Chapter 31 Grace #2
He’s dressed in a dark navy suit cut perfectly to fit his broad shoulders, the color bringing out the red in his eyes.
With a sexy grin, Seven holds his arm out for me to take, and my heart hammers as my hand makes contact.
Never taking his eyes off me, Seven leads me to the elevator, pressing the button for the floor two levels above.
Once the doors open, he leads me down a hallway into what I assume was once a large apartment.
It’s been renovated to look more like a restaurant, with a full kitchen in the back and a white tablecloth-covered dining table in the center of the room.
Candles have been placed around the space, giving it a romantic feel, and the smell wafting from the oven is heavenly.
“Wow,” I whisper. “This is… did you do all this yourself?”
“Of course,” he says, like it’s the simplest thing in the world. “I’ve personally done all the renovations to the building. I wouldn’t trust anyone else to put as much care into it as I would. That, and I have a hard time trusting people in general.”
He pulls out my seat, and I slip into the chair, a shiver running down my neck at the feel of Seven so close to me. He reaches out, brushing my hair over my shoulder, careful not to make direct contact with my skin.
He sits opposite me, offering a wide smile, and I’m struck by how much he reminds me of Archer. Because he is Archer, I tell myself. Or rather, Archer was just a character he was playing to stay close to me.
I lower my eyes to my plate, and my mouth waters at the sight of the roast sitting in front of me. The meat looks cooked to perfection, and there’s a bountiful helping of carrots and potatoes to go along with the tender roast.
“Please. Eat.” Seven gestures to my plate.
Not needing any more convincing, I pick up my fork and devour the delicious meal. We eat in silence for the majority of the time, but I know without looking that Seven’s attention is focused solely on me.
It makes me feel excited and a little scared. I can’t help but think it’s odd how Seven is being so nice after what he’s put me through, and I can’t shake the paranoia that something bad is going to happen.
“You know…” I stab a carrot with my fork. “Saffron is probably looking for me. By now, the police will be, too. Even if they’re not directly looking for me, they’ve been searching high and low for Red 7 ever since you killed the mayor’s son. When they track you down, they’ll find me.”
He stiffens. “They won’t find you. Or me.”
I shrug, placing the carrot in my mouth. Flavor explodes on my tongue, and I resist the urge to moan. “They might. I know we’re still in Moriton, so it’s not like they have to look very far.”
“How do you know we’re in Moriton?”
“I didn’t. But now I do.”
He grins, a dark chuckle shaking his chest as he leans forward. “It doesn’t make a difference. You’re mine, Grace. I don’t want anyone else to have you, to hurt you—and no one will. You’re safe here now, with me.”
“It's a little ironic to say I’m safe when you’re a serial killer.”
His jaw muscle jumps, and his fist curls tighter around the handle of his fork. “I already told you. I have no desire to hurt you—not like that.”
“Just in different ways where I don’t end up dead, right?”
His lips tip in a dark smile, and he seems to relax despite the animalistic glint in his eyes. “It seems like you really want to go back in the cage…”
I swallow hard, the blood draining from my face. “No, wait! I’m done. Look—eating all my veggies, being good like you asked.”
His chest shakes with a silent chuckle, and he goes back to eating his dinner.
I stare at him for a few moments, my heart hammering against my rib cage—so powerfully, I’m sure Seven can hear it.
For a little while, I forgot Seven is not this charming, caring persona he puts on.
He’s still a monster, and if I don’t get out soon, he’ll devour me. Soul, and all.
While he’s not looking, I slide my salad fork up the sleeve of my dress, tucking it away where he won’t notice it.
Just in case I find an opportunity to use it…
When we’re done with dinner, Seven pours me a glass of red wine—my favorite, of course—and busies himself with cleaning the dishes. By the time I’ve finished my glass, he’s at my side, pulling my chair out and helping me to stand.
“I’d like to show you something, if you’re up for it,” he offers, the picture of chivalry.
I can’t imagine what he would want to show me, but I don’t think I really have a choice.
“Okay.” I whisper, allowing him to lead me out of the dining room into the hallway.
He takes me into the elevator once more, and we go up to the floor just above. As he’s leading me down the hallway, I realize I’ve been here before—walking down this same dark red carpet.
The raccoon. This is the apartment I visited when we found the raccoon.
At the realization, my chest fills with hope. I’m closer to Saffron than I thought. With any luck, the police will find me soon, and I can go back home.
“You seem in better spirits.” Seven turns to me with a grin. “Do you remember this place now?”
“Yes.” I try to keep the smile off my face. “We’re going to see the raccoon, right?”
“See for yourself.” Seven stops in front of a familiar door. He pulls it open, and I’m greeted with the sight of the most adorable little raccoon in the world. He looks a lot healthier now—he’s filled out, his hair has come back, and his leg is practically healed.
I look around the space, taking in the hand-built platforms, toys, and enrichment. Zorro has everything he could ever want here, and then some. If it's possible for a raccoon to look happy, this one definitely does.
