Page 133 of Don't Leave Me

“Yes,” I said quietly, feeling like my heart was broken. “I’m with him right now,” I went on. “I left a few hours ago. I just sent Michael an email. I couldn’t do it face to face.”

Emily sighed loudly. “Hana, I’m so sorry. I completely get it though. Michael was great and all, but the whole dominant/submissive thing? That was just…I don’t know. It didn’t seem like you. I mean, I love Michael but…you had to ask him to go out with me when you weremisbehaving?It was a little much,”she laughed, but inside I was melting, my insides and face on fire.

I had to think quickly. “Um, yeah…yeah, you’re right. It was too much. It just wasn’t healthy,” I responded, desperately wanting to disappear and reappear in Michael’s arms.

I finally looked up at Jack and his eyebrow were raised, his face completely shocked.

“And Jack is just like, so in love with you. He worships the ground you walk on,” she laughed. “I mean, like…obsessed.”

I couldn’t help but laugh – perhaps to avoid completely breaking down again. “Yeah,” I agreed, the whole situation completely beyond my comprehension at the moment.

Emily sighed again. “Well, look. I love you, and I support you. Do what makes your heart happy.” I could hear a smile in her voice.

“Thank you, Emily,” I responded quickly, wanting this conversation to be over.

“And let’s all get together this week. We can have our first double date!” she beamed.

I looked up at Jack. He was smiling and nodding.

“That would be great, Em. I love you,” I replied, tears forming in my eyes again.

“Love you banana. Bye!”

I gulped and rested my head against the wall behind me. I was exhausted.

“Hana banana. You’ve got a lot to tell me,” Jack said with amusement.

* * *

“You did wonderfully, Hana. Please stop crying,” Jack said with a soothing tone.

My eyes were clenched shut but there were still tears streaming down my face. I did not want to tell Jack about mine and Michael’s relationship. That was more torture than being tied up; I wasusedto being tied up, albeit under different circumstances.

“Here, look, Han. I’m going to release your hands. I want you to be comfortable. I love you,” I heard Jack get up from the bed beside me and walk away.

I finally opened my eyes and immediately stopped crying. My head was pounding. I was probably dehydrated from the loss of water from my body. I didn’t even feel hopeful about Jack untying me – he was probably going to restrain me some other way.

He reappeared with scissors and held them up to me. “See, I’m going to let you loose,” he raised his eyebrows at me.

I just blinked at him.

“I’ll let you get cleaned up. We’ll have some dinner, and we’ll talk,” he went on, waiting for a response from me.

He looked like the old Jack again, the Jack that I knew. His eyes were sweet and his smile kind. I suddenly felt just a twinge of hope deep in my belly.What if I can convince him to let me go? What if I can convince him that I do want him, that I don’t want to be with Michael? Maybe I can twist this around some way…

“Thank you,” I smiled up at him.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. But I just want to remind you…if you try to escape in any way, that there will be consequences,” he replied, his voice deep.

I nodded. I tried to keep picturing him as the sweet, boyish Jack that I knew.

“Not that you could escape. The doors are locked from the inside, and only I have a key,” he smiled sinisterly, then proceeded to kneel beside me with the scissors.

Panic started to arise again, but soon enough, my hands were cut loose and I immediately brought them in front of me, rubbing each wrist with the other hand. Jack stood beside me, the scissors still in his hand, probably ready for me to lunge at him.

“Can I use the restroom?” I asked sweetly, looking up at him with wide eyes.

“Yes, darling. You know where it is,” he motioned his free hand out towards the bathroom.

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