Page 17 of Unveiled

Even though he was gentle with me that night, he was still incredible. He’s always been incredible, which is why I find myself continuing to give in to him.

“What are you thinking about?” His voice is so soft I almost don’t hear it, but the reminder that he’s here while I’m thinking about what happened the last time we were in a bath together has my cheeks heating. He hums in appreciation. “If you don’t tell me, I’m going to make my own assumptions based on that blush.”

What could it hurt? It’s natural for me to remember that night while we’re together like this. It wasn’t exactly a forgettable night. “I was thinking about the last time we were here.”

My eyes stay closed as he continues rubbing my scalp, but I can imagine his reaction. He’s probably staring down at me, lost in the memory himself.

“I don’t like to think about that night,” he admits. My eyes snap open, not caring about the possibility of getting soap in them as I stare at him with hurt. “No, not because of that. Well, not entirely. But, I can’t help wondering if I had just put you to bed that night and comforted you, would you have stayed? Did I push you away because I couldn’t control myself?”

“No,” I answer quickly, hurt that he would think that. “Ca -”

That’s twice now. Twice in the handful of hours that I’ve been here that I almost slipped and said his name. I need to remember that he’s the monster, but it’s so hard when he’s this vulnerable.

Taking a deep breath to restart, I tell him, “Nothing could have changed that night. I knew before you even brought me here that I needed to leave. I’m not safe, not as long as I’m in this world with you. That night was just my selfishness. I just needed you one more time before I never had you again.”

“What do I need to do to convince you that you’re safe with me? Trust me, I learned my lesson about leaving you in the hands of someone that’s not as invested in you as I am. It won’t happen again.”

“What am I supposed to do? Stay here forever? I can’t do that. I have my own life that I want to live.”

The monster scoffs as if the thought of keeping me captive here is insulting. Like he hasn’t done it before. “No, baby. You’re going back to school next week, I’m just using this as a little vacation. But you’re going back with my head of security, and he’ll be watching you every minute that I can’t.”

I don’t answer. What would I say? Even if I fought him, it would happen anyway. I’m surprised he hasn’t sent one of his men to watch me yet, so it’s not a surprise that was his plan all along.

“Wouldn’t it be better to just let me go, so I’m not in any danger?” It seems like the obvious solution, but the monster is a complicated man.

“Better, maybe, but that’s not an option,” he answers. He gestures for me to dunk my head, and I do, letting him scrub the soap out of my hair.

Fighting with the monster is pointless. He always gets what he wants in the end, no matter how hard I try. If he wants to send security with me, who am I to argue? There’s one fight he’ll learn he can never win, though, and he’s determined to find that out the hard way.

We finish the rest of our bath in peaceful silence, just enjoying the comfort of each other’s company. The monster did everything for me, from washing my hair to rubbing soap into my back. Unlike the last time I was here, I offer nothing in return.

“Dry off and get dressed,” he instructs me as I wrap one of his soft towels around myself. “Preferably in something stretchy. I still have all of your clothes in the guest room if you didn’t pack anything suitable, or you could wear a pair of my sweatpants. We both know how much I enjoy you in my clothes.”

I look at him questioningly, waiting for an explanation. He wraps his own towel around himself and walks out, leaving me alone in the bathroom with more questions than answers.

Oh, well. Sometimes it’s better to not know what’s going through the monster’s head. He could just want me to be comfortable, or we could go on a twenty-mile hike to try to bond again. Either way, I’ll listen so I’m not caught in a mini skirt while trying to climb up a mountain. Not that I would wear one around him.

I’m not going to take his clothes, though. He doesn’t deserve that satisfaction. I think I just shoved a few pairs of jeans in my suitcase, but the last time I was here, I remember finding some leggings and sweatshirts.

Walking out of the bathroom with my towel securely fastened around me, I make my way out to the bedroom door, avoiding looking at the monster. I’m sure he’s still partially naked, waiting for me to ogle him again.

When I make it to what used to be my bedroom, I head straight for the closet and close the door behind me. I know he still has the cameras up, and he wouldn’t be shy about using them in this situation.

Quickly dressing in black leggings and a black hoodie, I grab my towel and walk back to the monster’s room to tell him I’m ready. My hair is still wet, but I don’t plan on styling it. It’s not like there’s anyone here for me to impress.

As soon as I step into the room, I spot the monster, sitting on his bed waiting for me. He followed his own advice and wore sweatpants, and of course no shirt. What catches my eye is the mask resting over his head, hiding his face from me.

“Put your hair up,” he instructs me as soon as he sees it still dangling down my back. I do as I’m told, happy to not have the wet strands weighing down my neck. I wait to see if he’s going to put a shirt on, but he walks around me and straight out of the bedroom instead.

I follow him, assuming that’s what he wants, but he doesn’t turn around to make sure I’m still there. “Where are we going?” I call after him.

He turns his head slightly, just enough for me to see the silver detailing on the cheeks. “To the gym,” he answers. That’s all the explanation I get as he marches us through the house into the basement where he once showed me his gym. It feels like a lifetime has passed since the last time I was in this room, and I suppose in a way, it has been. I was a completely different person back then.

“Fitting,” I announce sarcastically. “The monster of my nightmares bringing me back to the basement. I thought this was just about you winning me back, I didn’t realize we were starting from the beginning.”

The monster chuckles as he turns around to face me. “That’s good, baby. Keep up the attitude. You’ll need it.”

Before I can register what he said, he’s on top of me. He spins me around and slams my back into his chest as his arms wrap around me, locking my arms to my sides.

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