds with one another. His hand moved to her ears and a part of her wanted to snap at him that she wasn't a dog and yet.. It felt good.

They rocked in place and her tears slowly and she was left with hiccups. Her small frame trembled with each hiccup. His voice was soothing, rumbling against her cheek. Think of what is to come. Not his father, but her life. What it could be. She would never be free like he was, but she could have a life that most of her kind could never dream of. Sniffling her face still hidden against his chest she spoke. Promise to herself be damned. “Could I have a stuffed animal?” That voice was soft, small and unsure.

Would he judge her? Unlikely. Still, it was a soft spot that she’d hidden from everyone. Tobias had a way of bringing out that softness. Riley realized with a jolt why. He made her feel safe. Oh sure, she’d felt it when he’d pulled her into his arms, but it was something different to realize it fully. To trust a human.. And she did trust him. “I cried on your shirt,” her words were still soft, but held a tinge of an apology.
 
Just like he had the night before Tobias could feel her relax against him, felt her curl into his chest and he smiled softly as he held her. This wasn't something he was used to doing, in fact he couldn't remember the last time he'd just held somebody to make them feel better, or helped to personally soothe somebody like this. Most women he was with, it was a simple night of pleasure and fun, and then they were gone. Emotions and feelings were not very prevalent in his encounters and he hadn't grown up with siblings who needed it. His friends had more been acquaintances in the private school he'd gone to, they had hung out occasionally and he wasn't unpopular but he wasn't popular either, he had mostly kept to himself and then when he'd come home for the summer there was nobody around for him. Most of his life had been like this, he'd been alone and never had anybody he'd had to care for in any significant way.

Now he had Riley. He was quickly learning how to cope with her emotions which were definitely strong because of how her own life had been and the expectations of what she would face, but it seemed he had good instincts because whatever he was doing seemed to be working. Slowly the tears faded and he continued to pet her. He wanted to do more, he wanted to call her a good girl but he didn't want to offend her, he wanted to tell her he'd always look after her but that seemed condescending and so soon, they barely knew each other but some protective instinct had been woken in him. When she spoke and asked for a stuffed toy he grinned. That was something he could provide for sure and he nodded. "Of course you can, here..." They were already in his chair so it was easy to reach one arm past her, keeping her where she was while he typed in a local store and pulled up the webpage. They were very large in the industry and had thousands to choose from. "Here, look at the screen Riley, you can choose any of them okay?" He started to slowly scroll down the screens and through the pages, hand still petting her ear while he did so.
 
It might have been a comfort to know that this was just as odd for him as it was for her. Riley was so full of ideas of who he was, how he was raised. Rather, she would have been, if asked. None of them would have been flattering and while some would have been way off, others would have been perhaps too close for comfort too. She would have found it surprising though to know that this sort of comfort was new to Tobias. That his flings didn’t last and that he never had cause to comfort one.

It would have also served another purpose. It would have made Riley feel special. That was something the young woman would have found pleasing and confusing in equal measure.

He reached past her, his voice a warm rumble against her ear as he answered her. Look at the screen was a bit of an order, but Riley tried to not mind. He wasn’t saying it like one, he was trying to help. The words, though, made her feel growly even if she didn’t make a sound. The real problem came when she didn’t want to shift away from where her head lay. One hand reached out and found his desk and with an insistent pull she soul them slightly till she could see the screen and he could still operate the mouse.

She was very insistent on this point and watched him scroll. It was a lot of choice and she made a small sound in her throat and turned her head away from the screen, hiding it in the crook of his neck. “Too much," she murmured softly, the words muffled. She inhaled his scent and exhaled softly before turning her eyes back to the screen. “Teddy bear?” She watched as he one handedly typed in the word and then she added in. “Light brown and.. Armful?” She turned away again and only looked back when he nudged her gently and told her to look. He’d selected a handful of options, cutting down the seemingly endless options to five. After careful consideration she picked one called Bumbles. “Him, please..” Her arms slipped around his waist again, cuddling tighter, in no way ready to give up the comfort.
 
If Tobias had known how much it would have helped Riley then he'd have said what was on his mind, how he felt, but he was too far lost in trying not to seem like his father that he didn't want to cross any lines such as 'good girl.' It didn't help that their more recent arguments had only made that more difficult. The fact was that Riley did feel special to him...not just because he was ultimately responsible for her now, her life was literally dependent on him and the kind of person he was, but because he'd never invested time into getting to truly know anybody like he was starting to understand her. She seemed to at least be entrenched where she was now, he was sure he could get her to move from his lap easily if he wanted her to but that was the last thing he wanted...he'd be happy if she stayed here like this for the rest of the night but it was difficult to manage the computer while also not disturbing her too much. He managed, with a little stretching, and had begun scrolling through the options when she buried her head in his neck again. Her breath tickled there a little, it was warm and her words were soft. Again...he liked it.

He stroked his hand up and down her back a little and nodded, reaching to type what she instructed him to until they came to far less options. A light brown teddy bear that would be a good armful for her to carry was a lot more limiting and when she chose one, he nodded. "Bumbles. It's a cute name, let's get Bumbles here for you, shall we?" She'd cuddled even tighter into him and he knew without a doubt that she needed him now so going to pick up Bumbles, while faster, wasn't really an option. He didn't want to leave her alone and he was positive that taking her to the store would be overwhelming for her too. Despite how tough and aggressive Riley could be, how she had fought and her fiery temper had branded her a problem Tobias had quickly learned in these past few days that she wasn't aloof or hateful, she didn't want to be angry it was just how she'd survived and avoided the worst. He didn't think she had ever been as vulnerable before as she was right then in his lap and he wasn't going to make her get up any time soon. Ordering Bumbles online, paying for faster delivery which would be tomorrow, but that wasn't fast enough. He looked up the store number and took out his phone, disturbing her as little as possible.

