Page 52 of Savage Captor (Deadly Devotion #1)

“Five…” his thrusts speed up even more. “Four,” I let out a tortured moan as he speeds up the motions on my clit, leaving me hanging right on the edge.

“Three…” I tense my entire body as my channel trembles around his length, desperately trying to hold back.

“Two.” A few tears slip out of my eyes and I bite my bottom lip. “ Come . ”

I don’t just orgasm; I implode. A raw, untamed scream is forced from my throat as full-body convulsions take over, and my scream turns into a series of hoarse, uncontrolled noises.

The pleasure is so good it’s too good, and my body and mind don’t know how to handle the overwhelming sensations.

I shake, I cry, and I come so hard, stars burst behind my eyes.

I feel Monster’s cock pulsing inside of me, quickly followed by a liquid warmth that shoots out from the tip.

He collapses on top of me as his softening length starts to slip out, and we both lie, twined together, trying to catch our breaths.

His lips find my neck, and he kisses the soft skin before pulling it into his mouth and biting down gently.

My pussy clenches again, and another gasp escapes me.

“Good girl,” he says. He reaches up with shaky hands, freeing my wrists from the cuffs.

“Good fucking girl, Scarlett.” He rolls off me, only to pull me into his side.

On the tails of my orgasm comes a confusing, tumultuous wash of emotions.

Anger at his physical and emotional manipulation, anger at myself for giving in, and vulnerability.

I feel like I’m spinning out of control, and the only thing I have to anchor myself to is the Monster who put me in this position.

I’m too frazzled to push him away, and I need him even though I hate that I do, so I wind my arms around his neck and hide my face in his chest, trying to calm my nerves.

“It’s okay,” he murmurs. “You did so well. You’re perfect, Scarlett.

Such a perfect good girl.” One of his hands strokes over my bare spine, while the other cradles the back of my head with gentleness that startles me.

“Such a good fucking girl.” He kisses the top of my head.

I surrender to the comfort he’s offering, knowing that I won’t get it anywhere else.

After a time, my breaths slow and my body comes back to itself.

My emotions stabilize, falling into a mild irritation at my body’s betrayal but an overwhelming sense of safety and comfort.

For once, I don’t question it. I’m tired of spinning out of control, of desperately looking for something to grab onto.

In a few hours, I’ll resume planning my escape out of here—even if that means I need to kill Monster—but for now…

for now, I let myself have this moment. Revel in a rare sense of safety and pleasure, even if it's fleeting and a lie.

“Why did you tie me up?” I murmur into his chest.

He goes still for a moment, then continues stroking my spine. “To spare both of us the effort of you running and me chasing. You’d have succumbed eventually; I saved us time.”

“You know how screwed up that is, right?” My words are scarcely more than a whisper. “You don’t give me a choice. You don’t ask for consent, you just take.”

“The fact that you belong to me is all the consent I need.” He shifts his hand from my hair to my chin, tilting it up.

“I will only ever ask you for permission to kiss your lips, and trust me, that is quite the concession. Everything else, I’ll take when I feel like it.

Be a good girl, and you’ll enjoy it, as well.

” He leans down to kiss my nose, like a playful lover rather than the cruel captor he is.

“Wash up. There are clothes for you in the bathroom. I’ll get breakfast.”

I’m too tired to disagree with him, so I follow his instructions.

The single item of clothing he left me is a short, pretty sundress made of silk, colored a dark forest green and decorated with little pink flowers.

I ignore how much I like it, and the fact that if I saw it in a store, I might’ve gotten it for myself.

Monster didn’t leave me a bra or any panties, so I assume he plans to have me again throughout the day—or he just wants me to be uncomfortable.

When I step out of the bedroom, I spot him sitting at the dining table, sipping from a mug of coffee. My attention quickly segues to several new additions to the living room that have appeared overnight; plants . A sense of wonder takes root inside me as I look around the space, mildly confused.

At least a dozen pots and vases filled with growing plants or gorgeous bouquets populate the room.

A fiddleleaf fig plant sits on the coffee table in front of the sofa.

Next to the bedroom door is a monstera in a beige pot.

There’s a row of adorable, small succulents on the kitchen counter, and the dining table has four separate bouquets in glass vases.

A vase of red roses, another with beautiful white lilies, a third with trumpet flowers, and the last…

with vibrant pink oleanders. My gaze lingers on the oleanders a beat too long.

Any post-orgasm fog still clinging to my mind dissipates as I stare at the ethereally gorgeous and incredibly deadly flowers.

My thoughts begin to race as possibilities fill my mind

Oleander poisoning leads to a sure death. Any botanist or even gardener knows as much.

“Do you like them?” Monster asks. I peel my eyes away from the deadly flower, praying to god that Monster didn’t notice me staring at them for too long.

“I know you were into botany. I told you a while ago that I’d make a garden for you here, but I can’t do that immediately—it’ll take months.

Nighthawks are about to have a big upheaval, anyways, which will probably throw the timeline off even more.

In the meantime, I thought you might like having some plants here.

” He reaches up to scratch his head, looking strangely…

uncertain. A faint blush tinges his cheeks.

“I don’t really know shit about plants, but the flowers looked nice, and Google told me that the other plants are easy to take care of and good for clean air. ”

Monster actually put in effort, for me . For me to have something to take care of. I don’t know how to reconcile his cruelty with this act of kindness, with this… present. The only gifts he’s given me so far are scars.

