His Gift

“What’s your name, sweets?” I ask her in a low voice, doing my best to keep my voice even.

“Rose,” she whispers. Just like the rest of her, her voice is intoxicating like a siren who calls to me, she awakes something buried so deep inside of me, I didn’t think it would ever see the light of day. The single word from her lips is the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. Everything about her is alluring, it draws me in, and wraps around me in a way that won’t ever let go. Right then, I know that I have to have her…all of her, and I will make her mine in every way, and in return, I will give myself to her.

2

Rose

I’m so confused. My mind is hazy, almost like smoke has filled my head. Looking around the room, a shiver runs down my spine, both because I’m scared and because I’m freezing. It looks like I’m in some kind of basement. The walls are bare brick, the floor is cracked concrete and there is almost no furniture in here. Only a table and a few chairs.

Where am I? Why am I here? I look down at myself as another shiver ripples through me. Cold. I’m so cold. Then it dawns on me. I’m naked. Why am I naked? Nothing makes sense in my mind, it’s like someone has taken my brain and put it through a food processor.

The only thing that is clear to me is that I’ve never been so scared in my life. Fear ignites deep in my belly. I’m sitting on a man’s lap, a man who is easily three times my size. His forearms are thicker than my legs, his hands huge, his overall body reminding me of a giant.

He holds my chin between his fingers, forcing me to look at him, and I do. His face is handsome but rugged and weathered, all at once. There are many scars, some small and faint, some bigger and new. I’m positive, with the slightest flick of his wrist, he could kill me, and I wouldn’t be able to do a single thing to stop him.

When I look into his eyes, however, I see something I don’t expect to find from a man as dark and brooding as him. Kindness.

“You don’t have to be scared, Rose.” The words come out softly and wrap around me like silk. As if it was easy to just turn the fear off. “I won’t hurt you, and I won’t let anyone else hurt you either.” He runs his hand up and down my back and even though my mind is screaming at me, telling me not to believe him, my body tells me to seek his protection. He drops his hand and before I realize what I’m doing, I lean into him, resting my shoulder against his broad chest.

The warmth of his body crashes into me, making me shiver. I’m so cold, and he’s so warm like my own personal furnace. I do my best to ignore how small, tiny even, I feel in his arms and how huge, almost like a mountain of a man, he is. It wouldn’t take much for him to hurt me, to break my bones, or force himself on me.

He is all rugged, and dangerous, while I’m innocent and naive. We couldn’t be any more different, complete opposites, and yet, there is this weird connection I feel. Some strange bond that I can’t explain. I’m tethered to him, and deep down in my gut, I know that if I’m to get out of this alive, I need to stick by his side.

“I’m cold,” I whine quietly, and he immediately wraps his tree trunk arms around me and tucks me into his chest like I’m a child, engulfing me in his warmth. Against my better judgment, I bury my face into his crisp white shirt and inhale his manly scent. Clean linen and some kind of cologne fills my lungs, the spice of it causes my nose to wrinkle.

“Better?” he asks, peering down at me. I feel like I’m a bug under a microscope being inspected by his gaze.

Unable to make my lips form a response, I nod. For the first time since this nightmare began, I let my body relax into his touch. I let him hold me, protect me, and keep me warm, even if it’s just for a little bit, and a false reality.

Footsteps approach from the hallway, and the man who was comforting me a moment ago, stiffens and pushes me away from his chest. I don’t know what to think, all I feel is confused and hurt by his sudden change in demeanor. I try to get up, unsure if I’m still welcome here or not, but he doesn’t let me. Snaking one strong arm around my waist, he keeps me in place, a deep rumble of disapproval echoing out of his chest.