He kept his voice quiet but obviously she heard everything as he called the store and asked for Bumbles to be delivered that day. The employee had said they couldn't, they didn't have such a service and he'd countered with a generous offer if they took their lunch break to drive the toy over to him. He gave his details over the phone, paid by card and paid extra to the employee and he knew that within an hour Bumbles would be delivered. Then he put his phone down and went back to petting Riley. "Are you feeling any better? You don't need to get up, I like this, holding you. I do wish it hadn't been under such circumstances, I don't like you hurting but this...this is nice." He smiled as he spoke and his hand wandered, petting her back, her waist, her ear and even scritching there a little.
 
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There was an excitement at getting her first stuffed animal was oddly secondary to the hand that stroked along her back. While Riley may not have wanted to be compared to a dog, but the way he touched hee wasn’t all that different than would pet a dog. Hand along her back, against her ears. The scritches too, would have made a tail wag in a pooch and in Riley alike. Her tail thumped lazily and she shifted her head on his shoulder, her eyes watching his profile. He’d rushed ordered bumbles. He’d used his power to get her something that she wanted. Would one say he’d used his powers for good? It wasn’t as if getting an employee to come over on their lunch with the order was evil.. Riley was conflicted on her feelings over the interaction.

On one hand, she got the stuffed bear today. The display of power though; even if it was just money, made her feel uneasy. She exhaled in a small little huff and let her eyes close. Crying had made her feel sleepy. She shifted in his lap and rubbed at her eyes. “I should let you work..” His arms tightened and he murmured something about how she could stay.. It didn’t take much convincing and she shifted closer to his warmth, head falling to his shoulder.

Sleep came quickly with his scent and warmth enveloping her and the rhythmic clicking of keys as he worked An ear flickered and she gave a small whimper. Beneath her lashes her eyes flickered quickly. Another soft sound, and her nose twitched.. Her tail lifted and fell halfheartedly as he dream held her in its thrall. It would be hard to tell if her dream was good or bad. Was she chasing a squirrel? Being molested? It wanted until she growled softly huffy and her tail flicked.

Many people thought a wagging tail was friendly. That wasn’t always true. If it was slow, deliberate, it could be a warning. That was how Riley’s tail moved and she flinched in his arms. Another small growl that ended in an unsure whine. Her ears flat to her head. Her dream was not longer a dream but something else on the verge of a nightmare.
 
For him, it wasn't a case of using his money for evil or for good, he didn't think this was either of those things. He was just spending it. He had money, he didn't feel bad about that. Tobias knew he was lucky, he hadn't had to earn what he'd started with but he'd earned what he was making now with his company, he'd turned it around and he was reaping the rewards of that while trying to protect himself, his workers and now Riley from his father. He didn't consider spending his money or even having it as evil or wrong even if sometimes he did feel bad that not everybody had it, some people had far less than they needed but in his mind he couldn't make himself responsible for all of that, thinking like that was a sure way to make himself insane.

While he waited for Bumbles to be delivered he tried to move a little closer to the desk with the chair without disturbing Riley so he could at least read some documents he had to go through, then Riley tried to climb down from his lap. He heard her voice, soft and unsure and he shook his head, his arm slipping down to wrap around her waist, stopping her from getting up. "No, you can stay here, you're not bothering me. Rest, I like this." He smiled as she didn't fight him and she shifted to make herself more comfortable and at the wagging of her tail, wondering if she even realized she was doing it, and inwardly he was thrilled that she was happy here in that moment.

An hour passed while he just held her, and he answered a text at one point to tell the person to leave Bumbles in the secure mailbox at the front door, and of course he paid them for their troubles. He chuckled softly as she made soft sounds, her ear flicked, her nose twitched. It was cute, and he wondered what kind of dream she must be having, stopping his work to watch her at times. Adorable, he thought to himself, until he heard the soft growl. A growl, a whine...she flinched too, all things he knew probably weren't good and he shook her by the shoulder gently. "Riley, wake up, I think you're having a bad dream..." His voice was a little louder than it normally would be, fully intent on waking her from whatever nightmare she was having, and now he had questions too.
 
She started awake and her eyes met his, wide and scared. Blush warmed her cheeks and she shifted in his lap, her eyes lowering. Sleeping in his lap had been comfortable. “Sorry..” She murmured. She doubted he minded and had only woken her because she’d been having a bad dream. It had been bad too. She was being hunted by a group of men. She could remember that much and she began to tell him about her dream. “There were men..” She didn’t know how many.. “Dark and outside. Cold too.” Her words were halting as Riley tried to recall the dream. “Chasing me. I know if they catch me they will hurt me.” She shivered, cold, even though she was snuggled warm against him.

“They have weapons and dogs.” Her head found his neck hiding there when his scent was the strongest. “Never catch me though..” It was clear this was a dream she had a lot. It was a fear and had been threatened to her more than once after she’d bitten someone or refused to partake in training with the others. A bell sounded and she jumped, tumbling from his lap, landing on the floor with a thud. “Owww” She rubbed her shoulder as she sat up, looking at him. The short skirt was around her waist now, her panties on display. She stood, careful and started to tug on the dress as the door rang again. Her head tilted and the memory came rushing back.

Her face lit up, becoming beautiful as her ears perked and her tail wagged, once twice, happy little thumps. “Is.. that Bumbles?”
 
"Don't be silly, you have nothing to be sorry for, you tried to get up, I made you stay." He chuckled softly and reached for her, brushing a lock of hair from her face where it had stuck as she slept. "If I'd had a problem with you being in my lap then I wouldn't have pulled you back down, now would I? As it happened I enjoyed it, it was...soothing. It didn't sound like you were having very good dreams though..." That was why he'd woken her of course, because it was obvious that her dreams had been awful. He listened as she explained them to him, frowning as she described being hunted through the dark and the cold by multiple men, men armed with weapons and using dogs to track her. She'd cuddled closer to him as she'd described it and his arms had found her waist, tightening to keep her held against him initially before they had stroked upwards, ending with his fingers in her hair, petting her, trying to help her to relax. "Shhh, no, they'll never catch you. You're safe here, Riley, and I'm not going to let that change, you're stuck here now." He laughed softly, trying to make her feel better with his laughter rather than finding her bad dreams funny. His face turned a little more serious. "Do you have these nightmares often? Is there any way I can help?"

