Guardian

Kenna felt sorry for Mutt for about three seconds but his irritated snort cleared her conscious. She was so tired, all she has done is sleep and that is all she wanted to do. Alex was trying to get her comfortable without trying to hurt her too much. He was the closest thing to a friend she has ever had, but she was still wary of him. The simple fact of being a man made it hard for her to trust, but he was gentle, kind and compassionate to her. He showed her nothing but respect and she felt safe when he was near. Turning her head on the pillow as he walked from the bathroom with a glass of water, Alex encouraged her to drink small sips. He looked so tired she thought as he pushed away to take a place on the floor.
“Hey why don’t you sleep up here?” she offered. “I know it might be tight it is only a full size bed but I am sure you would be more comfortable.” It might be hard but she could do for someone who has barely slept because he was taking care of her. She has never had that before no without someone wanting something from her. He offered his kindness freely without a price. It only took a year to figure it out. She was slow.
Alex shook his head, did he hear her right? “Are you sure?” he asked sitting on the side of the bed.
Alex knew enough to know that it was a man that hurt her; it was men that she went after. He wasn’t dumb he had heard enough through the gossips that what she went after were the scum of society. The men that traded in innocence, this market had been growing for nearly three decades. The world over the past fifty years had been on a steady moral decay, money and power ruled and the people who had made the rules or were above the law. The perverse taste of some men for children became a booming market. These children were bought from parents for obscene amounts of money, and “trained” to do feed the tastes of these men. The lucky ones were well fed, well educated and for the most part treated with a certain level of kindness and when the men were done with them they were given money and freedom. The unlucky ones were “trained” with torture and fear; the child would be isolated from any kind word, touch or feeling, most of the time they never made it out alive. The brokers made a killing, because they got their hands dirty and provided a supply where there was a demand. The rumor was that in the past year the supply chain was being interrupted by a kind of guardian who would get the children out and most of the time the brokers never made it out alive. This was creating a problem in the supply chain, and it was becoming noticeable. The children usually disappeared afterwards, never seen again to where no one knew but the person rescuing them. Could she be the one doing this?
“Yes” she whispered sleepily “Just lay down”
His head was swimming with thoughts about her, more questions than answers. He laid his head down on the pillow and was instantly hit with her scent; no perfume just a hint of a spicy scent that you find in the oriental shops down the street. He lay on his side looking at her as she slept on her back, she had lost her fevered glow and he watched her chest rise and fall. Her hand was by her cheek and the other at her side brushing his thigh. Alex adjusted his position so he was more securely on the bed, but that left their bodies touching. Kenna sighed deeply, and Alex whispered to her “I can help you fight your demons, can you help me with mine?” Her response was to press closer to him, in your sleep you trust me he thought.