"I can't wait to taste your breath"

                                            -Colson Baker (Song: Hangover Cure)

                                                                               #

Two Hours Later...

"WHERE ARE YOU?" I hear him scream

          Before I know it, I'm frozen. The outrage, the obsession, the terror laced in his voice...I have to admit...it excites me. The adrenaline rush is unmatched and I hate myself for saying it but though I know I shouldn't, I crave more.

          However, that's the one major flaw in the system of human nature...it is quite literally almost impossible to act on first instinct. Every drive, every urge, every de-sire, every itch within our flesh is constrained and whether we want to believe it or not, if we followed every impulse, why, we'd simply wreak havoc. Much like I've done right in this second.

         And that is why I know that I need to leave. I need to Escape. And soon...before things get even more ugly.

          "3...

          2..."

Present Day...

          Dinner? I'm having dinner now. It isn't like I have much of a choice in any-thing at all while I'm in this dreadful house anyway. Just when I thought Jeffery Maxwell couldn't surprise me any longer, he turns around and buys a home—for us, as he would say. There are a million things that are happening in my head right at this moment and putting down my thoughts is proving to be an almost completely impossible task.

         All I know is, I'm in a terrible, life threating situation. One that I'm not sure how to get myself out of... at least not yet. It doesn't help either that Mr. Grayson is one of the smartest men I've ever met. Wherever we are...wherever he's taken me, no one will be able to find it. I know that for sure. I don't even know if anyone has noticed that I'm gone. I mean, Im not talking to Daisy, I barely speak to my mother and Kayden probably thinks that Im out somewhere scheming against Mr. Grayson.  Hell, I barely have a clue how long I've been in here.

I am quite literally my only chance of survival.

All I need now, is an escape plan.

          I hold the box with the dress inside in my arms and I sigh. "Where will I change?", I ask him. There's no way that I'd be able to run from him now. It would be too predictable and let's be honest here, he would catch me with such ease it would actually be a joke. For right now, I need him to trust me enough to keep me out of that basement. It's the only chance I have of possibly escaping.

          I suck in a deep breath and push the door wide open. My words curdle into nothing at the sight greeting me—a fully furnished master suite fit for royalty.

         "It's all ours", Mr. Grayson whispers huskily in my ear, making goosebumps rise all over my skin

          I gulp before tiptoeing inside. The floor is cold and fine. The only symbol suggesting a world outside of these four walls is the light coming in through a slit between the curtains at the window. The feeble brightness isn't even enough for me to make out anything, but that doesn't stop Mr. Grayson from quickly rushing over and drawing the curtains when he notices that I'm looking.

          "I'll wait outside...give you some privacy. Just call out when you're ready", I hear him say before the door shuts and the room turns quiet. I hear the faint fumbling of the lock and it reminds me of the sickening ring that had woken me up earlier, making me realize that he's locked me in here. Of course, he has.

          I analyse the room even further and notice a circular mirror hanging on the wall. I turn my body to face it and take a step closer after I lay the box softly on the bed. My eyes venture into my reflection in the mirror where I see a bruise around my neck that now looks purple. I wince as I trace my finger over the bruise. I rub my eyes and sigh.

How did it come to this?

          I turn and open the closet that's merely a few steps away. All sorts of clothes from skirts to dresses and blouses all in my size were hung neatly according to col-our. How long has he been planning this? This level of thought and dedication couldn't have just been an overnight decision, could it have been?

          Still stunned, I lean over the box and untie the straps. I let out a soft gasp as I swing open the lid. It's... beautiful. I take my time as I unfold the champagne pink dress and drape it over the couch. I'm amazed and I take my time to soak it in. This might possibly be the most expensive dress I'll ever see for the rest of my life.

         The creamy sheets of the silk dress slip onto my shoulders, sliding down my body with soft sensual kisses just like syrup. I reach my arm around the back and pull up the zipper. When I'm finished, I trap my braids into a low ponytail that falls over my shoulder.

Here goes nothing, I hear myself think.

          "I'm ready", I say as loudly as I can while I stand by the door, barefoot and dressed in the beautiful gown.

