Chapter 22 Olivia
Olivia
I take Kade’s hand as I step out of the shower. The hot steam with the scent of lavender fills my lungs as I step onto the cold tile floor. It’s so relaxing.
Every night he's done this for I don’t even know how many days now.
It's always the same routine. He feeds me, trains me, bathes me, and then takes me downstairs. He says dinner and the show are for training. But I don’t do anything.
I don’t understand. It’s simple, I obey him.
Always. He’s never pushed me to do anything other than stay beside him.
When we get back to the bedroom, the atmosphere changes.
I get lost in his touch. The heat in his eyes is so intense that I feel alive and vibrant.
He commands me, but not in any way that seems unnatural to our relationship.
Nothing that makes me want to say no. I want everything he gives me.
And he gives me everything I want. I fall asleep feeling safe and warm beside him.
But it’s the same thing every day. Nothing has changed.
He never leaves my side, which I both love and hate. I need the security; this house itself still scares me. Sometimes I feel like Kade’s my bodyguard, and other times he’s my warden.
“Why do you always come in with me? I’m not going to do anything stupid.” I don't know if that's completely true though. Even knowing my freedom is close, I’ve thought about doing something stupid a time or two. But I'd never do it.
The idea that he’s going to let me walk away does strange things to me. I push down the emotions threatening to creep up on me and ignore it. It’s still days away. Possibly more before we leave here, and then who knows if I’ll be able to escape. If not, I’ll have to wait.
The idea of waiting doesn’t make me tense or anxious. It’s a different emotion, one I’m not comfortable exploring. I should want to leave, and I do. But the thought still makes me upset. I want to leave, but I want to bring Kade with me. It doesn't make sense.
Kade chuckles low and deep. Being in the small confines of the bathroom makes it sound even sexier somehow.
“Because I like touching you.” My nipples pebble as I lift my arms for him to wrap a towel around me.
“Tonight,” Kade starts but stops as his forehead pinches. “Tonight you’re going to be on the stage, angel.” He doesn’t look at me as he takes a deep breath.
“What do you think about that?” he asks. I’m surprised he’s asking me my opinion.
“If you think I’m ready, then I’ll be perfect for you. I’ll do the best I can.” I search his face and will him to look at me, and he does.
But there’s a hint of fear there I’ve never seen before.
“You’re different from the others, angel.” Kade sits on the windowsill and pulls me between his legs. “I never should have offered you freedom.”
My heart stills in my chest, and I almost take a step backward.
“No, no, it’s yours. I would have given it to you regardless.” He lowers his nose to mine with his eyes closed. “I made you that promise, and I meant it.”
“I don’t understand.” Why is he saying that?
He stares into my eyes. “You didn’t fight me. Only that once.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
He takes a deep breath. “They’re going to want me to push you, they’re going to want to see that I’m taking you to your limits.”
“Do you trust me?” Kade asks.
I nod my head. I do trust him. I don’t know why, and I know I probably shouldn’t, but I do.
“If I ever put you in a situation you don’t want to be in, I want you to give me a sign, angel.”
My heart’s beating faster and I start questioning if I can do this. “What are you going to do?”
“I can’t tell you, angel. It’s not for me to decide.” What? I don't like that.
“Gabriel gets to pick what’s done on the stage.”
My breathing stills, and my pussy clenches.
Kade arches a brow at me. He grips my hips in both his hands and pulls me close to him. He whispers in the crook of my neck, “That doesn’t upset you, does it?”
I know what he’s really asking, and I’m quick to answer, “I’m yours, and only yours.”
“There’s no doubt in my mind that’s true.”
I don’t know what to say. It feels so wrong to have these desires. It feels like betrayal to even consider admitting it. I open my mouth, but he puts a finger against my lips.
He searches my eyes for a moment before saying, “If you don’t want it, I need you to bite me.”
My eyes widen with surprise. “Hard?”
He shakes his head with a grin. “It doesn’t have to be hard, but it needs to be obvious. They have to see it, angel. But then I can stop it and punish you instead.”
I whisper, “I don’t want to bite you.” I don’t. I don’t want to be punished, and I don’t want to bite him.
“I don’t think it will come to that, but if it does, you have a choice.” Bite me, hit me, scream at me. Do something worthy of being taken away. He gently sets his forehead against mine and kisses the tip of my nose before taking a deep breath.
“Tonight will be hard, but tomorrow may be a little harder.”
“Why?” I ask. I don’t understand. We should be leaving soon. Tonight is the last step, or so I thought. This is just for them to see how well he’s trained me.
“I have a meeting tomorrow, and you’ll have to come.” I nod my head. That doesn’t sound so bad.
“Just know you’ll be safe. Always.” His eyes are sad, and it’s making me worry.
“Kade?” I don’t know what the question is that’s on the tip of my tongue, but whatever it is, it’s hurting my chest.
“It’s alright angel, I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“Is everything going to be okay, Kade?” I get the very strong sense that something’s off.
“You’re going to be fine, I promise you.”
“What about you?” I ask him. Tears prick my eyes when his eyes go sad and he doesn’t respond.
“Even if something happens to me, you’re going to be safe. I made sure of it.” Goosebumps flow down my back and I move away from Kade as he tries to pet my hair.
“You promised me that--” I don’t know how to word this, but if he’s not alright then he’s broken his promise somehow, I know he has.
“Olivia.” Kade’s voice turns hard, and my eyes widen.
My heart beats faster and I instantly lower myself to the floor.
I stay upright on my knees and wait for him to tell me what I did wrong, just like I’ve done in training.
Although I already know this time. The towel pools around my body, exposing my breasts to him.
Before he has a chance to admonish me, I speak the truth. “I’m scared, Kade.”
His hard expression softens, and he sighs. “Come here.”
I walk back into his arms, leaving the towel behind.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.” He kisses my hair. “I tell you too much.”
I shake my head in his chest and reply, “You don’t tell me enough.”
He chuckles, and it eases something inside of me. I pull away from him and look into his eyes as I ask, “We’re going to be okay? After tomorrow, I mean?”
I search his eyes and watch as he answers, “Of course we are. And after that we’re going to leave.”
Through the course of all this, I’ve done nothing but watch Kade as he talks with the other men at dinner. I’ve noticed every small detail in his expressions.
I know when he lies.
And for the first time I can recall, he just lied to me.
I wish I knew which part he was lying about.
If we’re going to be okay, or if we’re going to be leaving.