He arched a brow. "Of course you can."
"Really?"
He sat up. "Why do you think you can't?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. I've only been able to trust the girls."
Frankie stood and then sat next to me, resting his hand on my bare knee. "I understand. If I were you, I wouldn't trust a stranger either, but I've learned a lot the last week, and I'm going to come up with a plan to get you out of here."
"Why do you want to do that for me?"
"Because this isn't a life, Zell. I may only be eighteen, but that doesn't mean I don't know right from wrong."
"I just learned that it's wrong." I frowned.
"What exactly did you learn?"
"That the girls were kidnapped and brought here. That they didn't choose this life."
"And what about you?"
I furrowed a brow. "Me?"
"You didn't choose this life either."
"Madam is my mom, though."
He removed his hand from my leg, and I felt the heat of his touch linger. "Parents don't keep their kids locked away in their house and not allow them to have friends."
"Oh." I'd gathered that over the years when I would see kids playing at the park, but I didn't know firsthand. "Madam said it's dangerous to go outside."
"Most of it is safe. There is so much to see and do. I would go stir-crazy if I were in your shoes."
"Do you think she's done this because of the girls?"
Frankie arched a brow. "What do you mean?"
"Since they were kidnapped. What if she doesn't want me to leave so I can't tell anyone?"
He nodded. "I think that is exactly why."
"You do?"
"Yeah. All of this"—he waved his hand around—"is a crime. Madam and my father could go to jail for a really long time if the cops ever found out."
"Are you going to go to the cops?"
"I can't. I'm involved and would get in trouble too."
I sucked in a breath. "You kidnap girls too?"
"No. God, no."
"Then how are you involved?"
"Because he's my father, and I know a lot."
"Isn't that a reason to go to the cops? You can help them get the girls out."
"That's not part of my plan."
I tilted my head slightly. "What is your plan?"
Frankie thought for a moment. "I'm not exactly sure yet, but until I have one, we need to put on a show for the cameras and act as though everything is normal."
"How do we do that?"
He stood and reached out his hand for me to take. "We pretend."
I took his hand and stood. "Pretend?"
"Take your dress and shoes off."
"What?" I breathed.
He smiled warmly and cupped my cheek. "It's okay, Zell. You can trust me."
"But you … you want to …?"
Frankie chuckled. "I want to—I'm a man after all—but we aren't going to do that."
"We aren't?"
"It's for the cameras, princess." He shrugged out of his jacket and then started to take off his clothes. I didn't move. I couldn't move. He stared at me for a few moments and then suggested, "It's okay. How about I don't look?"
"How can you do that the entire time?"
"I'm going to turn around while you get naked. Once you're undressed, get into the bed and cover up with the sheets."
I couldn't believe this was happening. I thought Frankie was different, that he wouldn't make me have sex with him. I nodded anyway because I had to. I couldn't piss off Madam or Frank or Frankie.
He turned around as he took off his T-shirt. "Zell, I promise. Everything will be okay."
"Are we going to have sex?" I whispered.
"No." He started on his belt. "I told you this is pretend. It's only for the cameras. Next time I'll make her turn them off now that I know about them."
"Can you do it now?"
He shook his head and stepped out of his jeans. "No, because she'll know that you told me about them if I go ask her now. It's better to do it next time, and I'll tell her my father told me about them."
"Okay." My voice was still not above a whisper.
What would happen when we were both naked? How could we pretend for the cameras? Madam already thought I wasn't a virgin anymore, and if she were watching, she would see that I was scared and hesitant. I didn't want to make her mad, so I hurried and took off my clothes as Frankie kept his back to me.
"Are you naked?" he asked.
I lifted my gaze from the floor and saw that he was naked. I swallowed. I'd never seen a naked boy before. I'd never seen anyone except myself naked before. My stomach did funny things as I just stood there and stared at his backside. It wasn't like the one in the painting in the sitting room. His looked round and firm, and I liked what I was seeing. I liked it so much that I felt wetness between my legs that I'd only read about in romance books.
"Zell?"
I blinked. "Um … what?"
"Are you naked?"
I shook my head as though to clear my daydream. "Oh, um, yes."
"Then get in the bed, okay?"
"Right." I hurried and pulled back the covers and then slid between the cool white sheets, tossing my hair over one shoulder so I didn't lie on it. "Done."
Frankie turned, and I caught a glimpse of his penis. I turned my head out of embarrassment. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I lied, not turning to look at him as I heard and felt him get into the bed.
"You can look at me, you know."
I finally turned my head and met his blue stare. "I have been."
He cracked a smile. "I mean me naked. You haven't seen a naked man before, have you?"
I shook my head. "I've never seen anyone naked."
Frankie threw off the covers and jumped out of bed. "Then look."
I covered my eyes and laughed. "Oh my gosh. You're crazy!"
He started to chuckle too. "There's nothing wrong with a naked body, Zell. I think a naked woman is the most beautiful thing in the world."
"Really?"
"Hell yeah."
Still covering my eyes, I hesitated before I asked, "Do you want to see me?"
"Only if you want to show me."
I wasn't sure if I did want to show him. I was embarrassed, and suddenly, I was feeling shy. "I don't know."
"That's okay." Frankie got back into the bed under the covers. "When you're ready, I will be all for it."
"Okay." I removed my hands from my face and looked at him.
"But"—he turned on his side and faced me—"did you like what you saw of me?"
My eyes widened, and I bit my bottom lip. Words left me again, so I only nodded my response.
He grinned. "Good. We're getting somewhere."
"What do you mean?"
"I just want you comfortable with me. I like you."