Page 30 of Taking

The scent of toast teased my nose.

“I’m hungry,” I said, knowing I would need sustenance for whatever escape I attempted in the hopefully near future.

He once more spun me, and the mattress hit the back of my legs.

I sat and stayed put—wasn’t about to lay down and let him tie me up again.

“I’m hungry,” I stated again, chin lifting as though I could see him through my blindfold.

The door closed. A lock clicked.

I held my breath, but no rustle of clothing met my straining ears, and no tingling awareness of his presence ghosted over my skin

Had he left me alone without restraints?

My hands shook as I clutched the sheet beside my thighs. Did I dare?

My pulse pounding, adrenaline leaking into my bloodstream, I decided to go for it.

I raised my hand slow as hell, giving him plenty of time to tell me to stop if he still sat in the room with me, but no such command followed. I peeled the blindfold up—and found myself in pitch black.

Curses rang between my ears, but I took the moment’s freedom, pushing up onto weak legs. I felt along the edge of the bed, around the foot, and up the other side. Met a log wall with my fingertips. I trailed my left hand at window height along the bumpy surface, keeping the other one in front of me, ready for obstacles.

A corner.

Three steps in and my shin bashed against the chair, the one he must have watched me from.

Around the chair—door.

My breath held. I tried the handle, but it didn’t give.

Continuing my walk eventually put me back at the bed’s side, my adjusted eyes still not able to see a damn thing.

One bed, one chair. One locked door, and no window.

The lack of light bothered me the most, but I curled up on the bed beneath the lone quilt and closed my eyes to block that truth out, pretending I had my nightlight plugged in beside me.

Hunger twisted my stomach, but at least I lay in warmth, no longer tied up and unable to move.

Worry began to eat at my mind with the thought of Lloyd’s imminent arrival, but I forced it from my head, refusing to break for him ever again.

Exhaustion and weakness took over.

True darkness swept me away to where neither existed any longer.

* * *

I dreamed of kneeling at Gideon’s feet. Peering up at him, worshiping him as he stared down at me with his lust-filled, hooded gaze that made me wet.

Blinding light brought me to reality, and I gasped, shielding my stinging eyes and scrambling against the headboard.

Squinting and blinking barely allowed me time to make out a beast dressed in all black—well over six feet of solid muscle beneath his tight, long-sleeved shirt. A gas mask of sorts with mesh over the eyes covered his head fully. No hint of hair, no glimpse of eye color.

Nothing leading to his identity whatsoever.

He set a tray on the chair and stalked back out, shutting the door behind him.

Leaving me in a brightly lit room.

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