Buttons and Lace (Buttons 1)

His thin hips had the noticeable V shape that I’d seen on underwear models on billboards in Manhattan. Whether he wore a shirt or not, he really was extremely handsome. When I first saw him in the bar, I thought he was a blessing. I thought he represented hope, that there were beautiful and ordinary people in the world. That not all men were maniacal criminals who bought and sold people for profit.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

He approached the house, his jog coming to a brisk walk. He wore black running shorts with black running shoes. He had a thin and toned body, powerful but sleek. It was in direct opposition to his brother, who was burly and bulky. Some of their facial features were the same. I knew they were brothers the second I was in their captivity.

He reached the lawn and walked past my window as he headed to the front of the house. His head turned my way, either because he expected me to be there or he wanted to look for his own reasons. His eyes found mine, and he stopped walking altogether. He stood still, staring at me.

I’d been caught, but I didn’t look away. I stared down at him, trying to figure out this enigma who held me prisoner. He threatened to rape and hurt me, but when he attempted to make good on his word, he didn’t follow through. He protected me from his men and his brother, bringing me to this beautiful mansion surrounded by vineyards. And when his brother tied me up and tried to rape me, he protected me. He could have just turned a blind eye or let it happen.

But he didn’t.

He kissed me last night. It wasn’t the aggressive kind that Bones gave me, where he shoved his tongue in my mouth without having a clue what to do with it. This was unusually gentle—even fragile.

My lips automatically moved against his. I didn’t think twice about it. It just happened. But when I realized what I was doing, I pulled away. This man was a psychopath—why the hell was I kissing him?

He threatened to keep his promise to his brother—that he would make me black and blue. He said he would rape me, take me however he wanted. But those threats didn’t mean as much as they did when I first came here. Three times he’d done something to help me.

Maybe he wasn’t as evil as I thought.

He held my gaze with intensity, not blinking despite the sun hitting him right in the eyes. It made the green color of his eyes brighten, like the lush grass of his lawn.

I wanted to walk away, but I was glued to the spot, infatuated by his appearance. His strong body still glistened with sweat. In the back of my mind, in a very dark place, I wondered how it would taste.

Without warning, he walked back to the house like he hadn’t spotted me at all. His powerful body had the most beautiful complexion. It was fair, pale like mine, but it was flawless. He didn’t have tan lines along his arms like most people did. Perhaps because he wore a suit when he left the house.

When he was out of sight, I walked into my bathroom and got ready for breakfast. Lars usually brought me a tray that I enjoyed in private. But I was tired of being cooped up in the room. I was in a beautiful mansion but hadn’t seen much of it.

***

Crow had finished half his breakfast when I walked inside the dining hall. He wasn’t sweaty and shirtless anymore. Now he wore a black suit and a yellow tie. The collared shirt underneath was a beautiful teal color. Despite the vivid colors he wore, he made the outfit even more masculine.

I took a seat and looked at him across the table.

He still held his newspaper with one hand, but his eyes drifted to my face to greet me silently. He gave me a single look before he turned back to the paper. He still didn’t want to be disturbed during his morning meal.

I didn’t have anything to say anyway.

Lars brought my breakfast, an Italian delicacy that featured grape tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil. He also brought a side of fruit, mixed berries and bananas.

“Thank you.”

“Of course, m’lady.” He gave me a sweet smile before he walked away. Lars was the first man I met on this adventure who didn’t seem cruel. When he looked at me, he saw a person, not an object.

Crow dropped his paper. “What’s your name?”

The intrusive question came out of nowhere.

“I’m sure Lars would like to know how to address you.”

“M’lady is fine,” I said. “I didn’t think anyone spoke like that anymore.”

“I can have him call you slave, if you prefer.”