Page 27 of Pretty Plaything

Chapter 13

MY ROOM IS NICE ANDspacious. It has everything I may need, and a private bathroom. But I can’t focus on how soft and comfortable the bed is or on how big the closet is.

My stomach is doing nervous flips, and I’m chewing on the inside of my cheek so often that I worry I may draw blood.

Alessandro left me in here, and now I don’t know what he’s going to do or what that even means. Sometimes, I feel like he wants to pounce on me and have his way with me, but now he’s gone, and it’s like he doesn’t want me at all.

And the worst part is, I don’t know what I want.

He’s made me feel something I’ve never felt before, and there’s a craving inside me that I don’t know what to do with.

Maybe once our wedding night is over, my head will be clearer.

But will Alessandro even show up?

Or is he already with someone else? Someone who knows what they’re doing? Does he think I’m going to be a disappointment?

Why am I even thinking about any of that? I should be glad he’s not here. If he’s not with me, he can’t hurt me.

A floorboard creaks in the hallway, and I gasp, looking at the door. I hold my breath, but the door handle doesn’t move.

There’s no way to lock the door. The key’s gone. Maybe I should put a chair under the handle.

But I can’t escape my husband, can I?

Is this what my life is going to be now? Will I be stuck in this house and just waiting to see what my husband will do?

My room may be nice, but it’s like a mousetrap.

A pretty prison.

And I want out.

I rush to the big window and open it.

After I breathe in a huge gulp of fresh air, I feel a tiny little bit better. I want to call my mom or Emilia, but I don’t have a phone. I don’t even know where my things are.