Chapter Twenty-Two
The Puzzle
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W ARM SERENITY ENVELOPED Hannah, belying her dire circumstances.
She was a captive—again—at the hands of one of the same monsters who’d made her life a living hell in the past, yet dozing in that space between being awake and being asleep, she couldn’t bring herself to care.
Or, perhaps, that wasn’t fair? Maybe simmering in that cozy plane where anything seemed possible, she wasn’t even aware of her fate.
The bedding around her was so inviting, and her head felt so heavy.
Wouldn’t it be easier to just pull the covers over her head and stay in that safe place?
Deciding to do just that, she rolled onto one side, vaguely aware that the movement of her hands seemed to be restricted, but pushing the thought from her sleepy mind.
Better that she just went back to sleep for a little longer. Whatever was happening, she’d be in a better position to manage it if she’d had a decent—
The sound of something heavy banging somewhere in the distance spiked her heartbeat, and her eyes flew open of their own accord.
What was that?
The question burst into her brain, followed soon after by where the hell she might be. The white covers swathing her were distinctly unfamiliar, and the paint peeling on the wall by the side of the bed seemed ominous, although she couldn’t say why.
It wasn’t until there was movement in the bed behind her, though, that genuine panic flared inside her.
“Did you hear that?”
The male voice floated from the other side of the bed, her brow furrowing as she recognized it.
Lawes.
Her stomach twisted.
She was in bed with Mark fucking Lawes.
Mouth opening, her eyes squeezed closed as a hundred fragments of memories sliced into her mind. The abduction, the strange little house, the pet bowl, then the mind-blowing orgasm—all of it crashed over her like freezing water.
“Little girl?” Lawes’ tone was terse. “I asked you a question.”
Easing herself into an upright position, she acknowledged she was not only naked, but still bound by the chain running between her cuffed wrists—the same chain he’d used to render her helpless on the back of the door.
“I...” She turned her head toward him as though he was a figment of her imagination and she couldn’t believe her eyes. “I heard it, Mr. Lawes, sir.”
It was odd being in bed with him as though they were a regular couple, yet still being chained and having to refer to the bastard as though he was her superior. She clenched the muscles between her thighs, happy to deny that his authority in any way turned her on.
Giving in to Lawes wouldn’t work. It never had.
Yet somehow, it had felt right to yield to his strength and allow him to take her to the stars.
Staring at his profile, she tried to decide why that was.
Sure, he was handsome, but he was also a menacing fiend who’d repeatedly demonstrated his conniving determination.
What difference did it make if he was good at strumming her body like an instrument? What difference did it make if he seemed to understand her in ways no other man had achieved?
He was still her abductor.
She had to remember that.
“Wait there.”
He was out of the bed, his tight backside on display as he rounded the end of it and strode to the enormous window.
Her breath caught at the sight of him. When did he get naked?
She recalled him being dressed when he’d tormented her at the back of the door, but truth be told, she couldn’t remember much more than that.
Lawes loitered near the window, but she noticed how he didn’t move to touch the weary-looking net curtain hiding him from the outside world.
In the midst of her ordeal, she’d lost all track of time, but muted light spilled in from the panes, suggesting they’d either slept a mighty long time, or, as was more likely, it was still the same day she’d first woken up in the unwelcoming house.
Blowing out what seemed like an irked breath, Lawes’ jaw tightened, the gesture hastening her pulse.
“Is everything okay, sir?”
Thankfully, he’d removed the awful gag from around her neck.
“Shhh.”
He placed his index finger on his lips without peering back at her, the dismissal doing little to quell her growing nerves.
Something must be wrong.
They’d both heard the noise that had jarred her from her sleep, and watching Lawes, something he’d seen had clearly triggered him, although she didn’t know what.
I shouldn’t care.
As if to prove the point, her gaze wandered to the doorway, her only plausible escape.
But the rational part of her brain accepted one door was barely an escape at all.
She didn’t know if the door was unlocked, and even if it was—even if he’d carried her on a wave of lust and had forgotten to secure it behind him—she couldn’t believe he’d been stupid enough to leave the outside exits similarly unsecured.
It wasn’t Lawes’ first gig, after all. He’d captured women before.
Hell, he’d captured Hannah.
“I really wouldn’t, if I were you.” His taunting tone drew her attention back to his face, and flustering, she shook her head.
“I’m not, Mr. Lawes, sir.” Her tone was emphatic. “I just need to use the facilities again.”
“Right.” His timbre remained unconvinced. “Then, you’ll need this back on.”
Striding away from the window, he approached the counter by his side of the bed and reached for the collar she’d been wearing. Whatever had caught his eye outside was seemingly no longer an issue.
“Ready for your collar?” He dangled the black leather and attached leash in front of her.
“Yes, Mr. Lawes, sir.” Her reply was a sigh.
She didn’t want the collar, but she also didn’t want to rile Lawes and provoke an unexpected consequence.
Obliging him would be easier, and if she was lucky, perhaps she could persuade him to offer her more pleasure before she found a way to break free of his grasp.
Certainly, she preferred the sound of that outcome.
She wouldn’t risk doing anything to enflame him.
Lifting her hair, he slid the collar back into place. She waited obediently when he secured the buckle, her gaze darting to the window as he grasped the end of the leash.