The sound of the bell made him flinch but it was nothing compared to how Riley reacted and she fell off his lap, his arms no longer around her holding her in place. As she landed he looked down and he could see her dress had ridden up, his eyes immediately going down to the panties beneath it and he couldn't stop himself from grinning at the sight. "You okay down there puppy?" He didn't know why he said it, he hadn't really meant to but it didn't stop him from enjoying it, getting to his own feet and holding out a hand in case she wanted help up though she seemed to manage just fine on her own. He watched realization of what the noise meant appear on her face as he looked back up and he could hear her tail wagging, the way it thumped against her own thighs. Grinning, he nodded. "That would be Bumbles. Come on, let's go get him."

He held out a hand to her, and when she took it he led her to the front of the house. The delivery man had already left so when he opened the front door all he had to do was put in his code for the parcel lockbox he had to stop people stealing his packages and take out the bear waiting inside. With a bright smile he handed him to her. "There you go, is that better? He's yours now, so you better take care of him, understood?"
 
The gentle brush of hair from her face made something flip flop in Riley’s stomach and she found herself blushing for something other than the embarrassment of being woken from her nightmare. His words made her consider them and him before she gave a shake of her head. No, if he had had a problem, he wouldn’t have made her stay cuddled into his lap. Riley might have smiled at him, had she not begun to retcount her nightmare for him. That smile flickered around the edges of her mouth as he told her she was safe and stuck here with him. The next question had her eyes leaving his.

The simple answer was yes. Nightmares and Riley went hand in hand. It was hard to have sweet dreams when your life had been a living hell. She shifted uneasily in his lap. Was it bad that she had nightmares? He offered to help and she had no idea how he could. How could one erase a fear that was easily a reality. Even if she belonged to him, if she was in the wrong place, the wrong time.. She could be hunted and raped. It was just a possibility for someone like her. After a moment she said, “No.” She wished he could, but Riley had no idea how he could…

On the ground after the shock of the bell, Riley pouted up at him, though she didn’t have a problem with the little title. Or rather, she was working on not having a problem with it. Everything this far had pointed to Tobias being a good man and while he might tease her, hurting her didn't seem to be part of his make up. Rather, not with such a title or his words. The cuffs had indicated some darker predictions.. Shaking her head, as if she could fling the thoughts from her mind she looked up at him, a hand slipping into his.

Pulled to her feet she was led from the room by the hand. Just the day before she would have taken her hand from him, if she’d even allowed him to help her up at all. Following him, she felt her years. Riley was still young. She wasn't a child and often she didn’t feel like the end of her teenage years either. Her life had forced her to grow up fast.. Yet as he handed her her brand new stuffed animal she cuddled him to her chest with a soft sound of joy. "Thank you." She felt like a child, if for just a moment. A simple happiness at the soft, stuffed bear. That this toy, this friend was hers. He was cuddled tight in her arms as she looked up at Tobias, a shy smile peeking over Bumble's head and she nodded. “Okay.. I promise I will take good care of him.”

She inhaled his scent, it was odd and for a moment she wished it smelled like Tobias. Hiding her face in the soft, golden furn, Riley debated asking. It would expose her, a weakness to him. She wanted to ask, she really did but in the end, she couldn’t. Instead she said against the fluff of her new toy. “What all do we need to still practice?”
 
She didn't react angrily when he called her puppy, at least. It was a big win for Tobias, he'd expected her to at least be frustrated at the name but she hadn't really said anything about it. Even more strangely, she hadn't given him a look of anger, she'd pouted a little but that had been cute...he knew it meant she might not like the name, or she might but might be confused as to why she did...either way, he was happy with the outcome as he helped her to her feet. What bothered him more was when she'd said he couldn't help her. That didn't sit right with him...Tobias wasn't so egotistical that he thought he could solve all the world's problems, or even the problems of a single person, hell he was having a hard enough time trying to make his own go away and in comparison to Riley's they were kind of minor. She'd been through hell, at least a version of it and come out the other side and rightfully, she was damaged in a way. Her temper, her fear, her inability to accept when somebody was just trying to be good to her, it was all a product of that. He tried not to think about how many others suffered from the same feelings...he couldn't possibly save them all, but he could help Riley.

He smiled as he took her hand and she didn't pull away once he'd helped her up. He liked that too...for better or for worse he was definitely getting attached to her, and he decided he wasn't going to mention it as he led her to the front door. He found it unlikely she would feel the same about him, though he was aware she was starting to trust him, viewing him as a friend who wasn't going to hurt her and he appreciated how hard even that small gesture was for her. Once he'd handed her the bear, Bumbles, he couldn't stop himself from grinning at how she reacted. It was pure joy...she looked radiant and he found himself staring a little. He loved the sound she made, the look on her face, the way she cuddled Bumbles to her chest and he knew for a fact she was going to take good care of him way before she said she would. He didn't want the moment to end so soon so he just stood there, beaming at her with the silly grin on his face until she asked him what do they still need to practice. Then he stepped closer, stopping just a foot or so from her.

"If you think you're up for it there are a few things. Umm...you'll need to get used to me calling you pet, I'll try to use your name but pet will be more convincing, I think. The kiss...I'll just have to do my best to not falter if a kiss happens when he's here, I know that was probably hard for you." He smiled softly, trying to stay positive. She'd really surprised him with that earlier and it had completely stunned him at the time for several seconds, he didn't want that happening again. "I might have to touch you somewhere you might not want to be touched...I'm not 100% sure how it's going to go, maybe we can avoid it but if it feels natural at the time, like something that would help, I might have to have my hand on your...ass. Or breasts." He looked down...it was hard to look her in the eyes and say that, not because he was shy, he definitely wasn't and knew he'd be happy to grab her right then but because he didn't want to see the hurt in her eyes, or the hate, the suspicion. He truly hated making her feel like that. "We can hold it off for another time."
 
