Page 79 of Sinful

He turned and headed farther down the hall. Then he stopped at a doorway and motioned inside. “Do you want to run the bath while I get some stuff from the kitchen?”

I stared at him. “You’re going to leave me alone in there?”

“You can’t go anywhere. The window is locked, and if you try to break it, I’ll hear.” He smiled thinly and stepped inside, one hand reaching out to flick on a light switch. “The plug is on the edge of the bath, and I’m sure you can figure out the hot and cold taps. Towels are on the shelf to the left. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

He stepped out and headed back down the hall. I watched him go, stomach still churning with confusion, and then I turned and entered the bathroom.

My breath caught at the sight before me. The bathroom was enormous, with pale marble walls that gleamed under the soft glow of the lights. To my left, a massive bathtub sat, its surface a pristine white. It was framed by a low, tiled platform that extended around it, perfect for setting down the food and drinks Sebastian had promised. Beyond the tub, a glass door led to a shower with a spacious interior and two showerheads.

To my right, a large vanity with an expansive mirror stretched along the wall, its countertop free of clutter save for a bottle of what I could only assume was soap. Plush white towels sat on a shelf nearby.

I stared at all the luxurious fixtures for a moment, rooted to the spot with fear and bewilderment. Sebastian had willingly left me alone in here, and that made me think it was some sort of test. A test I could easily fail if I dared to do the wrong thing, like slip down the hall and out the door.

I couldn’t risk that, because I knew he’d see me, so I decided to turn on the bath and use the gushing water to mask the sound of me hunting through the bathroom for a possible weapon.

When the tub was plugged and the water was hot, I began my search, beginning with the drawers beneath the vanity. They were all empty. No nail scissors or razor blades that could be used for an attack. Not even a hairbrush to hit him with.

The cupboards were just as bare. I could only assume Sebastian had his own personal bathroom in his bedroom, and this one was just a spare for guests. That was probably why he felt safe leaving me in here. No chance of escape, and nothing for me to use as a weapon.

With a glum sigh, I pulled two towels off the shelf and headed over to the bathtub. I dropped the towels on the platform and slowly unbuttoned my shirt. Just as I was about to slip it off, Sebastian returned, holding a tray with two glasses of pale yellow liquid, a bowl of strawberries, and two slices of cake.

“Champagne,” he said, raising his brows as he placed the glasses on the edge of the bath. “It’s a type of wine. I figured you might be missing the berry wine from your village, and this is the closest thing I have in the fridge.”

“Thank you,” I said stiffly.

He set the food down as well, and then he unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it on the floor, revealing his chiseled upper body. The sight made my mouth water, and I looked off to the side, ashamed of my response. I could still feel his eyes on me, though, and I knew my cheeks were bright pink.

“Get undressed,” he commanded. “Don’t worry about the water on your back. It’ll sting at first, but then it’ll feel better. Trust me.”

Trust you? Seriously?I wanted to scoff at him, but I knew I had to stay calm. Try not to antagonize the furious beast that lurked below the veneer of kindness.

I finished taking my shirt off and dropped my pants. Sebastian unbuckled his belt, dropped his own pants, and kicked them to the side, head swiveling to look at the tub. “I wish I had some bath salts to put in it,” he mused. “That might help you relax.”

My heart skipped a beat as I looked at the floor from the corner of my eye. When Sebastian kicked the trousers aside, something had flown out of a pocket. He hadn’t noticed it, because he was looking over at the bath, but I saw it—the black and gold keycard that he used to access my underground cage.

A small part of me wondered if it was part of the test that I suspected he was putting me through. Perhaps he intended for the card to fall out to see if I’d try to grab it. Then he could catch me in the act and punish me all over again, cruelly laughing and throwing his distrust in my face. I could practically hear his words already.

I knew it, Rose. You’re a bad girl. Turns you on to flout the rules, doesn’t it?

Then again, it really seemed like an accident. When he haphazardly threw the clothing aside, he couldn’t possibly have known in all certainty that the card would slide out like that.

I had to take the chance. If I didn’t, I’d regret it forever while I wasted away in that horrible underground prison.

I looked over Sebastian’s shoulder. “What’s that?” I asked, pointing my index finger.

When he turned his head, I kicked my shirt over the keycard to cover it.

“What’s what?” Sebastian asked, turning back to me with a frown.

“The mirror,” I said. “Is it a real one? Or is it one of your camera things?”

He smiled faintly. “It’s just a mirror,” he said. He gestured to the bath. “Get in.”

My heart hammered in my chest as I slowly stepped up to the raised platform and stuck one foot in the steaming water. Sebastian’s eyes were on me, but I couldn’t feel any of the usual suspicion or anger radiating from him. He genuinely didn’t seem to have noticed my keycard coverup.

“How does it feel?” he asked as I slid into the water.

I grimaced. “It stings, like you said it would.”

---