Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 30245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
I go to the tables on either side of the bed and open both sets of drawers. They’re empty. There’s a wardrobe with a few pairs of jeans hanging on one side, and on the other are wooden shelves. A couple of hoodies are folded and placed on the middle shelf, and I grab one and throw it on.
Deciding quickly, I unpack my meagre belongings and smile when I step back to take in the small, yet personal touch. I search a dressing table but can’t find any towels, so I head to the bathroom Tye mentioned.
I notice this part of the house is quieter than the lounge. Once in the bathroom, I lock the door behind me. I find the towels and grab one before stripping off and turning on the taps. The shower warms quickly. Under the spray, I close my eyes and allow the water to wash away the past. There were so many horrific things I’ve witnessed over the three years. I’m thankful, for the most part, I wasn’t hurt like other girls were. Yes, I was whipped when I didn’t comply on occasion, but I got off luckier than most.
I wash my hair before lathering my hands in shower gel. I rub every part of me until I’m happy I’m clean, and then I stand under the warm spray for a long while. With my eyes shut, my memories take a hold of me.
When I was first taken, I woke up in America. my captor made sure I knew I would never get home if I tried to run. There were nights I would wake up with someone watching me, someone in my room because they’d paid to be there. A man, sometimes a couple. There was never any intimacy, and I always wondered what their strange kinks were.
It was a strange, scary time, when I never knew if they would hurt me or not. They would want me to wear certain items of clothing that would cause me to shudder. And that’s when they’d touch, gently at first, and then rougher.
It was only when I was sold to a man who called himself the Judge that things turned more violent, darker. It was a short time. I was there only a few months before Andre bought me at an auction. Which brings me here. Home.
I shut off the taps and dry off. My need to be in my room takes a hold of me. My breathing comes in short spurts, and I realise I’m going to have a panic attack. They started not long after I was taken. It was what always got me into trouble. I couldn’t help it. They came at the most inopportune times. As much as I wanted to fight them, to breathe through them, I couldn’t because they would take over.
I wrap myself in the towel before grabbing my clothes and rushing from the bathroom, only to slam into a hard, muscled frame. Tilting my head back, I lift my gaze and find Tye’s gentle stare. His hands are on my arms, holding me steady as he smiles down at me.
“Where are ye rushin’ off to?” he asks with a chuckle before he realises I’m in distress. “Come,” he says quickly and leads me into the bedroom before shutting the door. “What’s wrong? Einin, calm down. Breathe. Look at me, look into my eyes.” His orders come quickly, and I obey so easily. It’s there I find affection, in those familiar brown eyes.
When I’m finally able to breathe easier, Tye releases his hold on me. I step back slowly before placing a hand on his chest. The thrum of his heartbeat thuds against my palm. He was worried.
“I get those sometimes,” I tell him.
His gaze trails over me then, and it’s in that moment we both realise I’m naked. Only wrapped in a towel, I feel my cheeks warm as his gaze flickers with desire. I’ve never seen him look at me like that before. When we were younger, I had the biggest crush on Tye. But I was convinced he didn’t feel the same, until the day he finally kissed me.
The memory of his lips on mine washes away all the dark thoughts I just had. And I’m left with my belly coiling with need. The feel of his body against mine races through my mind, and it’s as if it happened yesterday.
“I better get dressed,” I finally whisper, but Tye doesn’t move.
His gaze finds my face again. “I know this probably isn’t the right time to do this, but I’ve never been one to find the right moments for anythin’.” He takes a step towards me, stopping inches from where I am. “I’m never goin’ to let ye go, ever again,” Tye whispers as his hand reaches for my face. He cups my cheek gently while running his thumb over my lips. “You’ve always been mine, Einin,” he tells me with the confidence I fell in love with all those years ago.