AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ironically, whenever I’ve felt like this in the past, I’d call Dru. She’d ditch whatever she’s doing and we’d drive out somewhere or take a crazy road trip.
But I’m alone in this.
Jeanne has been nice to me, but I don’t know her or any of these people here.
I’ve been pulled from my world and thrust into the deep end of this one where I’m supposed to just swim.
I know I have to find a way. There’s no question about that because I’m determined to reach the end.
What’s worrying me is the journey and I don’t know what to do about the lack of control I experience when I’m with Malik.
It’s not normal.
None of it is. I can’t explain how I can flip-flop from one emotion to the next for a man I hardly know. If we’d been together for years, I might understand because of the bonds you form with a lifelong partner. But this…
This is crazy.
Last night was insane and what worries me is next time.
What will I do next time he demands my body?
Whatever happens I have to be strong enough to resist him. Last night can’t happen again. If it does, I don’t know if I’d be able to stop my heart from falling deeper into this thing with him.
I wander down the wide corridor with large oil paintings adorning either side of the satin wallpapered walls.
This section is what I would call the quiet side of the house. It's also more private, which is perfect for me right now. It's a kind of ambiance you can get lost in and I can imagine it being purposely built this way so that you could slip in and out without anybody seeing you.
The paintings on the wall are all as exquisite as the rest of the house. All of them are either of old pirate ships or landscapes that look as though they are somewhere in Europe. I'm guessing because of where Malik is from, it's probably the Russian countryside.
The landscape is very green and lush, although I know in parts of Russia it snows. These types of paintings are pretty much the same throughout the house. Yesterday's tour took up about three hours and I saw everywhere except the inside of Malik's office and the garage.
The most prominent thing I noticed was that while there were paintings on the walls, there were no pictures of family members. Not like in the secret room.
I found it odd because at Gram's house, there are so many pictures of our family. I don't know if it's because it's my grandmother why she collected pictures over the years and wanted to see everyone around her, but most people I know are like that.
If memory serves me right, this is the first house I've been in that I have seen no pictures of relatives. It makes me wonder why, especially when there's a room with specific pictures.
When I get to the library, I look around the enormous room. It's beautiful in here. It reminds me of Belle's library in Beauty and the Beast.
The walls and ceiling have that look along with the arrangement of books on the shelves and the stacks. Yesterday, the first shelf I noted was the one carrying all the poetry books.
It surprised me because I didn't expect to find such books in this home. There is an array of books in here. The ones about ships definitely suit Malik, as do the books about engineering and technology, but the poetry stands out.
I make my way to the Elizabeth Barrett Browning collection and pull out a book with a selection of her best poems.
This is Grams’ favorite poet, too. When I visit her at the nursing home, we always read something by her along with Shakespeare or anything by Wordsworth.
Grams and I are miles apart, but whenever I’m reading something she likes on my own, I feel close to her.
I find a spot near the window and sit. There, I allow myself and my mind to drift away into the magic of reading.
A few hours passed by and I've read through nearly the entire book when Jean comes into the library carrying a cup of coffee and a large shopping bag in her hand.
She greets me with that warm smile and I do the same.
"Hi," she says.
"Hey, there." I set the book down.
