Page 160 of Whispers and Wildfire

He slid the plate out of the way and gave me another drink of water.

Without meeting his gaze, I shifted on the mattress and fidgeted to make it clear that being tied up was uncomfortable.

“What time is it?” I asked.

“Don’t worry about that.”

Keeping my face lowered, I nodded. “What’s going to happen next?”

He ran a finger down my arm and, as abhorrent as it was, I didn’t flinch away. “It’s hard to keep myself from you.”

Bile burned the back of my throat again.Stay in character. Stay in character.“I’m not ready yet.”

“Yet?”

“I need you to understand, I’ve been through a lot. These last few months have been so hard. I went from one bad relationship to another. I didn’t know how to get out.”

“But that’s the thing, my sweet Melanie. I got you out. I rescued you.”

Nodding again, I slowly lifted my gaze to meet his. “You did.”

“We’re going to leave. I’m going to take you far, far away from here. Once we get there, we can start over. We’ll be together, and you won’t have to worry about anything ever again. You just have to be good for me, and I’ll take care of you.”

“I can be good.”

“I know you can.” He traced his finger along my arm again. “You’ll be my good girl forever.”

Like hell I would. I was nobody’s good girl, least of all his.

Drumming up some silent tears, I let them fall down my cheeks. When he didn’t seem to notice immediately, I sniffed.

“What’s wrong? Are you still hungry?”

I shook my head and kept crying.

“Then what is it?”

“I’m fine.”

His brow furrowed. “You don’t seem fine. You’re crying.”

“I’m fine,” I said again, my tone more insistent, and I twisted my wrists, pulling at the duct tape.

“I don’t understand.”

Time for another outburst.

“This hurts,” I sobbed, thrusting my arms out toward him. “Why are you doing this to me?”

“Melanie.” His tone was stern, but I didn’t miss the hint of doubt in the background. “I can’t let you free yet.”

Twisting away from him, I collapsed onto the mattress and went fetal again. “I thought you wanted to help me. You were supposed to save me, not hurt me like they did.”

“Like who did?”

“My exes. I thought you were supposed to be different, but you’re not.”

“No, Melanie, that’s not what’s happening.”

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