Her emotions were never the best thing to judge. When it came to Tobias it was a maelstrom. She hated the word puppy and how it tied her kind to animals and yet, it fit. She was part dog. From the soft ears that graced the top of her head to the long, fluffy tail that sprouted from the end of spine. Her eyes, her coloring and even her nails set her apart. Then there was the fact that it had been Tobias who had called her it. Someone that she was finding herself liking. That alone was confusing enough. Adding in the small complexities of things like how the title made her feel or how she wanted bumbles to smell like him.

Riley worked hard at keeping that tempest of thought contained as he spoke to her. She agreed to take care of her new friend and his smile made her smile. It was circular. Her happiness fueling his, fueling hers, fueling his. With the weight of the stuffed animal in her arms, Riley decided to be brave again and question what else they could work on. He came closer but took care to not crowd her and Riley relaxed some as she cuddled into the warmth of Bumbles.

“Pet.” She wrinkled her nose and huffed a little nod. She could accept it. She could. She would. She told herself this, wanting to not fail, not have all of this ripped from her. Bumbles.. Tobias. “Why would we need to kiss?” There was a touch of hostility and she inhaled, closed her eyes and counted to three before trying again. “Would he expect you to kiss me? If I am just there to serve you food and drinks?” That is what her kind would do for a visit, right? She wouldn’t be serving his father in other ways.. “Could.. It be sort of petting?” She could likely stomach his touching her rear or breasts if it wasn’t groping.

It took effort to think of these things, how her natural reaction was to fight, growl and temper them for what they needed to do. Bumbles was in a death hold and her ears were flat and she exhaled again. “Try, I will not move. Do it as you think you will have to.” Her voice was squeezed and though Riley wanted to close her eyes, she didn’t. She needed to see why he tried to touch. The surprise wouldn’t help.

“I can do this.” She said it over and over as she waited, her voice soft and certain. As if the mantra would give her the courage she needed.
 
He could see her wrinkle her nose at him, even looking down it was at the top of his vision. He took a few moments before he looked back up at her, letting her process what he was asking of her. As he'd thought, there were questions about it and he was ready to answer them, though in all honesty even he wasn't sure about the answers. "Because we might...and we might not. I don't know what kind of mood he's going to be in, what kind of comments he might make...everything could be fine, it could be a quick visit and he might not give you a second thought, that's what I hope for..." He tried to give her a reassuring smile though he knew he was looking a little worried and stressed. "Or he might be watching you, me, how we interact and we might have to convince him a little more...and a kiss would help with that, touching you would help with that, if you didn't flinch away." What he didn't explain was not only would it help convince his father, but it would also probably distract Tobias himself long enough that he wouldn't be glaring at him or even hit him for leching on Riley. She didn't need to know that part.

Her other question was reasonable. "I think it could be like petting, would that help? Anything to help...like I said, if it all goes well I won't have to touch you at all, but I want to be prepared, I don't want to lose you..." What he'd meant to say was that he didn't want to lose his company, but it was too late to take it back, the words were already out. He watched her closely, he could see she was struggling with this, she was tightly holding on to Bumbles and he could only imagine what was going through her mind. He didn't like putting her in this position, he'd been trying to avoid it all day, and when he hadn't earlier it had led to them fighting. Then she told him to try, though he could hear the hesitation in her voice.

Tobias stepped up to her, standing just in front of her and looked down. She was tightly holding Bumbles still and he struggled to move at all, just looking at her before he forced himself into action and placed his hands gently on her waist, pulling her towards his chest. When she was close enough that she was touching him, Bumbles caught between them, he reached for her chin, tilting her head up to look at him. "We don't have to do this, Riley...we can risk it and avoid it completely, I don't know what will happen but if this is too much for you..." It was hard to say, but it was the right thing to say too. He liked to think he was a good man, but he was struggling now not just because of what was going to happen but because a part of him was excited...he looked down at her lips and he wanted to kiss her, so badly, and he knew he wanted his hands to explore her. He sighed softly. "We shouldn't do this, not when I'm like this...I'm sorry Riley, I'm so sorry but I want..." He laughed, a strained sound and his hand moved up to brush her hair aside, ending with his thumb pressed against her right ear. "I'm excited at the idea of kissing you, I want to kiss you...and I shouldn't, this should just be business, something we need to do but fucking hell I've never wanted anything so badly, you're so beautiful, so perfect and I want to do these things to you so how can I pretend it's just for practice? What if we did and I enjoyed it and then when my father was here we didn't have to, I'd feel like I used you, I'd be no better than...than him, than all of them." He was starting to panic, starting to lose it and he just kept rambling on. "...and you, you don't deserve this, to be forced to kiss, to be touched, I want more for you, I want you to be free, to have a good life without this, if I make you just to protect myself then..." His hand moved down to her waist again and he gently pushed her away. "No practice. Let's just do our best to get through it without anything like that, just try to not look at him, or me, just bring us drinks or something then leave so that he can't look at you or question you...that should be enough, it has to be."
 
The reasons all made sense. They did and Riley both understood and hated them. His father was like the men who trained her kind back.. There.. But cruel it seemed. More cruel than they had been? From what Tobias said, yes. Riley was still battling with her emotions when she asked if it could be like petting. “I.. think so.” She said when he asked if it would help. Anything to help.. Didn’t want to lose her. Her chin lifted some and it was clear the phrasing was an issue, but she didn’t growl, didn’t say anything. Her eyes even fought to stay neutral as she accepted the words, letting them roll over her.

She could do this.

He moved close when she insisted that they try. To the point that bumbles was all that kept their bodies from being flush with one another. His hand lifted her chin and he turned her face towards him. He was being so gentle and her eyes faltered from their determination. Leaving it up to chance seemed like a bad idea, it could cost them everything. For Riley, her freedom, Bumbles.. Him.. He would lose his company and her. Everything he’d worked so hard for ripped away because she couldn’t stand play acting for an afternoon.

