NA'

es flickered open. What greeted me

where

ed past in my mind. My heart tightened. Pain, s

utching it-pain exploding up my a

ith something, I t

l groggy and disoriented. It was like my

It was oddly enticing and burdening at the same time-like my body b

ook another breath, my insides heating

ned the backside of my th

a way that sent tremors down my body. I

, it was like my body sank into the bed, gliding on it. My

r rose, drowned by the other throngs of emotions

pensive, as luxurious as they looked and felt.

of a wonderland this pl

eze blew past me, brushing against my ski

ward. The garment I

scandalous lacy wear brushing past

ed its barely visible straps, but

to breathe in this suffocatingly intense room, golde

hing to my face. By this time, it was only t

ouldn't sit here and be a la

om, searching for weapons, b

gs, a grand chandelier hanging from the ceilin

I s

do

I can get to that p

ailed to realize the

y bod

od upright, warning me,

by the edge of the bed, where sh

of electricity down my spine. Heat

ped my lips. My thighs clench

ed, but my thoughts die

darkness, revealing a broad-shouldered man. Hi

ld, tousled strands. From u

and a flicker of something unknown. Some

he was demand

and suffocating.

ever, I heard the same voice that

he confidence and boldness it on

at

falling

cy water had been splashed over me. A chill crep

larm. How is that possible?! My fi

ing in ways that left me queasy. I shud

h my mind. The rejec

again-I didn't th

eart, with cracks u

Rather than wait for another rejection, it

e thought

ed, disregarding a

o the door

ast, I t

in sight. I imagined how I w

u

t the massive fou

tched ont

rd before I had eve

to, I was beneath him. His large hands gripped my

y caged

r my ears, his breat

bled, his voice a low, deep

ength leaving me, my lim

ecoming dizzily warm-despite the horror in my mind,

l always end u

toes curled. My hear

h

eane