“It’s going to be okay,” she said, releasing a breath.
After he’d come, he’d let himself out of her room, locking the door behind him. She was a prisoner.
No clothes.
No food.
She’d just been used for sex, for his personal pleasure, and it humiliated her to know he knew she’d taken care of herself. Having his hands on her, it had ignited a fire within her she didn’t know she had.
Staring down at the sick, she scooped up some of the cold water and splashed it on her face.
“I’m fine.” She spoke between each face wash.
She wasn’t talking to anyone. Just herself.
When her face was thoroughly washed, she stepped back. She’d already taken a bath, but there was no bath towel and she had no way of drying herself.
The room was warm.
Leaving the bathroom, she paused as she saw Hunter in her room. He sat on the edge of her bed, smiling.
“He wants you downstairs,” he said.
“For what?”
“For breakfast.”
“Why didn’t he come and get me himself?” she asked.
“I like how you think you can ask any question you want.”
“Are you his friend?”
“One of them.”
This made her pause. “He has other friends?”
“Of course he does. He’s Logan Stanford. He has a great many friends. Just not all of them are nice.”
She gritted her teeth. This was impossible. “Do I get any clothes?”
“No. Until Logan wishes it, you’re here, naked, doing as you’re bid. Be grateful he doesn’t have you walking around town saying ‘I’m Logan’s cum dump.’”
She refused to let him see how his words were affecting her. There was no way she could fall. Squaring her shoulders as best she could, she followed Hunter downstairs.
Men were posted at the door. She couldn’t bring herself to look them in the eyes. They all saw her.
Logan certainly knew how to hurt her. There was no coming back from this.
They walked down a long corridor, going toward a door that opened up into a dining room. Logan was already there, eating breakfast, reading the newspaper.
Hunter grabbed her arm, marching her toward where Logan was and pushing her into a seat.
She noticed a towel had already been placed on the seat for her.
Small mercies at least.
There was no food for her to eat. No place setting.
“I’ve got to go to work today,” she said, thinking about the library.
“I’ve already called ahead. I’ve told them you’ll be having a few weeks off.”
“You can’t do that.”
“I did.” He took a bite of his waffle.
“I like working.”
“You’ll go back to work when I’m ready.” He held out a piece of waffle for her to eat. “I suggest you eat it. You’re not getting anything else. Everything you eat or wear will be earned. I figured with all that cum warming your belly, you needed something a bit more substantial.”
She hated him.
There had been moments over the years she’d not liked him, but hate was an emotion she wasn’t familiar with. She didn’t like to feel anything too strongly, but it was next to impossible not to feel something.
“I hate you,” she said.
“Still sucked my cock dry this morning. Hate is a very good motivator. I guess you know all about that. Trying to ruin my life for a long time now.” He pressed the fork to her lips. “Come on, eat up.”
She could spit the food at him, and refuse to cooperate, or she could live to fight another day. Keep her strength up rather than starve herself. Opening her lips, she took the waffle he offered, chewing on it.
Hunter giggled. She ignored him.
For the next ten minutes, Logan continued to feed her, offering her up tiny bites, which she took, in between feeding himself.
When breakfast was done, he allowed her a cup of coffee, which she took with a thank you. Again, it would be easy for her to cause a fight, but she decided against it. She would only pick battles she knew she could win.
“I’ve never seen you this … docile before,” Logan said. “Rather intriguing.”
“You want to school together, right?” Hunter asked.
“I did. There was a time Ava Marshall was one of the most intelligent women at school. She was smart. Everyone went to her to be tutored. It was the only way they were getting out of the shithole of a town. Being with her, got the grades people wanted.”
“What changed?” Hunter asked.
“I don’t know what changed. Why are you here, still working at the library?” Logan asked.
She turned her head to look at him. “You know why.”
“What makes you think I know?”
“You came to town with all this wealth. You did your research.”
“That’s right. After little Miss Righteous here falsely accused me of sexual assault—”
“I didn’t—”
“No one in town wanted anything to do with her. She had to be homeschooled. She still got the grades to go to colleges, but Luke’s parents, they paid people to make sure no one would ever accept her into a good college. Money speaks, and me being Luke’s friend, they wanted to help. She’s all alone. No one will touch her. Isn’t that right?”