Her mouth opened, ready to argue. It closed though when he sighed and said they couldn’t, shouldn’t do this when he was like this. Confusion filled her eyes and she frowned up at him. A hand lifted to her hair, brushing it from her face and settling near her ear. Her mouth formed a small oh of surprise. He pushed her away from her gently after explaining how much he wanted to kiss her, to touch her.. How it would make him feel. Like he was using her for his own ends and she bit her lower lip.

“You might lose you business. Me..” Her voice was small, scared and unsure. “It isn’t just your future on the line either.” Her face fell into stubborn lines and she lifted bumbles toward him. “I would lose bumbles. Lose this freedom.. He’d take me. You said he would.” A small foot stomped. “You are being a coward!” The words held heat as she accused him. “I don’t want to be taken, broken.. I want this life.” She was going to cry. She shouldn’t have asked for bumbles.. He was going to be taken from her. Her heart was racing and panic was settling in. Her breathing was too fast as it took her over.
 
It wasn't the reaction Tobias had expected. Of course he expected her to be annoyed at him and angry during this but when he said he couldn't do it, and when he'd explained why, because of how he was feeling, well...he didn't actually know what he expected her to do but it wasn't this. He supposed relief, first and foremost. Relief that he wasn't going to touch her and kiss her right now, that she didn't have to put up with this from yet another man who wanted to exert his will on her, use her for his own ends and lusts. Maybe he'd expected some shock or disgust too at his admission that he was like the others, that he wanted her body, he wanted her more than anything. It would make sense, really. All this time he'd tried to be better, told her he wasn't like that but when it came down to it he hadn't stopped himself from staring at her when she'd first appeared in this outfit, he had felt desire and arousal. When he'd pulled her to his lap to calm her...he wanted to believe that he was doing it to make her feel better but he'd enjoyed that too, that closeness, holding her, he had kept her from getting up so that it wouldn't end.

Now she was angry at him, calling him a coward, telling him how much she didn't want to lose everything, that she even regretted asking for Bumbles because she was terrified of losing him and the freedom she'd been given and it broke his heart. He looked at her with sadness in his eyes as she stomped her foot, something he would have found adorable in any other situation, and he could see that she was going to cry again. She wasn't wrong, but she surely didn't understand how he felt either, and when she said his father would take her away, words he had already said to her it stoked an anger in his chest. He moved forward and grabbed her, his arms around her tightly as he squeezed her to his chest far tighter than he normally would. "That's not going to happen, I...I'd never let that happen, he's not taking you away from me, nobody is..." There was a sharp edge to his tone, a growl that came with it. He wasn't talking about his company or his home anymore, they were important to him but in that moment he was more concerned with losing her. He couldn't let that happen. "I don't want to practice because I don't want to be like him, if I grabbed your ass now I'd enjoy it, hell I want to do it, I want to tear that outfit from you, I want you, I want you so fucking badly but I'm better than that and I can find another way. I said I won't let him take you, or Bumbles, and I mean it so please stop worrying. I'll never let you go back that, never."
 
He was confusing her now. He couldn’t make that promise. He’d said his father would take her, break her and she gave a low, frustrated growl. “You said he would!” She countered. How would he stop him, if they failed to fool him. She would lose everything because he wasn’t as different as he wanted to appear and she pushed at his chest, her anger boiling over. With one palm flat against his chest, she shoved, the other holding Bumbles close. “You are not like him, you stupid man!” She solved again and narrowed her eyes.

“He wouldn’t have bought me bumbles! Wouldn’t have been bit and laughed it off as his own fault.!” She gestured to her body. “You like me, I get it. But liking me and pushing yourself on me are not the same thing.” She said this and realized she honestly felt that way. Her own feelings when it came to Tobias were complicated and more than a touch confusing. He’d told her something he was ashamed of and she huffed and held her stuffed animal out. Arms length, its little feet swayed and she growled.

“I wanted him to smell like you.” She pulled him back and hid her face in the soft fur. “You make me feel safe.” The words were muffled. She had other secrets, like she didn't know how she’d feel if he found his pleasure in someone else's arms. That was still very confusing for her, that flash of jealousy over some possibility. “You are not perfect, I never asked that of you.” She finally said. “I am not perfect and you don’t expect it of me..”

Her eyes lifted and met his. “But you try. That makes you different. You are aware. It sets you apart from him” Shifting in place Riley pulled her eyes away from him.. “And I will worry. Until this passes.” She chewed on Bumble's ear gently and sighed. “I didn’t even want to ask for him until it was over..” She told him another secret, but only a small one. One far less scary than the other.
 
Riley was going all out on him now, she shoved him and growled, called him stupid. More things he would think were adorable in other circumstances. He was well aware the girl was a handful and could be dangerous, she'd bitten him after all, but this wasn't like that and he could tell. This wasn't fear of him, or suspicion of him or even anger aimed at him, not really, it was frustration. He was frustrating her. She gestured to herself and said the words he'd made quite clear by now, that she knew he liked her, was attracted to her, but that she knew the difference. That was where most of his fears lay...that she wouldn't recognize that it was different, she would see one more man who wanted her body and assume he was the same as all the rest. It was a stupid fear, really, it might even have been a selfish one, he just couldn't bear the thought of her seeing him in that way. More growling, Bumbles was pressed against his chest now and then suddenly she was cuddling him to herself again, but she'd said something else. She wanted him to smell like him, she had wanted her stuffed toy to smell like...him? He made her feel safe?

He could feel his worries starting to melt away...it was as easy as that. All the worry and fears that she would see him as just another abuser were unfounded, he'd forgotten a basic fact...Riley wasn't stupid. She might be naive about how a lot of the world worked, she had little experience outside the horrific things she had been through and taught to expect, but she wasn't an idiot and she could see reality for what it was. When her eyes lifted to meet his again, he was smiling softly...it wasn't the beaming grin he'd had earlier when she'd first met Bumbles, or when he'd chuckled at her falling on her ass but it was something.

