The study was a sanctuary of knowledge, its walls lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that seemed to stretch into infinity. I ran my fingers over the spines of the books, feeling the smooth leather and rough fabric beneath my fingertips. The scent of old paper and ink filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of polished wood and leather-bound volumes.
“Make yourself at home,” the guard said gruffly, leaning against the doorframe. “Lunch will be served to you in here later.” His tone was dismissive, but I could have sworn I detected a hint of pity in his demeanor.
“Can I ask you something?” I put some space between us and turned to face the huge man.
He sighed, clearly exasperated. “What is it?”
“Who is my captor? What does he want from me?”
He simply glared at me.
“Can you at least tell me if my mother is okay?” I swallowed hard, anxiety gnawing at my insides. The image of her pale, terrified face flashed through my mind.
“Your mother is going to be fine,” he answered, and there was a ring of honesty to his words.
“Thank you.” Relief washed over me like a cool ocean wave. At least she was safe…for the time being. How long would thatlast if I didn’t find a way out of here? How long could any of us hold on to hope?
“Now, quit asking questions.” His patience was obviously wearing thin. “Just enjoy your time here while you can.”
With that, he closed the door, leaving me alone in the vast room. I swallowed hard, trying to tamp down my growing frustration and fear. If I wanted to escape this place, I needed to gather information, and fast. If the guard wouldn’t tell me anything, maybe I’d find some clues among these books.
I wandered through the rows of shelves, scanning the titles as I searched for anything that might provide insight into my captor’s motives. There were volumes on history, politics, science, art, and even a shelf dedicated to rare, ancient texts written in languages I couldn’t begin to decipher. My captor had eclectic tastes, but what did any of it have to do with me?
As I continued my search, I became increasingly aware of the silence enveloping me. It was almost suffocating, pressing in on me from all sides. Without the guard’s presence, I felt vulnerable, exposed, and more determined than ever to find a way out.
Ignoring the books, I paced the length of the room. What did I know about this man? What could he possibly want with me?
My thoughts raced in circles as I racked my brain for any shred of information that might help me understand my situation. All I had to go on was the voice in my head that seemed to know everything about me, yet remained infuriatingly elusive.
I sighed, my predicament bearing down on me like a heavy stone. It was no use. I was trapped here, with nothing but miles of trees and an enigmatic captor standing between me and freedom.
I had a nagging feeling I was being watched. I scanned the room for any sign of cameras. It didn’t take long for me to spotthe small, unassuming devices tucked away in the corners of the room.
“Great, just great,” I said under my breath. I was a bird in a cage, trapped and monitored every second of the day.
The large bookshelves lining the walls caught my attention. I went back to looking at the books. One stood out among the rest:The Dark History of Sex Toys.Curiosity piqued, I pulled it from the shelf and started flipping through the pages.
Holy fucking shit. I couldn’t believe a book like this even existed. My gaze stayed glued to the detailed illustrations and descriptions as I imagined Ty and me using some of these toys. After the dream I had, I was still horny, and this book wasn’t helping at all.
“Focus,” I admonished myself, forcing my thoughts back to the task at hand. I couldn’t afford to get distracted by my stupid sex drive right now. There was too much at stake.
Footsteps approached the door, and I quickly shoved the book back onto the shelf, trying to act casual as the lock clicked and the door opened.
“Here’s your lunch,” a female voice said, cutting through my anxious thoughts.
I turned to see the same woman from before—the one I’d bowled over in the hallway. She looked even smaller and more fragile up close. Darn it. I didn’t want to feel guilty on top of everything else.
“Thank you. I’m sorry about yesterday, by the way. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
She gave me a small smile and nodded, setting the tray down on a nearby table. “It’s okay. I understand. I just hope that one day you’ll see the master is a good man.”
Her words caught me off guard.The master?Did she really believe that? Was she a captive too, or was there something more going on here?
My curiosity got the better of me. “Are you a captive as well?”
She looked genuinely shocked at my question. “No. The master saved my life. I owe him a great debt.”
My eyebrows knitted together as I tried to make sense of her words. Was she truly happy to be here, serving this man who was holding me against my will?