          Suddenly, the door swings open and there he is. I scan his body as he does mine. A black dress shirt clings to his flesh deliciously. His sleeves are rolled up his elbows, leaving his veins on full display for me and my eyes only to explore. The first two buttons of his shirt are undone and I see a rosary hang down his neck. What business does he possibly have owning a rosary? His look is finished off with matching black slacks being held on by a Michael Kors belt.

Why? Why does he have to cause a constant war between my mind and my vagina?

          "Are you enjoying the view?", He tilts my chin upwards so that I can fully take in all of his features that I already know like second nature, "...because I am"

          I roll my eyes and pull myself away from his grip. "Can we please just get this over with?", I murmur

          I notice him clench his fist before walking off. "Come", he commands.

          When I enter, the kitchen is almost nicer than the bedroom...but not quite. All white tiles on the floor, professionally laid, all sorts of pots, pans and cutlery neatly stored and a gorgeous and expensive looking wooden table sits right in the centre of the room with only two chairs.

          "Sit...our steaks are almost done", He says, gesturing to one of the chairs

          I walk timidly to the table and slide the chair he told me to sit in. Before long, Mr. Grayson sets a big juicy steak in front of me. After a second, I look up at him and notice the dewiness in his dark eyes.

          "What is it?", I ask him softly. I'm genuinely curious

          "I really like having dinner with you...", he whispers. "A lot"

           I gulp. "Thank you"

He smirks for a ghost of a second.

          "Show me", I say quickly, creating a daring plan in the back of my mind

          "What? I'll show you anything", he replies quickly. "What do you want me to show you Miss Tembo?"

          "...the...our house.", I correct myself. "You haven't given me a tour yet", I force a smile

          "Will you behave?", he asks me blankly

          I shrug. "I promise". And I add, remembering, quoting him; "I'm your good girl"

          I see his interest pick up briefly and he clenches his jaw. He nods.

#

          "And this...this is my favorite.", he tells me as we make our last stop into the bedroom. I don't really care for a tour of this house. Not even in the slightest. But what I do care for are all the possible exits that this house has to offer. Unfortunate-ly for me, there aren't too many other than the main doors. So, for right now, that seems to be my only way out.

          "Well? What do you think? Do you like it?", I hear him say.

         I turn to face him and we lock eyes accidentally. Holding his gaze for what feels like forever, I realize that this lust for danger is like an addiction and in this case, I hate to say it but it goes both ways.

The obsession is mutual.

         He steps closer and uses the tip of his middle finger to slowly bring down the strap of my dress, all while keeping the intense eye contact. I feel his warmth all at once like a sudden surge of electricity and although I try to convince myself other-wise, already my mind has placed our lips together.  He cups my face suddenly in his hands and I let out a sharp gasp.

          "... I just want to make you happy", he whispers

          Against my better judgement, at his lips' touch, I melt just like butter. Only now did I realize how much I longed for...how much I craved...how much I missed the taste of his breath. I feel myself hungrily push my body forward as his mouth opens for the entrance of my tongue. As if to keep me from escaping his grip, he holds my head firmly, causing me to feel the bristles of his beard against my cheek. To that action, I hear myself involuntarily let out a small moan into his mouth.

I want this...don't I? Why do I want this?

          He pulls away and smiles at me. Thats when he swiftly lifts me up so that I'm straddling his torso. I feel the dress that Im wearing ride up my thighs and even hear it tear at the back. He lays me down on the bed and looms over me. He pulls up my dress and proceeds to leaving hot kisses down my neck.

          I switch my focus to his pocket where I see the tip of a knife. Gently, and without thinking, I pull the knife out of his pocket and hold it in my hand as he's distracted. Something in me refuses to run away. Something in me wants to stay here and see just how far hes going to take things. I shake that thought out of my head and hold the knife high above Mr. Grayson's back. Without thinking, I slam the blade of the knife into his shoulder with as much force as I can.

         "Agh!", he hisses

—————

How nice for us...we hit 12k reads!

I really hope you like the second last chapter! Sorry it's a little late! Also, don't forget to follow me not only on the app but also on my Instagram @_.satinsaturdai ! There's gonna be a surprise update of chapter TWENTY-NINE sometime soon and you will not want to miss it!

-Xo, Lakish'a