Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 127933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
He gave a low, dismissive chuckle. "You don’t get to decide what you need right now. I’m going to take care of you, and you’re going to accept it.”
His gaze locked onto mine with a smoldering intensity. "There’s no shame in this. You’re mine—every part of you."
His words were like a soothing balm, but also a sharp reminder of my vulnerability. I couldn't help but feel even more exposed, stripped down to my core in front of this stranger who knew me better than anyone else ever had. He lowered me into the tub with gentle hands, the steam rising around me like a cocoon. The warmth seeped into my body, easing the cramps and tension that had been plaguing me for days.
"I'll be back in a few minutes," he said softly, his gaze lingering on me before he turned to leave.
Once he was gone, I sank deeper into the water and sighed heavily. How had my once ordinary life taken such a surreal turn? My thoughts were a tangled mess, swirling with confusion about his motives, and an unexpected curiosity about him.
He was a man I should have hated, but somehow, I couldn’t. Every part of me knew I should despise him for taking my freedom, for pulling me into his twisted world. Yet, no matter how hard I tried, true hatred eluded me.
I wanted to loathe the way his eyes followed me, to shudder when he touched me, but it never felt that simple. There was something about him, something that stirred in me even when I wanted to feel only anger. His power was undeniable, but it was more than that. His presence, dark and consuming, kept me on the edge, teetering between fear and something far more dangerous.
I could tell myself that it was all because he had made me his captive, that my mind was playing tricks, but deep down, I knew that wasn’t the whole truth. There was something about his control and his dominance that drew me in despite everything. As much as I should have been planning to escape, my thoughts circled back to him.
There was his voice, his touch, the way he ruled over his world and now, over me. It wasn’t just that he had claimed my body; he was taking my mind, too. That, more than anything, terrified me. I sighed and slipped deeper into the tub. I found myself transfixed by the sweeping view of the lake from the bathroom window. Its tranquil waters stretched out endlessly towards the distant horizon, a peaceful refuge in contrast to the chaos of my new reality.
Standing tall amidst the breathtaking landscape was the solitary lighthouse, a stoic figure watching over the stillness below. Its white facade gleamed against the calm water, its towering presence commanding attention. Despite its beauty, there was an underlying sense of foreboding. It was as though it held secrets within its walls waiting to be discovered.
The rocky cliffs mirrored the jagged edges of my own feelings, the isolation wrapping tighter around me with each passing day.
My thoughts inevitably drifted to Anya, and a sharp pang of guilt and worry pierced my chest. We had always been in sync, our cycles aligning like some twisted cosmic joke.
Was she suffering the same discomfort in this strange place?
Was she even alive?
The thought sent a cold wave of dread over me, drowning out the warmth of the bath. I imagined her somewhere; dealing with the same confusion and fear I was. I reached for the body wash and washcloth carefully placed on the edge of the tub, struck again by the strangeness of my situation. The bathroom felt like it belonged in a high-end spa.
It was just another facet of my captivity - a gilded cage with no escape. As I lathered the cloth between my fingers, the ridiculously soft fabric gliding over my skin, I tried desperately to scrub away the physical discomfort and mental turmoil of my situation. As I immersed myself in the solitary ritual of cleansing, a sudden awareness sliced through my consciousness like a knife. A sensation of invisible threads binding me to an unknown presence sent shivers down my spine.
My hand froze, and I slowly turned, finding him standing just inside the doorway. The casual lean of his body against the frame was deceptive. His eyes held an intensity that felt like a physical touch. The air thickened around us, charged with an electric current that connected us in a way words could never describe. In his gaze, I saw a whirlwind of emotions – possessiveness and desire, yes, but also something dangerously close to adoration.
"You're breathtakingly beautiful.” His voice was a deep timbre that reverberated throughout the room. "I could stare at you for hours on end."
A lump formed in my throat as I tried to process his words. Before I could respond, he revealed a package in his hands, giving me a much-needed topic of deflection. “Are those for me?”