Page 14 of Captive Union
I blink and look around. It’s an older style—dark wood on the walls and floors, a large staircase leading up to a second-floor landing. Archways lead into different parts of the house. I would have expected a modern home from a man like him, but this house feels like something out of the past.
“Like what you see?” Erik asks. It dawns on me how close he’s standing, barely a sliver of space between us.
I take a step back, which he notices. The frown on his face is a dead giveaway. “It’s … beautiful.” My voice comes out wispy, full of air. Why can’t I speak with strength? Why do I have to sound like I’m always on the verge of crying?
He nods, looking satisfied. “I was hoping you’d like it, considering it’s your home now.” He leans in closer. “Or are you just saying that to be nice?”
I gulp. Why does he have to be so unnerving? I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out. If he wants to play games, he’ll be disappointed with me. I’m not one for playing games, and I don’t know how to react.
Erik looks me over before stepping away, and I take my first full breath since walking into this house. “Come on.”
He motions for me to follow him to the back of the hallway, behind the stairs. It’s much darker back here, more ominous. Erik opens a door and leads me down a flight of stairs to a small basement with a bed on one side and an open bathroom on the other. The toilet is out in the open, and the shower, while it has an enclosure, is made of glass, so anyone can look in.
I stand at the stairs as he walks in, grabs a chair, and places it in front of the shower. I watch in confusion as he sits down. It’s so silent in the room that my breathing sounds loud, coming out ragged.
Erik glances back at me and nods for me to come forward. I hesitantly move into the room until I’m standing next to him.
“Get in,” is all he says.
“What?”
He nods at the shower. “Get in.”
My heart feels like it drops straight to my stomach. I look at the shower in all its glass glory. “Why?”
“Because you’re covered in blood, and you need to clean off.”
I lick my dry lips. Erik’s eyes darken as he catches the movement. I think back to the kiss he gave me in the car—if you could even call it that. It was barely a brush of our lips, but it sent shivers running through me.
“You …” I force the words out. “You want me to …”
“Take a shower? Yes.” He sits back in his seat, his legs spread wide as if he not only owns this house but the entire world and every space in it.
I wring my hands. “Right now?”
“Well, yes.” He motions a hand toward me. “You have blood all over you. I want to see you washed, looking pristine.”
“You’re … going to stay here?”
His eyes narrow. “I’m not leaving your side. I can’t risk you trying to escape.” He shrugs. “And besides, you’re mine now. I want to see all of you.”
My heart thuds so hard against my chest it hurts. I place my hand there, trying to calm it down.
“But I didn’t choose this,” I say weakly.
“No, you didn’t, did you? You mafia women rarely get choices. Either way, I want you to take a shower, and I want you to do itnow.”
I grip my dress, hoping it will help me feel more stable. It doesn’t. “I don’t want to get naked in front of you.”
“Oh, so you do have some fight in you.” He looks me over, making me feel naked already. “I like that. But, Kira, understand this. You are mine, and when I say I want you to take a shower, you’re going to take a shower. And if I want to stay and watch, then I’m going to stay and watch.”
I don’t respond. All I can do is stand there, frozen.
He raises an eyebrow. “Do you need me to help you take off your clothes?”
“No!” I say so loudly that even Erik looks stunned.
“Ok, then. Get to it.”
