Luca leans in to whisper, “So enjoy this while it lasts.”
Present
* * *
Sighing, I clutch my legs close together and try to warm up by pouring small amounts of water over my back.
CLICK!
The door opening puts me on edge.
I swiftly wrap the towel over my body and peer over my shoulder.
“I won’t look,” he says.
His back is turned to me as he carries a big bucket of steaming water inside and places it behind the tub.
“There you go,” he says.
I snort. “Gee, thanks for providing me with the bare minimum. Much appreciated.”
“I could just lock you back up with that dead deer if you keep up that snarky attitude,” he retorts, still glancing at me over his shoulder.
My eyes widen, and I duck below the tub line so he can’t see my body. Even though I know he’s already seen most of it, it still feels weird. “Fine. Sorry. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” he says, winking just as he always did back when we were young. And it makes me wonder … what if the old Liam is still in there somewhere, waiting to be released?
“I know this place is not a five-star hotel, but it’s my home … and I’ll do my best to make you comfortable,” he adds.
“Comfortable …” I repeat softly. Why does this all feel like he’s trying to woo me into staying? Almost like he’s trying to be … nice?
But that doesn’t make any sense.
He’s my captor.
He’s keeping me prisoner for his own personal fun, like a pet. Nothing about this is nice.
“Is that what you call this? Comfortable?” I ask, running some more soap across the palm of my hand.
His eyes flick back and forth, following the line I’m tracing across my skin, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel good. “I may be a monster, but this monster takes care of the things that belong to him.”
Things … that belong to him?
It sounds so wrong, yet it’s still making me blush.
What the hell is wrong with me?
He steps closer, and I duck farther into the tub, the small towel the only thing hiding my naked body from his lusty eyes. He goes to his knees right in front of me and perches himself on the other side of the tub, just inches away from me.
“I know you hate me,” he says. “But I will never give up.”
“Give up what?” I mutter, confused.
His hand reaches for my face. I’m too stunned to move as he starts caressing me. His touch is so gentle it moves me. “Making you want me.”
My lips begin to quake.
Want him.