27. Scarlet
Chapter 27
Scarlet
I can feel my heartbeat in my temples, like a drummer attempting to crack my skull from the inside. I roll over, burying my face into my pillow, blocking out the light. Matthias’s fresh scent has memories flashing back.
The way my body responded to Matthias, craving more from him, has mortification rippling through me. Tears burn at the back of my eyes. I’d let him closer than anyone else. He freaking drugged me! How could I have been so naive after all this time? He’s shown me repeatedly that he’s more than happy to leave me wanting.
I rub the sore circle where the handcuffs had been. At some point during the night, he must have come in and taken them off. The thought infuriates me, and I groan and toss the pillow across the room, a Tiffany lamp wobbling on its base. I’m off the bed just in time to save it. The colored glass panes in flower motifs are gorgeous, and it would’ve been such a shame for it to drop. Now that I’m up, what I can only guess is one of Matthias’s shirts hangs around my thighs, engulfing me. It feels like he’s claiming me, and I want to rip it off to show him just how wrong he is.
Except my search reveals there’s no other change of clothes, and there is no freaking way I’m leaving this room naked.
Carefully, I crack the door open, unsure of what’s outside. I suck in a breath as I walk into a paneled hall with warm woods and detailed wallpaper. Large windows fill the space with light; it feels like something from a magazine. I trail my fingers along the windowsill, looking for the crank to open it. There are multiple ways to escape a building, but windows are by far the easiest way out.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” I nearly jump out of my skin, like a spooked cat, when Matthias approaches from the other end of the hall. A shiver runs along my skin at the sight of him. His hair is messy like he just woke up. He’s wearing a soft black shirt and gray sweatpants that hang low on his hips. I swallow hard, taking him in. He’s broad and looks so adorably rumpled that it doesn’t fit with reality. It’s like instead of kidnapping me, I’m waking up in an alternate timeline where he’s waiting for me. The way I want to wrap my arms around him and press my nose into his chest, breathing him in, scares the crap out of me. This isn’t how I should be thinking about my captor.
I’m normally smarter than this. Hell, I’d killed the men who’d tried to get away with it last night. So why do I feel so warm and fuzzy with his gaze on me now?
“And why not?” I cross my arms and lift my head high. There’s no reason he needs to know I’ve truly gone insane.
“I have men stationed around the house.”
“To lock me in?” Why does my chest hurt?
“To keep you safe.” He rakes his hand through his dark hair, managing to make himself even sexier. “You’ll find each exit point is locked.”
“What—”
“Just until you accept that you live here now.”
“That’s never going to happen,” I scream at him, a simmering heat curling in my stomach. The audacity.
He shrugs like he’s not keeping me hostage. “And that’s exactly why they’re locked.”
Matthias steps closer and reaches for my hand, but I rip it away from him. I hadn’t realized I’d let it drop to my side.
“Don’t you dare touch me.”
His eyes cast down and look to the side as his throat bobs. “You’re safe. Just come with me. There’s hot coffee for you.”
“I’ll pass.” I turn back, hoping there’s a lock on the bedroom, but I’m stopped by his wide hands gripping my waist.
I’m lifted and thrown over Matthias’s wide shoulder.
“Let me go!” I slam my fist into his back and squirm in his hold.
He grunts, arm binding me harder. “Be good, or I may drop you.”
“That’s exactly the point, asshole.”
“Relax. I’m just taking you to the kitchen.”
As he says it, we enter a light-filled space. There are windows lining the entire end of the wall, nothing but grass for what looks like miles except for a giant oak tree with a tire swing hanging off it. It’s surreal how pretty it is.
He lowers me to my feet. I turn toward the room, and my mouth falls open. It’s styled in a modernized French country. The kitchen takes up the other side of the space, with long marble counters. The oven is an eggshell blue with silver and gold accents. I’ve never lacked for money, but this is an entirely new level. I can’t even imagine who designed this. It’s so freaking pretty.
“Close your mouth. You’re drooling.” Matthias knocks his curled finger under my chin, and I snap my lips shut.
He’s so close, his shirt brushing against my hand. My instincts are failing me because rationally, I know I should pull away, but all I want is to move closer. I turn my head into him as he leans down, our lips nearly touching. Deep brown eyes swallow mine as we breathe in each other’s air. I lift onto my toes, my lips grazing his, before he’s the one that steps back.
Mortification has my fists clenching and my arms wrapping around myself in protection. It should’ve been me that put space between us.
He’s already turned and walking into the kitchen by the time I get my thoughts together.
I approach the counter cautiously, the smell of bacon making my stomach growl.
