I swallow anxiously and proceed to remove my clothing until I am in my boxers, then locate the pyjama bottoms I purchased to enhance Ricky’s comfort in my presence. Now attired for slumber, I walk restlessly, unable to muster the courage to join her in bed.
Simply do it. I am exhausted! Jimmy exclaims.
I inhale a large breath of air and let it out nice and slow. With whatever confidence I can muster, I tiptoe to the left side of the bed with the most space left and lift the covers up slowly. At a snail’s pace, I take a seat and swing my legs under the covers. At the sudden shift in the mattress, Ricky abruptly sits up and scrambles to the far side of the bed. She reaches for the bedside table and turns on the lamp, the room filling with dim yellow light. There’s a small dagger in her hand pointed at me but when she sees it’s just me sitting beside her, a glare of death settles on her face.
“What the f**k do you think you’re doing? she growls, returning the dagger to its position in the bedside table. “You are meant to be sleeping on the floor.”
Do not capitulate… Jimmy cautions. Deliver her the note.
Resolute in my desire to embody the formidable Alpha that Jimmy convinced me I might become, I present her with the message, which she snatches from my grasp and reads aloud.
“You may either share the bed with me or occupy the floor alone.” Regardless, I will be sleeping on the bed.
She gazes at me with intensity in her dark eyes.
“This was not included in the contract!” She retorts.”
Jimmy instructs me to maintain my position, and I gesture towards the paper once more, resolute in my stance. She glares at me with evident ire, steadfast in her refusal to budge. Recognising that neither of us is inclined to yield and that she has no intention of assaulting me, I recline on the bed and draw the covers up to my chin. Her breathing becomes laboured, and she emits a frustrated scream into her pillow before striking me with it and forcefully placing it between us.
“You must remain on your side of the bed, or I assure you I will use that dagger against you!”She shouts, turns her back to me, and extinguishes the light.
I turn sideways to conceal my smile, astonished that Jimmy’s proposal had succeeded.
Observe? Jimmy retorts. It is not very difficult to assert a position.
Cease your chatter and accept the victory, I exhale wearily, merely thankful to avoid another fall.
I recline on my side and, after several minutes, allow myself to succumb to slumber.
Point of View
I am startled awake by a bucket of cold water splashed on my face, with Laura standing beside the bed, smirking gleefully. As I wipe the water from my eyes, I notice it is 6:45 AM.
“Awaken, drowsy one,” she exclaims, already bathed and attired in teal medical scrubs. “You must rouse the child and prepare him for school today.”
I feel as though a heavy weight is pressing on my chest, my body still fatigued from insufficient sleep. Nevertheless, I cannot complain, aware that I have evaded consequences by sharing the bed with her.
With considerable effort, I extricate myself from bed, my t-shirt adhering to my damp torso. Ricky chuckles uncontrollably as I shuffle past her, a part of me pleased to witness her amusement, even at my expense. I proceed to the bathroom to cleanse myself and brush my teeth before waddling down the hallway to locate Bray’s room. There is no response upon my knock, so I cautiously turn the knob and tiptoe inside. I discover Bray curled into a ball, his dinosaur pyjamas haphazardly clinging to
I remain silent for a minute, allowing him to savour a few additional seconds of peaceful slumber. I cannot articulate the reason, but his very presence instills in me a profound sense of safety, as if nothing could intrude onto our tranquilly.
He stirs little as I caress his hair and curls closer to me. However, recalling my objective, I determine it is time to awaken him. I touch his shoulder and cheeks, but the youngster merely grunts and swats at my hand.
Surveying the room to confirm our alone, I bend in close to his ear. My mouth remains agape momentarily before I ultimately articulate my thoughts.
“K-Bray,” I whisper, my pulse racing with anxiety that Ricky could enter and overhear me. I tap his cheek anxiously. “K-Bray.” Please awaken.
“Just five more minutes,” he moans, fiercely closing his eyes.
Uncertain of other actions, I manoeuvre my fingers over his sides, eliciting screams of amusement as he thrashes his legs. He contorts in response to the tickling until he ultimately sits upright.