“On your knees now.” One click of his fingers saw her moving, her hands and knees hitting the threadbare carpet before he needed to prompt her. “Follow me.”
She scurried behind him as he led her from the room, surprised to see that the door had not been locked. Crawling was just as cumbersome as she remembered, her movement ungainly as he steered her back toward the tired-looking bathroom.
Catching sight of the tub, a dozen sordid recollections returned to haunt her. That had been where he’d chosen to shave her, and behind them was the door he’d fucked her against, yet in the current pale light, the space seemed cold and uninviting.
“Good girl,” he praised, moving to ruffle her hair. “You’re quite the little pet.”
Her focus fell to the disheveled mat beneath her. She tried not to think about how old the weary fabric was or how many other pairs of feet it might have entertained over the years.
“Up on the toilet now.” He lifted the lid and motioned for her to move. Watching as she climbed slowly from her knees, he wrapped the end of her leash around the water faucet of the bathtub. “I’ll wait by the door. Don’t be too long.”
He flashed her a warning glance as he stalked back to the hallway, leaving the door open and standing with his back against the wall.
From where she was perched, she could see the outline of his left arm and shoulder, as well as his left foot.
He’d given her a whiff of privacy, but was still easily in proximity, and even though she despised the humiliation of having to pee while he was in earshot, she was once again struck by his apparent generosity.
The Lawes of old would have had her relieving herself over a pot, and he’d have delighted in her ignominy, but the current iteration of her captor seemed different.
Softer?
She frowned at the unlikely word. Nothing about Lawes was soft, yet she’d witnessed a more tender version of the brute.
The man who’d whipped her into a sexual fervor against the door had wielded both the brutality of the brush and the flawless caresses of his fingers.
Surely, he wouldn’t have bothered to offer her pleasure at all unless he cared for her?
She sensed the crease on her brow deepen.
A man who swept her from the streets to crawl around his house at his beck and call without so much as seeking her opinion on the matter was clearly no Casanova.
She didn’t know why she was elevating him to the status of an affectionate lover.
The complicated man outside was who he’d always been—intent on making her come and interested in inflicting her penance.
“Why am I not hearing any progress in there, little girl?” He glanced back, his expression hard.
“I’m s-sorry.” She shifted on the plastic seat, her face reddening that he’d caught her lost in such a maddening thought.
“You have two minutes.” He scowled as he straightened, and focusing on her bladder, she concentrated on the task at hand.
What did it matter if he heard her pee, anyway? Lawes had seen her in far greater peril and reveled in her utmost denigration. The ability to actually use a toilet was still a privilege as far as being around him was concerned.
“I’m finished, Mr. Lawes, sir.” Turning, she flushed the silver handle of the system. “Please, may I wash my hands?”
Spinning to face her, his lips curled, though it was the rest of his honed physique that her gaze traveled to. His body was covered in taut muscles and a little dark hair. He was far too tempting for her own good.
“You may,” he agreed. “Let me help you with that leash.”
Walking toward her, he released the handle from the faucet and waited while she used the basin.
There was no soap, but that hardly mattered when she’d probably be back on the floor, anyway.
Still, she used the small, musty hand towel, jostling it between her cuffed hands as she waited for his next command.
“Open wide.” He closed the short distance between them with one stride, his impressive frame looming beside her. “Let me see what’s happened to those teeth in my absence.”
She hadn’t seen that request coming, but keen not to rile the seemingly content beast currently sleeping inside her captor, she nervously stretched her lips wide.
Reaching for her with one slow hand, he stroked the side of her face while he peered into her open mouth. Her heart stood still while he silently appraised her, her anxiety elevating as she recalled that first time in his chair at the shiny dental practice.
“You’ve had a new filling since I last saw you?” His green eyes glinted with wry amusement. “It’s not a bad job, but I’d have done a better one.”
Her brow rose at his observational skills. After so long, she was surprised he remembered anything about that first check-up he’d given her, let alone what state her teeth had been in. He was once a dentist, though—that much had been revealed in court—so she supposed old habits died hard.
More than anything, though, she couldn’t believe how professional his tone sounded. Standing there naked while holding the end of a leash he’d insisted on her donning, he was commenting on the quality of her dental hygiene as though she were a regular, paying client.
Her breath caught as she nodded to concur.
She had gone for dental work while he’d been serving time, and the professional she’d seen had been far more respectful than he ever was.
Once upon a time, she’d been his paying client, a na?ve young woman who’d wandered into his trap, and she’d paid the price.
In many ways, she was still paying.
“Got over your fear of dentists, did you?” Patting the side of her face with a smirk, he indicated that she could close her mouth, and she wet her lips as she complied.
“I had a lot of therapy, as well as seeing a dentist, sir.”
She met his eyes, oddly unashamed to admit how she’d coped with the aftermath of his devastation. He’d been at least partially responsible for what she’d been put through, so he might as well know how he’d affected her and that she’d been strong enough to contend with his malice.
“Clever girl.” There was an unexpected air of affection in his voice, as if he was genuinely proud of her. “Looking after our teeth is so important.”
He smiled, pressing past her to stand by the sink. Reaching for the mirrored cabinet, he opened the door and pulled out two toothbrushes still in their plastic wrapping.
“And any good dentist will tell you about the importance of consistent brushing.”