Page 8 of His Captive

I’m a complete mess, collared, in some weird basement, petrified out of my wits, and at the same time dripping between my thighs.

Ethan’s eyes drop to the offending area and he smirks as if he knows. But he couldn’t know. Could he?

Then without another word he loosens all his holds, turns around and walks away. Switching off the light and locking the door behind him.

Two

ETHAN

I’d suspected something was off about the girl when I’d found her about to step inside my office. Her honey blonde hair claimed my attention immediately, but I’d been fucking floored when she’d turned around.

The likeness was almost impossible.

At first, I put it down to my mind fucking with me, and it wasn’t until I actually caught her, and touched her for myself that I believed she was real...

I hate nights like tonight, being sociable never was one of my strong points. Unfortunately, to succeed in business, it’s a necessity. So, like many of the other things in my life, over the years I’d taught myself to master it.

I watch my home become invaded by people, all of them full of greed. Either here to be nosey, or because they think they can benefit from me in some way.

I smile at them all regardless, ask them how their families are, and even pretend to give a shit when they tell me.

My eyes keep seeking out the virtuous little creature I’d found in the foyer earlier. She’s serving canapes, her eyes wandering around the room taking in the fine art I have displayed on my walls.

You would think in her line of work she’d be used to seeing such things.

Perhaps the girl is new, it would explain her nervousness earlier, why she’d seemed so skittish. Not that it matters to me, I like the way she looks overwhelmed, there’s something deeply satisfying about my home impressing her.

The girl has no idea how fortunate she’d been when I’d steered her in the right direction to the bathroom earlier. Had she found herself in my office by mistake I doubt she’d have left it looking quite so innocent.

She is everything I avoid in women these days. Sweet, subdued and painfully beautiful. Exactly like…

I stop myself thinking, refuse my mind access there. At least for now.

The night drags on, and I quickly grow bored of the mindless conversations. I glance over to her for the millionth time, watch her standing uncomfortably by the door. Bill Thornbury’s leaching eyes rolling all over her while he scoffs from her tray. She looks uncomfortable, like she wants to get away from him, and for reasons my conscience haven’t invented yet, my feet start moving toward her.

She starts backing away, turning on her heels, and rushing from the room. Bill just shrugs, and tries to catch my attention as I pass him.

I ignore him, curiosity telling me to follow her.

I don’t chase women.

Yet, here I am picking up my pace, following behind the delightful little blonde and her tray of canapes.

She’s moving faster now, heading toward the front door, leaving me no choice but to speed up. The tray falls from her hand, landing on the floor with a crash that rings through my ears. When she makes it to the door, her long dainty fingers wrap themselves around the handle. But she only manages one step outside before I make contact, curling my arm around her tiny little waist and scooping her back against me.

The gasp that escapes her pretty little lips makes me stiffen, almost distracting me from the chaos that’s taking place in front of me.

Some guy is screaming at her, but he gives that up the moment he sees that she’s been detained. The black van he hangs out of screeches off, leaving deep tire treads in the thick gravel as it speeds away.

The catering firm leaving in such a hurry. No sign of my security. Something isn’t right. That, and the fact the girl’s heart beats so frantically, like a snared animal. The fast erratic thuds that slam through her back against my chest are enough to tell me that she has something to do with it all.

I don’t have to check the wall in my office to know it will be missing...

The Cerulean Snow Tail.

A rare form of beauty, recently extinct, and worth more to me than any amount of money that could ever be offered.

I also know exactly who’s taken it.

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