Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
The knock comes a few moments later, just as I’m perusing the bookshelf in the room. There are some books I’m interested in and my heart flutters at the thought of being allowed more freedom than I had at the Casa. But even that doesn’t change what Heath did to me, what he put me through. I don’t care that he feels bad about it, now he knows who I am. Nobody should go through what he did to me.
All those thoughts race through my mind as I turn to face the handsome, intoxicating man standing in my doorway.
“Mind if I come in?” he asks in his deep, raspy voice. But instead of waiting for my answer, Heath strides into the room anyway, ignoring my wishes. It quickly becomes apparent he’s still the boss here, and I’ll be forced to do whatever he wants. Just like always, I find myself under a man’s control again. My lips form a thin line as I stare at him.
“You like your new room?” Heath asks, and I just stare back, refusing to give him the satisfaction of an answer. “We bring the good girls here once they prove themselves to us.”
“I’m not a good girl,” I hiss in response. “I’m a captive. You’re holding me here against my will.”
Ignoring my words, he clears his throat and opens the briefcase he brought with him. My eyes widen in fear as I saw the small saw in there.
“Don’t hurt me,” I whisper.
“I won’thurt you.” Heath picks up the saw, weighing it in his hands while my heart races, watching him. “I’m going to help you. Now come here, sit down on the floor for me.”
Reluctantly, I approach him, just because I know if I don’t, he has ways of forcing me to do anything he wants. He takes my hand in his, his thumb gently gliding over the gold cuffs I’ve worn for eight years now.
“I think it’s time we got rid of these, don’t you?” he asks, making my head spin.
The prospect of being free from Xavier’s cruelty fills me with hope, and I nod eagerly. Heath begins to saw through the metal, making me wince in fear. But he’s careful, and minutes later, the sawn-off cuffs fall from my wrists. I’m free for the first time in years.
Heath’s fingertips wander over my now exposed skin. It feels dangerous and darkly enticing to feel his touch on a spot of me that hasn’t been touched in years. I barely hold back my gasp, avoiding his gaze so he won’t realize my true feelings when he caresses me like this.
“Feel better?”
“No,” I hiss in response, instantly pulling my arm out of his reach.
“Don’t be so stubborn, Rain,” he mutters in response. “I’m only trying to help you.”
“If you wanted to help me, you’d get me the hell out of here,” I mutter. “You were happy to abuse me until you realized who I was.”
“It’s my job,” he says. “I have to do this. It’s what I’m hired to do.”
“You’ve changed,” I tell him icily. “The Heath I fell in love with would’ve never done what you did, to anyone, let alone me.”
“You’re in love with me?”
A traitorous flush covers my cheeks, and I shake my head vehemently. “Past tense, Heath. I could never feel anything for a monster like you.”
“We’ll see about that,” he mutters with a sly smile, making me even angrier than I was before. “Now, you must be hungry.”
At the sound of his words, my stomach rumbles, making me blush even harder. I merely nod, too ashamed by the state I’m in to deny it. After all, I’ve been starved for days.
My eyes widen as the doors to my room open and maids walk in carrying plates of food. I eye it all, hungry as ever, but the thought of actually eating makes me feel sick after all the revelations I’ve had today.
Once the help leaves, Heath picks up a bowl of plain oatmeal and a spoon, telling me, “It’s best to start with something easy on your stomach, you don’t want to upset it.”
He scoops up some of the oatmeal and holds the spoon out to me, but I shake my head.
“I can feed myself.”
“Indulge me.”
His eyes burn with dark passion, and I hate myself for succumbing to his wishes. I don’t want to give Heath what he wants, especially after everything he’s ripped away from me. And yet I can’t stop myself. I lean forward, my lips wrapping around the spoon he’s holding for me. I suck off the oatmeal, licking my lips as I hungrily groan at the feeling of food hitting my stomach.
“Good girl,” Heath mutters, making me turn away in disgust.
“I don’t need your fucking praise, Heath.”
“Maybe not,” he shrugs, picking up more food. “But you’d do well to be nice to me. After all, I’m the only one who can help you.”