“Sit.”
“No, thank you.”
“Why do you have to fight everything I say?” He slides a coffee toward me, and I look at it dubiously.
He chuckles, a small grin pulling at his lips. “If anyone here should be worried about being poisoned, it’s me.”
My head still hurts, and my brain is still foggy. Actually, that’s probably why I’m acting like a fool. I lift the coffee to my mouth, surprised that it’s exactly how I make it. I refuse to let on that I’ve noticed. No reason for him to see that he’s impacted me in any way. He’s playing a game that I don’t know the rules of.
I lower the cup too hard, hot liquid sloshing over the side as the ceramic connects with the counter with a loud clack.
“Woah, careful.” Matthias reaches out, pulling my hand toward him across the counter and under cold water from the tap.
I jerk it back, narrowing my eyes. I need answers, and I need them now. “What the hell were you thinking?”
He leans forward, hands planted in front of him. “I had to do something. You’ve been so stubborn these past few days that you left yourself wide open to be kidnapped. I’m done playing it your way. You may be fine getting yourself killed, but I’m not.”
“You were so afraid I’d get taken that you kidnapped me yourself? That doesn’t make any sense, Matthias.”
A low growl escapes his throat. “I can’t kidnap what’s already mine.”
“You are nuts.”
“I’ve never said I wasn’t. Now, eat.” He hands me a plate. There’s a cheese omelet, bacon, and hash browns.
My mouth is already watering, and I haven’t even taken a bite.
“You’ll feel better once you get some food into you. You’ve been asleep for nearly two days.” He slides over a fork and knife.
I suck in a quiet breath as my hand wraps around the knife. Never in a million years did I think he’d hand me one. I slide my thumb over it and frown when it’s completely dull.
“You daydreaming about killing me, Little Sparrow?” Matthias’s smirk fills me with heat, which I do my best to ignore.
I stab my eggs with my fork and chew, ignoring his question. I haven’t figured out how I feel about any of this.
The central air clicks on, and I rub my arms against the chill, my fingers catching on a Band-Aid.
My brows scrunch together as I gently peel it back. There is a half-inch vertical incision held together with surgical tape.
I glare at him. “What the hell did you do to me?”
“It’s a tracker.”
“You cannot be serious.”
“I’m so fucking serious. You attract trouble like a magnet.”
Fire licks under my skin as I process it all, and I stand from the table, not stopping myself from lifting my plate and throwing it at his head.
He’s barely able to dodge it, and it crashes against the wood cabinet. It would be a shame if it left a dent.
Matthias wipes a bit of egg from where it landed on his cheek and smiles. “You missed.”
I clench my teeth together and form a fist, my entire body trembling. “You are such an asshole!”
“I’m happy to be your asshole for now.”
For now? What does that even mean?
I turn on the spot, tension still pulling my shoulders together, and march to the bedroom I woke up in. I need to get as far away from this man as I can.
There’s a lock on the bathroom door, and I sigh in relief. This is probably the most privacy I’m going to get. The room’s large. A white soaker tub rests in front of a window overlooking a field. The windows are tinted for privacy, but it doesn’t hinder the view. The shower’s just as luxurious. I slide my hand behind the floor-to-ceiling glass door and twist the water on. Slowly, the steam fills the space, trapped inside its cage. It feels like every single one of my muscles ache, so I slip off my borrowed shirt and step under the water, letting it seep into my skin until my body finally relaxes.
He can’t keep me here forever. Eventually, someone will notice I’m missing. Right?
I don’t have a lot of close friends, but I do have a boss. Not to mention, Misty would notice. A knot forms in my stomach because she may already know and let this happen to begin with.
If I don’t stop thinking about this, my thoughts are going to drive me insane, and the only thing I should be concentrating on is getting out of here.
The shelf is lined with bottles, and I swallow hard when I realize they are all the same as mine. Same shampoo, same conditioner. I look through the glass at the vanity and spot the same toothpaste and the style of toothbrush I like.
There must be something wrong with me because that screams red flag, but instead, my heart is pounding in my chest that this man took the time to care.
I get out of the shower, disappointed in myself, as I wipe myself down and enter the bedroom.
Matthias is there, leaning against the doorway. He’s cleaned up, wearing a black suit that wraps around his wide shoulders and narrows at his waist. His jacket’s undone, revealing where his white dress shirt skims his abs. Why does he have to look so good? I internally groan, forcing myself to look away from his chest. There’s a soft white dress in his hand.
“I’m not wearing anything you give me.”
He tosses it on the bed.
“Then you’ll be getting married naked.”