Total pages in book: 260
Estimated words: 245483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1227(@200wpm)___ 982(@250wpm)___ 818(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 245483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1227(@200wpm)___ 982(@250wpm)___ 818(@300wpm)
Make her mine.
I feel newly energized, but my problems haven’t changed. I need a new tactic, something to gain her trust.
She can’t resist me forever. Hell, she doesn’t want to.
I get up and walk into my main room, a plan already beginning to take shape in my mind.
I press my thumb against the scanner and the door opens. I step inside, my heart quickening the way it does every time I come near her. I slide sideways, carrying the chalkboard and the chalk in my hands.
She looks up at me, that gorgeous face almost openly curious. I walk toward her and she backs off, but I catch the look of desire. She can’t hide it from me, not this time.
“Hello princess,” I say, smiling. She watches me as I set up the chalkboard on top of the table facing her cage. I leave and grab a clock from outside before returning with it. I set up the clock next to the board and look back at her.
She’s watching me closely. I want to walk into that cage and pull her out by her ankle and take her right here and now, but I won’t. I can't do that to my princess, not until she’s begging for it.
“Do you know what this is?” I ask her.
She watches me silently.
She looks thin and exhausted. I also know that she just needs to eat and sleep. The stress of the situation is making her feel ill.
“It’s a chalkboard,” I say. I write a time on the board: eight in the morning. I write another one down: six in the evening. I write two more times: nine in the evening, and one in the morning. She watches me the whole time, unmoving, quiet as a mouse.
“I’m changing the rules of the game, just a little bit,” I say. “On this board are a list of times. Starting at each time, you have one hour to leave the cage. I will not enter this room, and I will not touch you.”
She remains silent, but I can tell she’s listening intently. She moves closer to me, closer to the entrance to the cage.
“You can do whatever you want during this hour,” I say. “Sleep, shower, whatever you desire. If you’re good, I’ll give you more time. Maybe even a few hours at night so that you can sleep.” I pause and smile at her. “But only if you’re good.”
“How do I know you’re not lying?”
Her sudden speech surprises me. I stare at her for a second, feeling like I imagined it, but no, she definitely spoke.
“Have I lied to you yet?” I ask.
“No,” she says.
“No, I haven’t. And I’m not lying to you now.” I crouch down in front of the cage and watch her, eyes hard. “I can come into that cage any time I want, but I don’t, because I made you a promise. I will keep my promises to you, princess. I’ll never break them.”
She stares at me, but says nothing. At least she isn’t recoiling away from me like she normally does.
Emboldened, I stand up and leave the room. Out in the kitchen, I get her meal together: a delicious soup, some freshly baked bread, and a tall glass of lemonade. I carry it on a tray back into the room and place it down on the table.
She watches the food, her eyes wide. I can tell that she wants it, and wants it badly. I've always given her food, but I’m a bastard. It’s been mediocre and only there for nourishment. This is a treat. And she knows it.
“Come here, princess,” I say softly. I crouch down near the cage’s entrance again. “Let me hold you. Let me feed you.”
“No,” she says softly.
“Come,” I say. “You’ll be safe. I’ll take care of you if you come out. I promise I’ll only feed you this time.” I’m hoping this time she’ll give in. She’ll crack, and whatever held her back before won’t sneak up again this time.
She stares at me and moves closer to the entrance. Hope blooms in my chest. She’s considering it. She looks me up and down with her brows drawn together. “Promise me?”
“I promise,” I say. “I want to hold you and feed you. Come here.” I hold out my hand.
She slides closer, close enough to touch. I reach in and gently take her hand.
My heart begins to pound in my chest. She’s finally letting me touch her. I pull her toward me, being as careful as I can, but I see pain on her face. I frown, surprised.
I didn’t think she was actually sick. But as I pull her out, I realize she’s burning up.
She has a fever.
“How do you feel?” I ask her as I carry her in my arms to the table. I try to control my expression, but I’m worried. I didn’t feel a fever two days ago. This is new.