He stepped a little closer to her. "Why would you want him to smell like me? I could sleep with him, if you really want that, but then you'd have a night without him. I don't think any of us want you two separated even for that long." He gently pulled at Bumbles. "Hey, no, no chewing his ear, you know better than that. I'm sorry for frustrating you and upsetting you...you're right, I was scared you'd think I was just like them but you're not stupid, and for the record I never will be like them...I'd never force you to do anything you didn't want to, not unless it was something you needed to do for your own good, like this..." Taking Bumbles from her, he placed him down on the coffee table that was nearby, facing away from them, and he reached toward her, grabbing her wrist gently with one hand as he turned back towards her. "I know, and I told you I won't let that happen. Even if something goes wrong, I'll figure something out...it's not like he can just take you from me, he'd need to arrange things, it can be fought, but nothing will go wrong. You'll be perfect when he comes, and I'll keep him out of your way as much as I can. Practice will help." He pulled suddenly on her wrist, pulling her up against him and without warning his other hand came down behind her, on her rear. It wasn't gentle, it was definitely a spank but he wasn't doing it with any real force either, and once it was there he squeezed roughly. He could feel arousal flaring up in him but he pushed it down as he looked at her. "Now, be a good girl. Don't fight, don't glare at me or growl if you can help it. You don't have to be silent, you can make a sound, a squeak, a squeal, keep them soft though. Sudden, then quiet, accepting, like you're surprised." His hand didn't move from her ass, though it did slide from one cheek across to the other, squeezing there too and pulling her close to him with it. His other hand released her wrist, hoping she knew not to fight even if she wanted to, and lifted her chin so she was looking up at him. "When I've kissed you, when I pull away, you say 'Thank you Master,' and then you look straight ahead, not up at me, not at anybody else in the room. Arms by your sides, or behind your back, probably the latter." And then he kissed her, he didn't hold back, he pushed his tongue between her lips, risking being bitten as he smacked her rear one more time.
 
The suggestion that he could sleep with Bumbles was met with an immediate and visceral reaction. She pulled the soft plush bear back and her ears flattened with a low little growl “No!” the word was gravelly and she relaxed quite visibly as he said neither of them would want them to be separated and she gave a huffy little nod. When he pulled at Bumbles to stop her chewing on his ear she made the same sound, but listened and released his ear. Tobias was right, she didn’t want to damage him. The look though was a touch unfriendly at being stopped. She might understand and even agree, but she didn’t have to like it.

When he took Bumbles from her she made a small little whine sound from the back of her throat, eyes following him. He was set down, facing away from them. Her eyes were forced back to Tobias when he grabbed her wrist. Riley tilted her head to the side. “You can’t promise though, can you?” It was a child’s question, one of primal fear. Could he promise the boogyman wasn’t real? She wanted to think he could, but the truth was she had no idea if he could keep such a promise. Not against someone he had made to be the judge, jury and executioner of Tobias and her fate.

The pull on her wrist made her gasp as her body was pulled into the warmth of his own. A hand slapped against her rear and she jumped. There was pain, a sharp little sting that faded away and she tipped her face up to him, confusion in her eyes. She’d.. Liked it? A little. Though her mind told her it was something done to misbehaving children and she wasn’t a child, despite her question before and the tone her voice had taken. The squeeze only added to the confusion and Riley shifted, uneasy.

She didn’t understand arousal anymore than she understood her jealousy. An order was given and she dipped her chin in a nod. Pulled closer still she could feel the start of his own arousal and she fought back a growl, one born of fear and what such reactions normally meant for her kind. He let her wrist go and they lifted to his chest, fingers curling into his shirt. It would help her from fighting back, to hold onto something. Her chin was lifted and his mouth came down upon her own after his instruction was given.

Tobias’ mouth was warm against hers and rather than that sweet kiss she’d given him in the office, chaste as it was, this one wasn’t. His tongue pushed past her lips and into her mouth, brushing against her own. She might have bitten him had he not slapped her rear again and she gasped against his mouth, her lashes falling closed and despite what she thought might happen with her first kiss, her tongue brushed against his, shy, unsure.
 
Riley's refusal to part with Bumbles hadn't been unexpected, but even so she didn't take it easily, practically glaring at Tobias as he gently pulled the bear away from her. "I can't promise that, no, no more than I can promise that we won't be hit by a bomb before tomorrow ever comes, or promise that you won't hate the ice-cream we have in the freezer, but I'm telling you that without a damn army at his side, my father isn't taking you then and there no matter what happens, and if something goes wrong we will have time to plan what to do." With Bumbles safely out of the way, he moved a little closer. He didn't know why he'd turned the bear around, not really, only that he didn't want Bumbles seeing what he was about to do which to him was as silly a reason as he could think of, but at the same time, he did it anyway. He pulled her in closer by her wrist until she was pressed against him and he stopped pretending he didn't want her...that was getting them nowhere and they'd already been over that, how his guilt and feelings weren't helping. She'd been right.

With no more holding back, he'd grinned as he'd smacked her ass and watched her jump, clearly not expecting it to happen. She didn't make a sound, didn't cry out but she didn't growl at him either, instead she looked up at him and he couldn't quite understand what he was seeing in her eyes. Did she hate it? Did she like it? It left him feeling more confused but it was too late to turn back, he'd squeezed, lifted her chin to kiss her and her own hands gripped his shirt. He couldn't read minds, he didn't know exactly what that meant but he was smart enough to realize she was moving closer, not trying to move away. Then he'd kissed her.

