fell.” I swallow thickly and say, “I don’t remember.”
He nods his head and walks around my body, looking over every inch. I feel like he’s evaluating whether or not he’s going to keep me, and I’m terrified he’ll find me lacking.
From behind me, I feel his hands gently rest on my hips, and I close my eyes as I feel his hot breath on my shoulder. I gently tilt my neck, expecting him to kiss me there, but he doesn’t. In an instant he’s gone, and I’m left standing awkwardly as he completes the circle and stands in front of me as though it didn’t happen.
For a moment I wonder if he even touched me at all. Maybe I imagined it.
I clear my throat after a moment of silence, but he speaks before I can and says, “You’re beautiful. Every inch of you.” I look up at him with surprise and wonder. He sounds so sincere. I can’t help but believe he really does find me beautiful.
“You’re dirty though. Let me clean you.” I back away out of instinct as he walks around me toward the shower. My breathing picks up, and I can’t hide the fact that I don’t want this. I don’t want his hands roaming my body for a mix of reasons. He’s fucking good at this game, and there’s a small piece of me that I know would cave at his touch. I don’t trust him. I don’t want him to take care of me.
“Would you rather I give you space, kitten?” he asks.
I can’t hide my shock. I can hardly believe that he would leave me alone in this room. That’s a lot of trust for him to extend to me. I could easily break the glass and use a piece as a weapon. Either on myself or him. As if reading my mind, he cocks a brow.
“You aren’t going to make me regret that, are you? You’ve been so good today. I’d hate for you to upset me just before bedtime.” There’s a dark threat in his voice, and I’m quick to shake my head and alleviate any worries he has.
“I didn’t think you would. You’re smarter than that,” he says.
“Yes, Anthony.” My response earns me a warm smile, and I hate that it eases the apprehension in me, but it does.
“Dinner will be ready in an hour; you’ll need to be done by then.”
“I’m not very hungry.” I speak just above a murmur and stare at the beautiful marble floor. The silence he gives me in return compels me to look at him. He gives me a tight smile.
“I understand not having an appetite, but you need to eat, kitten.” He takes a step back and looks into my eyes. I try to break eye contact, but I can’t. The intensity of his gaze has me pinned.
“Tomorrow will be different; you know that, don’t you?” he asks with an even voice.
Tomorrow I’m his, and I'll have expectations to meet. I know. I know what this is. Regret overwhelms me. I’ve read this story so many times. Girl gets taken and held against her will. But this is no story. It’s not something I can edit and critique. What's happening right now isn't the same as words on a page that can be changed on a whim.
“It’s going to be good, kitten.” His calm tone eases the stress threatening to consume me. He grips my chin in between his thumb and forefinger. He leans down with his lips close to mine, but he doesn’t let them touch. My body ignites from the proximity of our bodies--mine naked, and his fully clothed. He holds such power over me, yet his touch is gentle. I almost lean into him, expecting him to kiss me, but he doesn’t. He whispers, “You’re going to love this kitten; I promise you.”
I close my eyes, waiting for him to kiss me, but instead he drops his hand and turns to leave me. “Sleep well, kitten,” he says as he opens the double doors and leaves me alone.
I watch the doors shut as his body leaves my view. The loud click fills the bathroom and I finally wrap my arms around my body. I feel stunned. Confused. And scared. More than anything, I feel lost.
I turn the water on and let the steam fill the room before I finally get into the shower. The heat feels like absolute heaven on my sore shoulders. I stand under the stream, letting the water