What did they mean by that? I didn’t even ask for round one.
King handed me the water and my eyes glazed over his naked torso, nothing but a towel resting dangerously low on his waist.
My eyes raked over Lux’s shirtless figure. The mud smearing over his tattoos and twigs stuck out of his hair. I stifled a giggleand spread my legs just enough to entice him, remembering how aroused he was from simply seeing me bound and gagged.
“You moan so beautifully in your sleep. Your pussy is greedy Chloe,” Lux whispered against my hair with a playful glint in his eye.
“May I go take a shower?” My words came out as a quiet squeak and I trained my eyes on the ceiling, suddenly feeling clammy and extremely trapped.
“Go ahead. We’ll wait.” My ears perked, picking up on the intensity of his words.Would they?
Shifting uncomfortably, I scurried up the stairs quickly. Trying to escape the tension before they asked questions. Flashbacks came to the forefront of my mind, and my pulse raced. The last thing I needed was a panic attack in front of these men.
I had tried talking to people after that night, but nobody really listened. Only asked me stupid fucking questions like what I was wearing, or if I was leading anyone on. All they cared about is if I was pressing charges or not. I tried and failed and now he’s untouchable.
I thought he loved me, but I was nothing more than a pawn in his game of chess to get close to my father. If he married me, he had everything my father had worked for, at least my share. He left me for dead, trash on the side of the road. It was hard to accept I would never get justice, but I take it one day at a time.
Tears sprung to my eyes and my bottom lip quivered as I walked along the cool porcelain tile. It was a large bathroom with ample room, but the piping was old and made clunking sounds. While the hot water tank tried to heat the water enough to step in.
It reached the desired temperature, and I stepped into the shower, bracing my hands against the wall, allowing myself to feel the scalding hot water run down my back like a waterfall.
I wanted to feel desired, but each time I thought of another man claiming to own me, it made my skin crawl. Was I seeking freedom from Ezra? My mind?
Maybe I was seeking another prison. To go back to the only thing I knew. Each choice felt like a double-edged sword, and I feared being pierced by either end in a losing battle.
Memories flooded back—his hands on my neck, the menacing voice echoing in my head.
You’re mine.
Despite the hot water cascading down my body, I shivered. The weight of his words etched in my mind. It was a different kind of prison. One I feared I’d never be rid of. I read somewhere that when you take extra hot showers it’s a form of self-harm.
I scoffed to myself. Well, I’m not a medical professional, but if this gave me the feeling I was looking for, the pain I now craved, then maybe it would quiet the racing thoughts. I’m okay with losing a layer or two of skin to chase that high.
I wanted to feel alive again, instead of a shell of my former self. But at what cost? So far, I’ve enjoyed tonight’s events, but I’d be lying if it didn’t bring memories to the surface, threatening to swallow me whole.
The shower curtain flew open, ripping me from the fleeting thoughts, and my eyes caught on Lux and his naked body.
“You okay?”
His anxiousness showed as his fingers drummed a smooth rhythm against his thigh. The thought of him coming to check on me erased some of the tension that coiled in my chest, and I was thankful.
All I could do was shake my head. “I’m okay,” I lied, turning my back to him, embarrassed that I let tears fall over this situation. One I could leave anytime I wanted. So why couldn’t I?
“I need a shower too. May I join you?”
He stepped in and the air thickened around me. My heart pulsed in my throat and the walls closed in on me. My breath hitched, watching as the scalding hot water met his skin and he winced.
“You’re not going to like it in here. It’s really hot.” I sniffed, not caring that these kinky adventures I chased were starting to take a toll on me, but also wanting to add a bit of humor to the situation. “Plus, you would have to take your mask off unless you want me to see you.”
I couldn’t help the anticipation that sat within me at the prospect. I wanted to see his face as it contorted into a mixture of pleasure and pain.
“Nice try,” he chuckled. “Turn around.” His tone was playful yet held a stern warning.
The sound of his mask lifting made my stomach flutter, and I wanted to turn around. At this moment though, he trusted me enough to do the opposite.
He ran his nose along my shoulder and rested his lips at the nape of my neck, his stubble tickling the sensitive area.
I stood frozen as a thin piece of fabric covered my eyes and knotted in the back of my head. “Do you trust me, Chloe?”