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Reaching into the bag with trembling fingers, her heartbeat raced as she freed her phonefrom its confines and pushed the power button on the side. Although its screen was shattered, the rest of it seemed perfectly fine. She prayed to God that the battery still had some juice left.

“Come on...come on...come on,” she repeated as she waited for the white logo to appear on the screen.

After what seemed like an eternity, she squealed in excitement as her phone sprung to life with twenty-two percent left of its battery. Without thinking, she scrolled through her contacts and immediately tapped her finger against Leo’s name. Holding her cell to her ear, she choked back tears as her phone connected to her network. After the second ring however, her heart sank when she was sent directly to Leo’s voicemail.

No, No, NO!! ANSWER, DAMMIT!!her mind screamed.

Swallowing her heart back into her body, Lexi’s thin form shook as she listened to Leo’s voicemail message. She couldn’t believe her shitty luck. This could be her only opportunity to be saved and her former lover was sending her to voicemail. He must really hate her.

Finally hearing the cue to start her message, she took in a breath. With her stomach twisting into tight knots, she spat out a stream of words that she hoped made sense.

“LEO!! Help me! Please! I’ve been taken...I don’t know where I am... I’m scared! PLEASE,PLEASEI need your help! He’s going to kill me. I know he is! He’s going to—"

Before she had a chance to finish her sentence, a loud“thud”came from somewhere above her head. Knowing that her captor had returned home, she abruptly ended the call. Frantically hitting the power button, she slipped her cell back into its bag and gathered all the objects from the floor. Stuffing them back into the shoebox, she felt her adrenaline spike. Throwing the box into the drawer, she haphazardly covered the cardboard with her clothes.

Shit, shit, SHIT,she thought as she slammed the drawer shut.

Needing to be as far away from the dresser as possible, she ran over to the bed and jumped on the soft mattress. Situating her body into a relaxed position, she tried her best to calm her screaming nerves. Painting a happy look on her face, she prayed that her captor wouldn’t know what she had just done.

“I’m back, Sweetheart, and I come bearing gifts!” Kade’s loud voice boomed as he made his way into the secured bunker.

Walking through the opened door of his room with a black backpack swung over his shoulder, he lifted a white paper bag held in his right hand. Settling his dark eyes on his love, he stopped dead in his tracks. He couldn’t believe how beautiful she looked lounging on his bed. She was right where she belonged.

“I knew that would look amazing on you,” he said, referring to the floral silk teddy hugging her slim body. “You’re so gorgeous.”

Smiling innocently at her abductor, Lexi dropped her eye line to the bed in an act of faux modesty. She couldn’t believe he thought she was beautiful in her current state. She looked like a hideous beast that had just gone through hell and back.

“Thank you,” she replied softly, trying her best to still her shaking muscles.

Clearing the space to the bed, he reached down to cup her face with his free hand. Encouraging her to meet his gaze, he gently swiped the pad of his thumb across her lower lip. He couldn’t wait to put her lips to good use, but knew she needed to eat before he ravished her again.

“I know you must be hungry, Sweetheart” he said, giving her a swift kiss on the forehead. “So, I went and got you that bagel sandwich from Clyde’s deli I know you love so much.”

Hearing her stomach growl, she eagerly took the white paper back from him and quickly opened it. Almost at once, her mouth began to water as the smell of toasted meat and cheese filled her nostrils. Reaching inside the bag, she pulled out the sandwich and unwrapped just enough of it to sink her teeth into. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been this hungry. It was as if she hadn’t eaten in days.

“Mmmmm,”she moaned happily.

Humored by the way his love shoved her sandwich into her mouth, he unslung the backpack from his shoulder and dropped it to the mattress. Unzipping the satchel, he reached in and retrieved her hairbrush from the bag. Giving her a pleased smile, he moved to slink his large form behind hers on the bed.

“Good?” he asked, leaning down to kiss her bare shoulder.

Swallowing her bite of food, she glanced back and nodded. Confusion wracked her mind as she felt him begin to combherbrush through her wet hair. So that’s where he went?

“Mmhm, very good, thank you,” she replied, psyching herself up to start a conversation with him. “So where did you go? It was weird not having you here. I missed you.”

Running the bristles through her chestnut locks, he let out a sigh. Knowing that she had missed him was a dagger to the chest. He didn’t want to leave her this morning but sadly, his obligation took precedence.

“I had a job I needed to take care of, my love. I tried to get out of it, but I was the only one that could handle the situation...but since I was out, I figured I would stop by your old place and get some of your things on my way home. I tried to be as fast as I could...anyways, hey. I feel like I owe you an apology. I’m sorry I was so rough with you last night, Sweetheart. I just couldn’t help myself. How are you feeling?”

Closing her eyes, she shivered as the memory of their carnal coupling filled her mind. He was a complete animal the last time she saw him, it was in stark contrast to the tender man now brushing the tangles from her hair. Maybe there was still some good in him, after all? Perhaps he really did love her?

“Sore,” she answered honestly.

Setting the brush down upon the square nightstand, Kade reached around his love and hugged her tightly against his chest. He hated the fact that he had hurt her, but it was so hard for him to keep the beast at bay. He needed to try harder, though. She deserved to be loved and loved well.

“I’m so sorry. I’ll try to be more gentle next time,” he said, nuzzling his full lips against the crown of her head. “It looks like you took your pill. Good girl.”

Taking another bite of her delicious sandwich, she mumbled a reply and focused her eyes on the foot of the bed. She suddenly felt guilty for not taking the damn thing.

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