Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 127933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
He didn’t speak.
He didn’t have to.
I was his, and this—everything I had just gone through—was just another part of what that meant. Alexander stepped forward, finally breaking the silence between us. His hands, firm yet gentle, cupped my face, tilting it upward so I had no choice but to meet his stare.
“Better?” he asked,
I nodded, though I wasn’t entirely sure if I felt better. Something about his touch, his presence, made me feel less... scattered.
“Good.” His lips brushed against my forehead in a brief kiss, the warmth of it sinking into my skin. I breathed him in, the scent of his cologne mixed with his natural musk, both familiar and, in some strange way, comforting. Despite everything—despite the madness of the night before—he was always steady. Always there.
Somehow, that steadiness was enough to ground me.
“I’m all yours for the day,” he said, his hands slipping away from my face as he stepped back, allowing me space to breathe. “After you get dressed, we’ll have something light to eat, and then head out.”
“Head out?” I repeated, my voice rough but curious. The idea of leaving the estate felt foreign, especially after everything that had happened.
He grinned, the expression catching me off guard with its ease. “Our first real outing as a couple. A bit late, I know,” he added with a teasing lilt in his voice, but there was an edge to it as if this outing was more than just an ordinary day together.
His grin, his words, made something flutter deep in my chest—a reminder that even in this twisted world, there was a thread of normalcy, however thin.
“What are we doing?” I asked, still uncertain but intrigued.
“You’ll see,” he replied, the smirk on his lips widening just slightly before he turned toward the door, leaving me standing in front of the mirror, my thoughts trailing behind him.
Whatever it was, I knew it wouldn’t be a normal day. Not for us. Not in the world we—he‑‑lived in. But the idea of something almost normal felt like a breath of fresh air. Even if it was fleeting.
I dressed for comfort, choosing something simple but still elegant enough for an outing with Alexander. The burgundy dress fit perfectly, cinching at the waist, and flaring out in a soft, flowing skirt. It felt like a compromise between casual and the unspoken expectation of being by his side. As I brushed through my hair and applied a light layer of makeup, I caught myself feeling... excited.
Despite everything that had happened between us, the horrors of the night before, there was an undeniable flutter in my chest at the thought of spending time with him.
The guilt gnawed at me, always present, a constant reminder that I should hate him, fear him. Alexander was my captor, my manipulator, yet that didn’t change my mind. Something more. It twisted inside me, that wretched combination of desire and confusion. How could I feel any sense of warmth toward him after everything? But the truth was there, unshakable, as much as I wanted to deny it.
There was something about the way he spoke to me at night when the world around us felt quieter, more intimate. He’d reveal pieces of himself in those moments, pieces that made me want to know more, to understand him beyond the darkness. Today, the idea of simply being with him felt like a gift. I wanted more of those conversations, more of him.
With one final glance in the mirror, I smoothed the fabric of my dress and stepped out of the room, the soft sound of my footsteps echoing through the quiet house. The morning light filtered through the windows, and as I walked, I could hear Alexander’s voice coming from his office. It was low, commanding, as he spoke to someone on the phone, the sound grounding me in the present.
I followed his voice, my heart quickening slightly with anticipation. When I reached his office, I hesitated for a brief second, listening to the steady rhythm of his words.
Taking a breath, I knocked lightly before stepping in, ready to meet whatever the day held for us. Alexander hung up the phone, his eyes sweeping over me with that intense, unwavering gaze as he stood from his desk. He slipped his phone into his pocket and strode toward me, the hint of a smile curling at the edges of his lips.
"You never fail to look anything less than gorgeous," he said, his voice rich and smooth, the compliment sinking into me with the weight of his presence. He stepped close, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me against him. His lips met mine in a slow kiss that left my skin tingling, and my breath catching. I could feel the strength of him, the control that never wavered. When he pulled back, I took in his appearance. He was impeccably dressed, as always, in a sleek black suit adorned with dark, intricate patterns that seemed almost alive, weaving across the fabric like vines.