Page 17 of Ashes’ Addiction

“Then get up and go, Tiny Warrior. Are you coming back or are we getting up for the day?”

She hurried to roll out of bed, tugging the hem of the t-shirt she wore down to cover her underwear as she slipped from beneath the blankets.

“I’ll be back,” she said, a shiver running through her as she hurried to the bathroom. But you don’t have to stay. I’ll be okay if you have something to do.” Miranda didn’t wait for him to respond as she slipped into the bathroom.

When she returned, she was surprised to find Ashes still lying in bed, though he’d rolled to his back and tucked one arm behind his head. Looking at him, she realized he didn’t have a shirt on. Frowning, she couldn’t help but wonder if he had anything on at all. He had to. Ashes was a decent guy.

“I thought you’d be gone,” she said as she moved around the bed.

“I’m good. But I do need to piss.” Ashes threw back the blanket and stood. She tried to turn away, just in case he didn’t have anything on but Ashes moved too fast. Thankfully he did have clothes on. And not just underwear. He went into the bathroom and she slipped back into the bed, pulling the blankets up to her chin and sighing when warmth enveloped her.

Miranda was lying there, warm and comfortable, wondering what today would bring when she heard the bathroom door open. She didn’t open her eyes, even as the bed shifted with his weight.

“What’s the plan for today?” he asked.

“I don’t have one. What do you normally do?” She stayed curled in a ball, eyes closed even though she answered.

“Whatever needs to be done. I can find something to keep busy, if I need to, but I thought maybe you had something you’d like to do.”

“Like what?” Miranda opened her eyes to find Ashes’ face inches from hers as he lay beside her in the bed, watching her.

“I don’t know. I thought you might like to go shopping, maybe hit a salon and get your hair done.” He lifted one hand and smoothed it down her hair making her hyperaware that she hadn’t brushed it while she’d been in the restroom and it probably stood out in every direction. “I’m not sure what girls like, but I’ll take you to do whatever you like.”

“I don’t know.” She lifted her own hand to her hair. “I’ve been thinking about maybe going with short hair. It was something he used against me. He would hold me still with it while he spanked me.” Her voice had dropped to little more than a whisper but Ashes was close enough she wasn’t worried about him hearing her.

“If you think you’ll like it, cut it. Dye it purple if that’s what you want. If it makes you happy, go for it.” He moved his hand forward to cup her cheek.

“Are you sure?”

“Tiny Warrior, I’m good with anything you feel you need to do to regain yourself. If you wanted to dance naked under the full moon, I’d gather my brothers to stand guard so you could feel safe while you danced. A little hair dye? It can be covered up or given time, it will grow out. Same for a cut. But do it because it’s what you want, not because it will make someone else happy.”

She lay there watching him for several seconds as she thought about what she wanted. It would be nice to have someone fix her hair after what not enough food or washing had done to it.

“I think getting a haircut sounds amazing.” Her stomach rumbled.

“Think that can wait until after I feed you? Let’s go see if there’s anything downstairs, if not, there are a couple of places nearby. We can hit one of them.”

“Breakfast sounds good.” She took a deep breath, then forced herself to move. First, she leaned close and brushed her lips across Ashes’. “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me.”

“But what if I want to?” Miranda didn’t wait for him to answer but got out of bed, dug through the clothes Winter had sent for her to borrow, and took what she wanted into the restroom to change.

By the time she finished in the bathroom, Ashes had pulled on jeans and a t-shirt and was sitting in the recliner pulling on his boots.

“There you are. What size shoe do you wear?”

Miranda frowned. “Nine and a half to ten, why?”

“Because those will do for wandering around the clubhouse or for going out in a cage, but I’d like to put you on the back of my bike. Those are not good for riding.”

“Riding?” She frowned, not sure where he was going or what he meant.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll make sure it’s taken care of. You ready to head down?” His gaze skimmed her body, making her feel like he was judging every little thing out of place. “You look good, Tiny Warrior, but I think you’ll look even better once the stuff you picked out is here and you’re more comfortable in your skin.” He went to the door and turned to look at her. When she stepped up beside him, he opened the door and walked out into the hall. Together they went down to see about food.

****

Hours later and feeling pounds lighter, Miranda sat in the passenger’s seat of Winter’s pickup, laughing harder than she had in far too long. The other woman was telling her about some of the members of the Sons of Sin, including imitations of some that were so spot on it was hard not to laugh, so Miranda had given up trying.