Page 16 of Not Another Dark Romance

“Piet, behind me, so I can pet you,” I tell him, wiggling my fingers, but, as usual, he doesn’t listen. Instead, he drops down at my feet, unfazed that a strange man picked him up and brought him to a basement where his owner is tied to a chair. I look up at Zane. “This is cruel, you know? You could at least unhandcuff me so I could properly say hello to my dog who was all alone for hours because of you.”

“No.” Zane gives me a pointed stare and shakes his head. “I’m already being nice by letting you see your dog before I kill you.”

I snort a laugh. “We both know you’re not going to kill me.”

“Yes, I am,” he scoffs as though I’ve offended him, but it’s not really selling it for me.

He’s doing a terrible job of convincing me that this isn’t part of some crazy, elaborate hookup. He bought dildos for fuck’s sake. What’s his plan with those? Obviously they’re going up someone’s ass. I vote mine. God, I’m going to get hard again just from thinking about this fantasy.

“Do you think you could unzip your sweatshirt again for me? Or put the mask back on? Or preferably both? It’s only fair if you’re going to keep me tied up down here that you give me something pretty to look at.”

Zane glares at me. “Something is seriously wrong with you.”

“Hey, it’s your fault for kidnapping me without stalking me first to know what kind of person I am,” I tease. “That’s kidnapping 101.”

“Whatever,” he sighs. “So what’s your deal? Is anyone expecting you tomorrow? What’s your job? Are you in a relationship? Nosy parents who you talk to every day?”

“Well, I…” I trail off, attempting to answer him, but wow, when he puts it all out there like that, my life seems even more pathetic than I’d previously been wallowing about.

“I have your phone so I can go through it to confirm. But I only just started charging it, so it’ll be easier if you just tell me,” he pushes, like maybe I didn’t finish because I don’t want to tell him and not because the answer is so sad.

“Sorry. I kind of realized that no one will notice I’m gone, so I was having a silent little pity party.”

He doesn’t look like he believes me. “No one?”

“I’m an artist,” I explain. “I rarely take commissions, and I don’t have anyone currently waiting on anything, so no one to report to there. I mostly post what I make on socials, and occasionally, I’ll sell smaller pieces in a booth at the art fair downtown, but that was only a few days ago.”

“What if you don’t post on socials?”

“People will assume I’m working on a new collection.” I shrug the best I can while still restrained. “Sometimes I go weeks without posting anything before I offer up a bunch at once.”

“No partner?”

I roll my eyes. “Did you not hear me offering myself to you on a silver platter? I’m very single. Unless you’d like to change that?”

“And your parents? Any other family?” he pushes, completely ignoring my advances. He’s so rude. It’s so hot.

“Just my parents. We aren’t close. They’re older and aren’t the best with technology, so they rarely call. They also hate the city, so they never visit.”

“This is way too convenient,” he mutters, almost too quietly for me to hear. “What about your friends? Do I need to cancel any plans you have?”

“Do we need to continue focusing on what a loser I am? Or can we skip to the part where you take your pants off?” I tease, trying to focus on something more fun than my nonexistent social life.

He shakes his head, once again refusing to acknowledge my great ideas. “I need to try to sleep. I have shit I need to do early in the morning, so just stay there, and I’ll deal with you when I get back.”

“Wait!” I shout because there are so many things we need to talk about logistically. “What about when I have to go to the bathroom? Or when Piet does? Did you at least get his dog bed? He’ll need some water and food too. You could make it easier, and we could all just sleep in your bed together.”

“You’re not sleeping in my bed,” Zane shouts before he composes himself, hopefully thinking through the other questions because I’d love to take a piss before I attempt to sleep in this uncomfortable chair.

He says nothing else as he turns to head upstairs, leaving Piet and me alone in the basement.

“Well, I guess we’re holding it tonight, huh? Actually, you probably got to go already, didn’t you?”

Piet neither confirms nor denies as I hear Zane bashing around upstairs. His bedtime routine sounds intense.

A moment later, his footsteps descend back down the stairs, and I sigh in relief at the bucket he’s holding. He sets it down then walks over to me, tugging at the belt across my chest. “I’m going to help you up, so you can pee in that bucket. Pete already went.”

“I knew it, you lucky dog.” I chuckle as Zane unstraps the belt and helps bring my arms over the back of the chair as he pulls me up to stand. The pain in my skull returns, and I wince as I sway in place, a little dizzy.