When he smacked her ass again at the same time, she'd gasped into him and he'd used that chance to explore her mouth, to taste her, his tongue forceful but still gentle. Slowly, hers started to move too and he welcomed it, the tip of his gliding against the length of hers playfully. He continued the kiss but his hands were moving now, he lifted her from the ground with both hands on her waist and without stopping the kiss he moved back towards the sofa, falling down and bringing her with him. Finally he broke it off when she was in his lap, his hands having to move up from her waist and around her neck and shoulders to pull her back a little. "Good girl...don't fight it, see? I know it's a lot, but nothing is going to happen to you that you don't want, not when you're with me, do you understand?" He looked her in the eyes, using the hand that was partially around her neck, his thumb beneath her chin, like he was controlling a puppet, controlling where she could look. "Was that your first kiss, Riley?" He grinned, his eyes sparkling. He was enjoying this, and he wasn't going to feel bad about that anymore. "Again, this time, I'll let you control the pace. Whenever you're ready, kiss me. A kiss is an easy way to show affection and acceptance, if my father thinks you're my pet, a kiss is a good way to convince him, right, puppy?" Tobias was aroused now, her position in his lap would leave little doubt of that, but not once did he try to remove her clothes. That, at least, he could handle himself, later. "Tell me how you're feeling. Use your words, tell me exactly what you're thinking, it will help both of us if you can say it."
 
He would fight for her? That wasn’t something anyone else had ever offered her. Though.. There was a lot Tobias did that she’d never experienced. To turn against your own flesh and blood in defense of someone that the rest of the world saw as something, someone less than? That made something in her chest relax, loosen that had been tight and filled with worry. He would keep her safe. From trusting no one all her life to trusting him and only him, Riley put her faith in those words. She had to trust them, if she didn’t she wasn’t sure she could even face his father. The fear would cause her to attack. She had no flight response when scared, only fight.

He moved them, her body following him, caught in his gravitational pull almost, when he sat, she fell with him, ending up in his lap. Before, she’d been able to mostly ignore his arousal. Presses into his lap, with nothing but her panties and his pants as a barrier, she could feel it. He hardened even as their tongues moved together in that dizzy dance that was leaving her feeling light headed. Riley was a virgin, but she knew about sex. Knew what this feeling was and it was enough to have her face turning scarlet as he pulled back.

Good girl.

Those words had been something she’d fought against her whole life, but with him, they sent a shiver down her spine. She had never desired to hear them and now she wanted those two words again. He was clearly a witch. Focusing on the other words that followed she nodded and exhaled shakily. “Yes.” He wouldn’t push things, wouldn’t force himself and when they were alone, she controlled the extent of their interactions. It was his father that threw a wrench into it.. But it would only be for a few hours. That was a balm of its own.

His thumb rubbed along her jaw and she looked up at him, directed by the same digit. She nodded, pressing against his hand a bit, the one that encircled her throat. “Yes.” She felt nervous, uneasy and then there was that desire he kiss her again. It didn’t add up and it made her head hurt.

She would kiss him this time and her eyes widened. She’d kissed him once before of her own volition, but she’d been angry and it had been easier when not given permission. It felt like an act of defiance and she shifted in his lap and then instantly stilled. Her cheeks burned and she tried to focus on the next little demand from him.

“Embarrassed.” It was the easiest answer. “Confused.” The two words wouldn’t help though, so Riley struggled to elaborate. “I can feel..you.” Her cheeks deepened in that pretty shade of pink and she frowned. “I know it is your arousal. I told you not to feel bad. Still don’t want you too. But..” She trailed off. Her words were halting as she fought through her chaotic thoughts. “Liked the kiss.. Want another..Liked good girl and puppy. But would hate it from others. Doesn't make sense..”
 
She wasn't fighting him. Honestly, Tobias had expected at least some resistance from Riley as he'd kissed her like this, considering her personality but he was quickly beginning to realize something important and the way she didn't fight back just made that even clearer in his mind. She didn't pull away or scowl at him when he called her a good girl, she only responded to his question about whether she understood with a soft "yes" and when he rubbed his thumb gently against her jaw she looked at him, and she seemed unsure and confused. He wasn't holding back or hiding anything, he was well aware of how aroused he was, his erection was thick and large, straining against his trousers and the way he'd pulled her down into his lap she was straddling him, leaving him pressing directly against her own sex. There was no way she hadn't noticed it, hell he knew she'd probably noticed it when they were still standing, and yet she hadn't moved away, hadn't even tried to, in fact her cheek pressed a little harder against his hand like she was seeking the affection out.

He told her to kiss him, and she didn't move this time, at least she didn't move in for a kiss. He felt her shift against his hardness and he groaned softly, still looking her in the eyes. His second request, she followed and started to talk, to explain how she was feeling and he listened intently, smiling up at her and in the end he chuckled softly. He always liked asking how they were feeling, he liked hearing it in their own words and while it wasn't ever a situation like this before, the effect was the same. His hand left her throat and both found her waist again, holding her in place while he sat back in the sofa. "I see...that's understandable, puppy. I can see why you've never felt like this before, but I can explain it for you." He'd grinned when she said she could feel his arousal, and now he gently moved her hips backwards and forwards so that she rubbed against him, causing delicious friction for both of them as he continued looking into her eyes. He could see the blush on her cheeks clearly, it was cute, and like this when he felt in control he could stave his own off easily.

"Don't worry, I don't feel bad for it. I said I wouldn't hold back, this is what I was afraid of, showing you how I really felt about you as if you didn't already know. You arouse me, Riley...you're beautiful, cute, sexy, you don't seem to realize the effect you have on me, how disarming you are. I have a lot of affection for you, I feel like I want to protect you, look after you and even shelter you from this side of me, but I also want you to see it...even if you never felt the same way. This...right now...is me not hiding it, but..." He paused and closed his eyes to gather his thoughts a little, though he didn't stop rubbing her against himself. "...but it's pretty obvious that this isn't a one way street." His eyes opened again and met hers. "You like me too. I get it, a lot of it is because I don't force you do anything, I don't like doing that...I still like control, I like to be in charge, I like to tease, I like to possess, but I won't take anybody that doesn't want me in return." He was feeling bold, he always felt bolder when he was in control of the situation like this, and his hands slid up, letting her choose to stop rubbing or continue on as he'd been making her, and slid up from her waist to her chest. He grabbed her breasts gently, squeezing them. "I know it doesn't feel like it makes sense to you, but it's because you like me too, puppy...you like me, you're attracted to me, you want me, at least your body does...and your mind too, I think. Because of that, when I call you a good girl it makes you feel wanted, it makes you feel good. Happy. When I kiss you, you want to be kissed too because of who I am to you." He squeezed her boobs again roughly, he could feel her nipples beneath the fabric and he pinched them firmly, not to hurt her but hard enough that she wouldn't be able to ignore it. "And because nobody else has treated you like this, giving you choice, you've never felt that way before. That's okay, I would hate them too, and in your place I'd be confused too...but you don't have to fight your feelings now. Kiss me...take control of your own heart...and if you really don't want to, you can get off my lap. I won't stop you, I'd never make you do anything you didn't want to do..."
 
