Save Riley by Yolanda Olson

stool I pleased. I sat in the one that I had first sat in and waited with my hands folded in my lap. He took his bowl to the sink, rinsed it out, and set it in the dish washer before turning and leaning against the counter.
    “What are you hungry for?” he asked looking at me.
    “Anything is fine, thank you,” I whispered.
    “Well, are you very hungry or a little hungry?” he asked as he started to drum his fingers along the countertop.
    How is it possible that no one has noticed I’m missing? I miserably and suddenly thought to myself. Because they don’t care, a voice whispered back.
    My stomach growled again in response as I wiped tears away from my eyes. I didn’t want him to know I was crying so I had to clear my mind. I didn’t know what would happen if I showed any weakness toward a simple question. Especially when that wasn’t why I was crying at all.
    “Do you have dessert after breakfast?” he asked, moving toward the stove and pulling out a few pans.
    “I can’t say I ever have,” I replied blinking furiously. Stop crying.
    He opened the refrigerator and pulled out a carton of eggs, a package of bacon, and some butter.
    “Would you like to try?” he asked as he turned on the stove and began to smear butter into one pan. I watched as he turned on another burner and threw some slices of bacon in it. “How do you like your eggs, by the way?”
    “Yolky.”
    Jax threw his head back and laughed. I realized in that moment that it was a juvenile thing to say, but it was how I had always referred to it. He glanced over his shoulder and gave me an amused grin, prompting me to smile back. Just a little.
    “Come stand with me, Riley,” he said, still grinning as he turned his attention back to the stove.
    I got to my feet and adjusted the bottom of the corset that was gripping me like vice and went over to him. He glanced down at me for a moment and I looked up holding his gaze.
    “Is it weird that, in a way, I find myself enjoying your company? Regular company I mean; not just the sexual,” he asked softly.
    “I wouldn’t hope it’s weird,” I replied back feeling shy.
    “Good. Because I want today to be normal. I want to see what you do if I let you do as you wish; not as my equal, but as an acquaintance. Today, I won’t give you any rules after dessert and save for tonight, when I attempt to collect from you again. How does that sound?” he asked, flipping the bacon strips.
    “Why?” I blurted out in shock.
    “It’s the Queen’s Birthday,” he replied with a shrug. “I’d rather not treat you like you don’t belong when we could spend the day together as acquaintances.”
    “Thanks,” I said softly.
    “You’re welcome. But for now, sit down and eat please,” he said, setting two eggs and a small pile of bacon on a beautiful pate on the island.
    Nodding, I went back to my stool and waited for him to unlock the drawer that held the utensils. He handed me a fork and sat across from me with his chin in his hand and a smile on his face. It took me no time to devour my breakfast to which he responded by making another pair of eggs and giving me the remaining strips.
    When I was finally full and done eating, I thanked him again and he took the plate away. I waited for him to finish his obsessive routine of rinsing the dish and fork and opening the dishwasher and finally turning it on.
    “I’ll give your food a moment to settle before I give you dessert,” he said with a smile, sitting across from me again.
    “Can I ask you something?” I said timidly.
    He raised an eyebrow for a moment, but cleared his throat, “Yes.”
    I sat there kind of in shock. I don’t know what I was expecting, but a “yes” was definitely not on the list. Now I had to think of a question to ask that wouldn’t offend or upset him. What do you ask a sexual predator that likes to kidnap women and break them down until he’s tired of them?
    “Got any hobbies?” I asked brightly. You know, besides