Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
As the afternoon sun began its descent, Esther finally announced that our educational session would conclude for the day. I welcomed the reprieve, feeling both grateful and overwhelmed. Glancing at the grandfather clock in the corner, I was surprised to see that it was only six.
The day had felt endless, yet it was far from over.
“So, what’s next?” I asked, suppressing a yawn.
“You can watch us in the kitchen or retire to your bedroom for rest.”
“You’re cooking?”
“Oh, no. We are just finishing up what the kitchen staff has prepped for tonight’s meal.”
I’d almost forgotten there were people that worked inside this house. I’d yet to see any of them. I didn’t have high hopes for any of them helping me escape.
“I could help.”
“I appreciate that, but I can’t allow you to do that. Such tasks are beneath your position unless you’re doing so for pure enjoyment.”
The weight of her words settled in, amplifying the sense of unfamiliarity around me. I was surrounded by luxury, yet everything felt off-kilter, like trying to find my balance on shifting sands. It served as a reminder that there were rules, expectations, and a predetermined role for me here. I didn’t bother questioning who’d declared that a stipulation. I already knew.
“I’ll go rest then.”
As soon as I said it, I knew it was the right choice. My body and mind ached for solitude, a moment to collect my thoughts and attempt to work through all that I had learned.
Escorted to the same room I’d been brought to the night before, I found myself standing before the opulent bed that seemed to dominate the space. The memories rushed back like a flood, threatening to engulf me. Everything from my abduction to my current situation crashed down upon me in a tidal wave of emotions.
The thought of Anya possibly enduring a similar fate—or worse—only added to my turmoil. I stared at the bed, its perfectly made-up sheets and pillows tainted by what had happened on top of them. I wondered what made him choose to do it while I was sleeping. It couldn’t have been a matter of ease.
I’d fought him the moment I’d woken up and felt him moving inside me. He’d easily thwarted my attempts to break free. The harder I’d fought, the rougher he got. He’d forced orgasm after orgasm from my body before allowing himself to find release.
This morning had been different.
Despite being as sore as I was and what was happening, to some sickening degree I’d enjoyed the way he’d forced me to ride him and how gently he’d touched me in the shower afterward. What did that say about who I was?
I turned away from the bed and sought refuge on the chaise in the sitting area. The dim light of the room cast shadows, lending an eerie ambiance to its surroundings. I clutched a throw pillow against my chest, as if it could provide some semblance of solace.
The silence was broken only by the distant sound of my own breathing.
Time slipped by, and before I knew it, the weight of the day pulled me into an uneasy slumber. I drifted in and out of dreams. The lines between reality blurred and I saw that woman again, the one that tried to warn me the night I was taken.
A gentle touch on my cheek stirred me awake, accompanied by the familiar scent of Alexander's cologne. My eyes fluttered open to find him standing over me, his expression tender. My first impulse was to shrink back, to distance myself from him and all that he stood for, but there was something about his touch that inexplicably held me in place, drawing me in despite my reservations.
“Sleep well?” His voice was smooth, a soothing melody that resonated through the room.
I nodded, still groggy and disoriented from my nap. Someone had covered me with a warm throw without waking me.
“For the most part...”
“Dinner is ready. Come eat.” He extended a hand, and I slowly took hold of it.
With a carefulness that made me feel as if I were made of glass, he helped me stand and led me back downstairs. The aroma of food wafted through the air, and when we reached the dining room, I saw that the table was adorned with another spread of dishes that was too much for just two people.
There was a platter of succulent roasted meats, glistening with savory juices. Next to a bowl of potatoes, a dish of sautéed greens caught my attention. Alexander pulled out a chair for me and I sat down, acutely aware of him as he settled across from me. Esther and Nicolette stood in the corner of the room, their postures deferential. Esther’s eyes met mine, and she flashed me a quick smile.
With an air of casualness, he addressed her first, granting her permission to indulge in the food at the kitchen island. Then, with a simple command, he directed Nicolette to serve her. They obeyed without a hint of resistance, both leaving the room.