Page 35 of Crazy In Love (Secrets of Suburbi 3)

I adjusted my wig and mask as he feasted. "This is going to be fun." I lifted Snuggle Muffins and the plate of bacon and made my way down into the basement.

Noah was wide awake, already being annoying and trying to yell even though he must have known I couldn't hear him through the gag. I placed Snuggle Muffins and the plate of bacon down before yanking the gag from his mouth.

"I have to piss! Jesus, you made me drink so much last night and didn't let me pee."

"Oh." Oopsie. I'd actually woken up in the middle of the night and had to pee again. Poor guy. "Not a problem. One sec."

"I'm seriously going to piss my pants."

"Calm down." What was he...five? Did five-year-olds pee their pants? I had no idea. I lifted up the litter box and brought it over to him. "Okay, let's get one of your hands untied."

"You seriously want me to go in that? I thought you were joking. You used it for the dog."

"His name is Snuggle Muffins. You know that. And what's wrong with sharing? It's fine. I'll scoop it when you're done."

He stared at me like I was insane.

I wasn't. And I didn't appreciate the way he was looking at me. I put my hand on my hip and stared right back.

"Just take me to the toilet," he said. "I won't try to run away, I swear."

"Nope." I untied one of his hands. "Lean over and pee in that like you did the bucket. And if you're lucky I won't tase you this time." I pulled my taser out from my back pocket and pointed it at him.

He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. "I actually have to take a shit."

"Oh." I wasn't planning on keeping him here this long. And I was really hoping it wouldn't come to this. But I was technically prepared. "Fine." I untied his other hand. "Stand up."

He followed my instructions, his legs still tied tightly to the chair.

I wasn't scared of him trying to run. He'd either fall from the chair or from my taser. And he knew it. I moved the litter box to the seat of his chair and tossed a pack of diaper wipes at him. "Clean yourself up a bit with those while you're at it." The last thing I needed was for him to start smelling down here.

"Are you serious right now?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" I lifted a piece of bacon and took a bite. "And make sure to use that little shovel thing to cover your business. I don't want to see it. Now strip." I waved my bacon-filled hand at him.

He started to unzip his pants. Instead of staring, I looked away. Last time had been bad. I didn't want him to make a mess again. Besides, I had a watchdog now. I looked over at Snuggle Muffins who was snuggled up to the light-up reindeer, sound asleep. What the hell, Snuggle Muffins? "Pst." I snapped my fingers and Snuggle Muffins opened one eye. "You're supposed to be the lookout."

He promptly closed his eyes again.

Son of a bitch. I laughed at my own joke. Snuggle Muffins was literally a son of a bitch. I'd never actually used that term of endearment appropriately before. I snuck one glance at Noah. He was crouched over the litter

box with so much shame straining his perfect features.

I'm sorry. I looked down at the cement ground. Would him feeling ashamed make it easier or harder to get the truth out of him? Did any of it matter if he didn't remember me? My cheeks flushed at the thought of last night. He'd wanted me. I'd wanted him too. And I hated myself for it. Snuggle Muffins was right. He didn't remember me. He just had Stockholm Syndrome.

I heard the zipper of Noah's pants and looked up. He wasn't wearing his leather jacket or the t-shirt that had been beneath it anymore. He was just standing there with his perfect six-pack and rock-hard pecks out for everyone to see.

"What are you doing? Put your shirt back on."

He ran a diaper wipe down the front of his chest, making it glisten like his muscles were doused in oil. "I'm cleaning up like you asked."

"I didn't ask you to take your shirt off."

"It was dirty. And you literally told me to strip." He tossed the diaper wipe into the litter box.

"I meant unzip your pants. Not take off your shirt."

He shrugged. "Well, now I'm clean." He removed the litter box from his chair and then sat back down. "Ready to tie me back up?" He innocently held his hands out.

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