Hands slid to her waist and for a moment, she thought she could relax, but Tobias wasn’t going to let the matter settle. He guided her hips, rocking her body along his hardness. The motion provided delicious friction and sent flickers of pleasure along her nerves. He also explained her feelings to her. She liked him. She tried to focus on that little kernel of knowledge though Tobias was making it hard to think. His liking her was returned; they liked one another. That was.. Correct. She accepted his words she considered the next. Why she liked him. That also made sense and she made a soft noise of assent.

The moment he stopped moving her hips, her hips stilled. It had felt very nice, but it was also confusing and made her feel uneasy. He was forgetting the biggest rule around Riley. Don’t overwhelm her. Too many options, too many new things. Too much. It would cause her mind to stall and cause panic. Even still his hands moved to her breasts though the young woman was confused, her body was not. Her nipples were slightly hard beneath that flimsy uniform and when the warmth of his palm cupped them, Riley shivered.

She liked the names because they made her feel good. This too was accepted. She did like when he called her puppy, good girl.It made her feel nice, as Tobias said. Everything would have been taken, with or without her consent. If she said stop, Tobias would. The pinch to her nipple made her gasp and she finally hit the limit. Pulling away from his hands she pushed at his wrists and rose, curling within reach of him on the sofa. Her body curled into a ball, protective and oddly cute as she rested her head on her knees. Had she been waiting for permission? No, but it had helped.

Holding her legs tightly she focused on her breathing, eyes closed. “Too much,” She whispered. “Not mad.” Much like her halting explanation, these words offered insight. Offered comfort even. She shivered and shook her head a little. “Too much.” While his natural reaction might have been to reach out, touch her, in the moment it would push her overstimulated body and mind over the edge.
 
Every little movement of her hips had sparked ever more need in Tobias, he was positively aching as he firmly but gently guided her. He couldn't tell what she was thinking, she wasn't making much noise either, something he definitely wasn't used to and he was sure she was holding it back. When he finally stopped, after telling her his theory of why she felt how she felt, she'd stopped the movement, choosing not to continue. He didn't begrudge her that, he knew it was all new to her and while he wasn't above giving her a nudge, she deserved the chance to move at her own pace while she processed what he'd told her. He'd felt her nipples, hard, firm through the thin fabric and he could feel her trembling...he didn't know if that was fear, anxiety or something else, something more positive, and as he pinched she'd gasped and started to move again, moving away. Immediately he pulled his hands back, let her push his wrists away to show her that all the power was in her hands, the choice was all hers. She made her decision and moved next to him on the sofa, still close enough that he could be near her, but clearly he'd made a mistake.

Memories came back to him, very recent memories of asking her what she'd want to watch, asking her if she'd like some of his pizza, if she'd like a drink. Choices, too many of them and her soft whispers confirmed exactly what he was thinking. Just like before, too much happening at once had overwhelmed the poor girl who had never had any choice at all before, had never had this much to think about and try to understand and she needed a break. The way she was holding herself and rocking, it was like she was trying to focus on herself and push everything else away and he didn't know what to do, this wasn't something he was an expert at dealing with by any means, not yet, though it was becoming clear he'd have to learn one way or another. Slowly he reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, gently squeezing, only to pull it back immediately as she flinched at his touch.

"Sorry...I pushed to far, too quickly, didn't I?" His tone was gentle and he shifted a little closer, as close as he could be on the sofa without actually touching her. "Shhh, it's okay, I won't touch you, you don't have to think anymore okay? I'm right here if you need me, I'm not going anywhere, take your time, remember deep breaths. Breathe in...then out. In...then out..." He kept speaking in the same tone, the same words, not knowing if they were helping or not but wanting to give her something to focus her thoughts on.
 
A hand against her hair made her flinch and she tried to do was he told her. In and out. Her breath was slow, deliberate and she nodded some. After a few minutes she lifted his hand to hair, uncoiling one hand long enough to replace his, before it snaked back around her legs. It had been too much. Both in action but in her own mind. She didn’t understand the sexual desire that rose and it frightened her. She’d liked it though, that she knew. It was the info that was the problem. She had never really dealt with desire, refusing to allow the handlers to touch her, refusing to embrace what she’d been breed for.. Riley understood the concept of desire though.

A huffy little breath left her and she looked up at him, her chin on her knees now. She tried to let the anxiety that had pooled in her stomach like she’d swallowed an anxious little bird slow. Her heart needed to leave her throat. It would come in time and she finally offered him a sad little smile. “Sorry.” Her smaller frame rocked some and she considered all that had happened. “I.. I did like it.” Her cheeks burned like the setting sun as she admitted it and she looked at his chest, rather than at him. “It is scary though.”

Those words seemed defeated. She’d been.. Conditioned to fear it. It was quite the opposite of what she should have learned.. And in truth it was a miracle she’d not been just raped until she was broken. She bit her lower lip, feeling broken all the same. She knew that she struggled, that she made it harder than it needed to be, but how could she change something so fundamental overnight?

So instead she shifted and exposed another vulnerable spot. “I don’t like the idea of you finding someone else.” She said softly, still unable to meet his eyes. “Then you’d smell like them.. Not like you.” She gave a small defeated growl and closed her eyes. She was just making herself drop now, the emotions far too much for her to handle. That same, sad, wounded little voice asked. “Can I have Bumbles back?” She would have curled into Tobias, but she was afraid. Of him to a point.. Of herself and her feelings. It also felt wrong to push him away and then want comfort from him at the same time.

“My head hurts.”
 
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