Page 22 of Cain

“A pocket full of posies …”

The rose drifts lower, tracing the curve of her collarbone. She wants to pull away, but she doesn’t. She’s fucking enjoying it way too much.

“Ashes, ashes …”

I lean in, my lips brushing against her ear. “You know how it ends, right?”

Her breath stutters.

“We all fall down,” she mutters.

I let the rose fall onto her lap.

“The ring is closing tighter around the little Rosie,” I whisper. She raises her big, feline eyes and looks at me.

“You’ll bloom, little rose, but only in my hands. No one else will ever touch you. Not while I’m here … and not after.” I trace my fingers over her soft cheek again. “I’ll take you apart, piece by piece, until you’ve forgotten the world outside of me.”

“No,” she exhales unevenly, shaking her head as her eyes well up.

“But don’t be afraid. Even if your petals fall, I’ll keep them close.”

I stand and take a few steps back, crossing my arms and leaning against the kitchen counter.

“Go.”

“Go where?” she asks with wide eyes, shaking.

“Your bedroom. Didn’t you want to go there and hide?”

Her eyes remain on mine for a few more seconds. She stands and exits the kitchen, heading back to her room. My gaze follows her, and I picture a thousand ways I want to choke her with my cock.

Soon, little rose.

“Zkurvený parchant!”Fucking bastard!I scream, unable to control myself. Who does he think he is?

Oh, Iknow—he’s a fucking psycho with a fetish for trying to scare me off and then turn me on! I’m ashamed to admit, but hedidturn me on.

I shouldn’t feel this way.

He’s a savage, a fucking kretén! I need to escape this place. I need to leave and go to the police. He’s dangerous, a monster. He’s the devil in the flesh.

He’s everything I hate—a barbarian. A caveman.

I let out a sharp sigh, realizing that no matter how much I think about it, nothing changes. Frustration takesover, and all I want to do is march out there and kick him in the nuts.

Ugh …

I’m all alone again.

After the anger fades away, I return to my harsh reality and realize I am doomed. I wish I hadn’t talked to him. I wish I hadn’t given him the right to think I am his property. I should have stayed with Kryštof.

Or just away from Cain …

But how does he know about Kryštof?

I was always prepared for being mistreated in the modeling industry, being misjudged and talked shit about. I never liked the idea, but it’s a part of the job. The job that my parents never wanted me to follow. Maybe they were right after all.

I never expected that someone would kidnap me. I believed that these things only happen in movies.