As I take in the hours of work he put into the room, I’m reminded of how good Seven can be.
Somewhere buried beneath those layers of rage and hate is a good man.
He cares for me—that much is clear. But more than that, he’s willing to go above and beyond to show it.
To be decent to me and the things I care about.
The fork in my sleeve suddenly feels heavy.
I clear my throat, pushing down the wave of emotion. “You did all this for a silly raccoon?”
“I did this for you. Because you wanted it to live. I’m making sure it lives.” He turns to me, his gaze heated. “I’d do anything to see you smile at me, Grace, to give me a fraction of your heart. I’d do anything.”
He leans in, and I don't pull back when he presses his lips to mine. I don't want to.
Seven deepens the kiss, his tongue dancing expertly with mine, and I begin to unravel, to give in to his twisted desires. Overcome with raw desire, I slide my hands up his chest, gripping his T-shirt and pulling him down to me, desperate for more of the pleasure he brings.
But then he touches the collar on my neck, and it brings me crashing back down to earth once more.
What the fuck am I doing? My eyes spring wide, but luckily, Seven is too caught up in the kiss to notice.
Using his distraction to my advantage, I trail my hands lower out of his sight, secretly reaching into my sleeve and wrapping my fingers around the fork I stashed there.
I only have one shot at this. I have to make it count.
I break away from Seven, giving him a seductive grin that I hope is sincere enough to hide my motives. His eyes glaze with lust as I bite my lip, and at the moment his eyes flick down to my mouth, I lunge forward, stabbing the fork into the first body part I’m able.
Instead of flesh, the tip of the fork meets nothing but air. I look down, noticing Seven’s hand wrapped around my wrist, stopping the fork an inch away from his chest.
“That wasn’t very nice, Grace.”
I swallow hard, dread pooling in my gut as Seven pries the fork from my hand, tossing it to the side. His expression is like thunder as he wraps his hands around my waist, pulling me flush against his chest.
“Why would you do something so silly? Now I have to put you back into the cage.” His mouth turns down in a frown, the shadows in his eyes thickening as he stares down at me. “Why, angel? Why did you do it?”
I bare my teeth in a snarl. “Because you’re messed up! I don’t want to be here with you!”
“Liar, liar.” He reaches up, thumbing my bottom lip roughly. “What a shame. It was such a beautiful dress, too.”
“What do you—”
In one violent movement, Seven rips the dress from my body, throwing the tattered pieces of fabric to the ground with an animalistic growl. I try to turn, to run away, but Seven holds me tight, throwing me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing.
“Stop! Put me down!” I pound my fists against his muscular back, but he doesn’t seem to notice. “Put me the fuck down!”
In answer, he smacks my ass so hard that tears well in my eyes. That’s gonna leave a bruise…
Seven stomps into the white room, closing and locking the door behind him. He allows me to touch the ground for a split second before he scoops me into his arms, holding me tight against his chest in the fetal position.
“Stop! I don’t want to go back there!” I try to grab the bars as Seven shoves me inside the cage, but my fighting gets me nowhere, and in the next minute, I’m sitting in the center of the cage, staring at the handsome maniac blocking my exit.
“Let me out, please,” I beg. “I want out, Seven.”
Seven crouches down, his mouth tugging into a cruel smile. “Fine. I’ll let you out if you get on all fours and turn around. Just for five seconds—I’ll even count them out.”
Frowning, I do as he says, turning my backside to him as I crouch on my hands and knees. Seven palms my ass, running his calloused palm over my tortured flesh as he murmurs, “One…”
His hand travels to my pussy, fingertips brushing my slicked entrance. “Two…”
Seven pushes a finger inside me, and I cry out as pleasure ripples through me. “Three…”
Seven pulls his hand away, leaving me empty and wanting—and I let out a pitiful whimper. “Four…”
Something smooth and cool presses against my opening, stretching me past the point of comfort. I jerk forward, but Seven follows, shoving the toy deep inside me. “And five…”
I cry out as the object begins vibrating, pulsing against the spot that drives me wild. My vision tunnels as the buzzing grows stronger, lighting all my nerve endings on fire and sending pleasure rippling throughout my body.
“Fuck!” My head falls back as my orgasm rips through me, the world around me shattering as I come undone. It’s blissful, magical—and then it’s not.
When it’s over, and I come down, I realize the toy is still vibrating deep inside me, and my hands are now bound, strapped to the ceiling of the cage.
I’m completely immobilized, and the toy seems to be vibrating even stronger than it was before.
My body convulses, too sensitive to continue—but Seven’s not giving me a choice.
“S-Seven,” I whine, my head falling back as my pleasure begins to mount. “Seven, please… I can’t. I can’t. Please, you have to—you have to stop it.”
He just laughs, leaning in to caress the side of my flushed face. “I will, angel. As soon as you learn to be good.”
Without another word, he gets up, locks the cage, and leaves without so much as a look back. I’m left screaming for him in the dark—but I’m not sure if it's from hate or desire.