Page 45 of Colton
I tug the dress over my head, grateful to have clean clothes, at least.
He chuckles, a sound that comes out dark and menacing. “Wrong?” He pushes off from the doorframe, taking slow, deliberate steps towards me. “This isn’t wrong, Mary. This is right. This is where you belong. With me.”
I shrink back slightly as he approaches, but I never take my eyes off him. I’m wary, like a cornered animal, but I refuse to show him the fear that’s coiling in my stomach. I have to be strong, even if it’s just a facade.
He reaches out, his hand cupping my face. His skin is warm against my cool cheek. I tense under his touch, but I don’t pull away. I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me cower. “You’re mine, Mary,” he murmurs, his thumb tracing the line of my jaw. “The sooner you accept that, the easier this will be.”
I take a deep breath, my chest rising and falling, drawing his eyes to the neckline of my dress. I can feel my pulse pounding at the base of my throat, betraying my fear. I hate that he can see it, that he can revel in it.
“Colton,” I say again, my voice firmer this time. “You need to let me go. This isn’t love, this is...obsession.”
He smiles, a cold, humorless smile. “Love, obsession—what’s the difference? They both consume you; both make you do things you never thought you would.”
His fingers trail down my neck, lingering over my pulse point. I can feel the heat radiating off him, intense and overwhelming. He takes my hand, and I tremble, half furious, half terrified.
“No, Colton,” I say, my voice steady despite the chaos inside me. “It’s not the same. Love doesn’t lock people away. Love doesn’t take control like this.”
He leans in closer, his breath hot against my ear. “And what do you know about love, Mary? What has it ever done for you besides leave you broken and alone?”
I clench my jaw, forcing myself not to react to the sting of his words. He’s right, in a way; love has never been kind to me. But that doesn’t mean I’ll let him twist it into something so dark and depraved.
“Just because you don’t understand it, Colton, doesn’t mean it’s not real,” I whisper, my eyes burning with unshed tears. “And it certainly doesn’t mean you can trap me here.”
He pulls back slightly, his gaze unwavering. “You’re right, Mary. I don’t understand it. But I understand this.” His hand slides down to rest on my shoulder, his grip firm but not painful. “I understand control. I understand power. And I understand that having you here, with me, is the only way I can keep you safe. From my father, from everyone else who wants to hurt you.”
I shake my head, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “Safe? Is that what you tell yourself? Because it feels more like a prison to me.”
His grip tightens just a fraction, and I can see the conflict in his eyes. There’s a vulnerability there, hidden beneath the layersof control and obsession. It’s a crack in his armor, a weakness. And I have to exploit it if I want any chance of getting out.
“Colton,” I say softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “You can’t keep me safe by locking me away. You can’t control the world...”
He laughs, shaking his head as a ripple of unease sweeps through me.
“Let me show you what I mean, Mary.”
And just like that, I don't want to know.
Chapter 22
Luella
“Colton...” I scramble away from the bed, not wanting to give him any opportunity to corner me. “This is getting out of hand.”
Colton grips my wrist and tugs me against him, walking me to the wall. He backs me against it, his breath hot on my face. His eyes are wild, swirling with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine.
“I told you I’d show you what it means to be obsessed,” he murmurs, his voice a low growl that seems to vibrate through me. “You’ll know soon enough, Mary.”
My heart hammers in my chest, but I force myself to meet his gaze, to show him that I'm not afraid. Or at least, not as afraid as he wants me to be. I can smell his cologne, a mix of spice and something darker, almost like a storm brewing. It’s intoxicating and terrifying all at once.
“You don't need to show me; I can already see how twisted you are.” I spit in his face and knee him in the balls, lunging for the open door.
Suddenly, white hot pain screams across my scalp as Colton grabs my hair in a fist, yanking me backward. The air is knocked out of me when I hit the floor, and I gasp for breath.
“You think you’re so strong,” he continues, his lips curling into a smirk. “But you’re not stronger than me.” He drags me to my feet by my hair, and I scream in agony.
I summon every ounce of defiance I have and shove against his chest, but he’s a wall of muscle. His hand snaps around my wrist, twisting just enough to send a jolt of pain up my arm. He presses me back against the wall, his body flush against mine, trapping me.
“You’re mine, Mary. When are you going to understand that? You can’t run from me.” His voice is a dark whisper, like a secret shared in the cover of night.
