Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 35349 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35349 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
Without a word, I pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, my hands lingering on her shoulders for just a moment longer. She was so soft and warm and… mine.
I didn’t say what I was feeling—how everything inside me was tied to her now and how Dolly wasn’t my possession, even if it seemed that way. What I felt was deep and unyielding.
No words were exchanged as I led her from the bathroom and into my—our—room, because she wouldn’t be anywhere else now.
I helped her into bed, both of us nude, and pulled her in close. And when I parted her thighs and slid into her, she didn't fight me. It was soft and sweet, and in between me sucking and biting at her shoulders and neck and leaving red and purple marks, I made love to Dolly.
22
DOLLY
WEEKS LATER
It was full-blown fall in Romania, and the chill in the air was undeniable and uncomfortable.
The soft rustle of the leaves falling from the branches and onto the forest floor could be heard now and then, and the colors that once were vibrant greens were now muted oranges and shades of brown.
I pulled my jacket tighter around me, the new one I’d gotten in town with Lars just last week. I walked along the edge of the woods. The ground beneath my slow steps was damp from a recent rain, but I wore waterproof boots that kept my feet dry and warm. Another new purchase with Lars.
The earth gave slightly with each step I took.
The wind blew through the leaves, whispering as the scent of pine drenched everything the forest housed. Although I walked alone, I knew Lars was somewhere behind me, close enough that I could still feel his presence.
He was always near, but I no longer felt like it was an oppressive aura. Now, it was a comforting one because I knew he’d never let anything happen to me.
I wasn’t “allowed” outside, not in the sense I had to ask permission. I had free rein to do what I wanted. I supposed he trusted me and knew I wouldn’t run.
Why would I? I’d never felt more at home than when I was with him. It may have taken a fucked-up situation to bring us together, but I accepted this was my life, and truthfully, I’d never been happier.
And although I was no longer his captive, I also knew I wasn’t truly free. He never let me out of his sight and always kept careful, quiet watch over me. But his presence was soothing now. The way his shadow seemed to fall over everything was a constant reminder I had my protector close by.
I made my way to a small clearing near the creek and sat down on a large boulder. The air was fresh and cool, almost painful when I inhaled. The sound of the bubbling water bouncing over the bigger rocks and small pebbles calmed me further as I stared at the stream.
I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the calmness of the moment wash over me. But even in this peaceful silence, the questions I’d been pushing down for weeks resurfaced.
How long were we going to stay here? I wasn’t going to leave Lars—or try to—so wherever he went, so did I.
How long was I going to be a part of this strange, twisted existence with my captor? Would he grow tired of me? My heart raced at that thought, discomfort filling me.
And like he could read my thoughts and felt my disheartened emotion, I heard the rustling of his steps behind me as he came closer than he’d been the past mile of strolling.
Before I could stop myself, I asked, “How long are we going to stay here?” My voice was quiet but clear, and I knew he heard me, even though he didn’t respond right away.
I could feel his eyes on me, a heavy presence that was suddenly like a weight on my shoulders. I glanced over at him then and examined his expression. It was clear his mind was turning my question over. I noticed he did this often—staying silent before speaking, as if weighing every word before letting it escape.
“Do you want to leave?” he asked, and I knew it wasn’t in the sense of leaving him.
I let the question hang in the air for a moment, staring down at the water. The memory of my life before Lars filled my mind. I hated it. I didn’t want to let it consume me.
I am happy now.
I thought about my parents—the way they’d treated me like I was something broken and unworthy of any kind of love. I could still hear their harsh words echoing in my subconscious. Their cruel indifference had been a coat I wore for so long.
No matter what I did or how hard I worked, it was never enough for them. I spent so long trying to understand what was so wrong with me that they couldn’t love the person I was, that they couldn’t accept me for… me.