Think , Scarlett. I have to use this moment of vulnerability to my advantage, even if…

even if I do feel something in my chest tug.

I’m starved for attention, praise, and being cared for, so of course I’m susceptible to the smallest acts of kindness.

That doesn’t change my circumstances. That doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to twist this kind act against Monster so I can get out of here.

Even if I feel some warped sense of guilt for doing so.

I clear my throat. “They’re lovely.” After a second, I add on, “Thank you.”

Monster jerks his chin. “Let’s have breakfast.” On the opposite end of the table from the oleander plant is the breakfast spread I’ve grown used to seeing. Bacon, eggs, pancakes, pastries… they have everything here.

I try not to stare at the oleander flowers too long as I take a seat next to Greyson. Instead, I force myself to think . I have a way to take him down now, never mind the guilt that’s still straining my chest.

Even if I… if I kill Monster and manage to get out of this room, I still don’t know the first thing about this whole compound.

I’ve heard him call it headquarters, and when he brought me from the torture building to here, I saw three buildings all in all, connected by pathways.

There could be more. I don’t know which way to go to leave, and even if I get outside and escape unnoticed, how will I get away from here?

Monster’s told me that Nighthawk’s headquarters lie in the middle of a forest… which way would I run? How would I avoid starving to death?

“Where would there be a hypothetical garden?” I ask him, trying to subtly prod for information. “Outside? Somewhere in this building? ”

“On the far end of headquarters’ property,” Monster replies.

“This was a farm some centuries ago, so there are a few acres of land that aren’t really used, just left overgrown.

I could have a greenhouse built there and you can create a garden around it, with whatever plants you want.

The land I’m thinking of is east, so it should catch the sun for most of the day, if that helps. ”

He grouped far end with east . That means if there’s an entrance or a road out of this hellhole, it’ll probably be west. And if this property is big… I’m still walking with a slight limp. I don’t know how the hell I’ll run out of here.

“It’s nearly two miles away, so once it’s all set up, I can drive you on mornings when we don’t feel like taking the long walk.”

Drive . So there’s a garage or parking lot here, somewhere. “Two miles? How big is this place?”

“About five miles of closed-off property,” Monster says. “Beyond that, a huge forest. There’s only one road to and from the highway.” His eyes narrow slightly, and he pins me with a steady gaze. “Why do you ask?”

Damnit, I was too forward. He’s growing suspicious.

“I’ve been here for a while, and I don’t know anything about this,” I respond, trying to keep my voice steady.

“I’ve only seen the inside of two cells and your apartment.

You’re making out like this is going to be my home forever—which isn’t something I ever consented to, but that’s another matter.

If I’m going to be stuck here forever, I might as well learn about it. About you, and your organization.”

“Well, then, allow me to be of service.” Monster’s voice has grown flat.

“The building we’re in is the main building.

Six floors, seven if you count the underground garage.

Every corner is populated by experienced killers.

Bottom floor has a small gym, the kitchen, and common areas where Nighthawks hang out.

Second is medical and some labs. Third, fourth, and fifth floors are living quarters and some more common areas.

Sixth floor is reserved for the leader. The annex is for prisoners or people who need to be interrogated.

And then we have a two-story gym, with an underground bunker.

To get to the exit of our property, you have to take a heavily monitored road up to a gate—which is guarded.

No one on foot will get out, you have to be driving.

” Monster stands up and rounds on me. His anger’s getting the best of him now, I can see it in his eyes.

He leans over my chair, gripping the back of it.

“Get any thoughts of escape out of your head.” His voice has turned harsh, harrowing, terrifying .

“If you try to run, I will punish you so thoroughly you won’t be capable of running again any time soon. Do you understand me?”

“I wasn’t thinking of escape,” I whisper, shrinking back. His mood swings have grown less common recently, but they still occur. And when they do, he becomes scary. “I’m just trying to understand…”

Monster doesn’t blink as he looks me over.

I let him see my fear of him, hoping that it snaps him back from whatever dark haze is taking over his mind.

I think… I think the prospect of losing me must actually be frightening to him.

Otherwise, why would he react so strongly?

He told me last night he cares about me, and I think he might’ve been telling the truth.

His version of care is dark, demeaning, and twisted, but it exists.

“There’s only one thing you need to understand,” he says.

“That you belong to me, now and forever. There’s no getting away from me.

Even if you somehow manage to escape, I’ll hunt you down—and I am excellent at finding people.

I know things between us had a very… unusual start, but there’s something here.

I feel it, and if you don’t yet, you will soon enough.

” He grips my chin between two fingers, angling my head. “You’re mine. Understand?”

I nod .

“Words.”

“Yes,” I whisper.

He kisses the top of my head, and I flinch. Whenever he has one of his mood swings, it scares me into assuming he’s a hairbreadth away from hurting me.

“Good girl.” He drops back into his seat, and I release a shuddering breath of relief. “I have a lot to do today, so I’ll be in the office most of the day—after I hit the gym. You’ll probably join me for lunch, and I should be done by the time dinner rolls around.”

I nod mutely, reaching for the eggs and scooping a spoonful onto my plate.

“Not enough,” Monster says. “Double your portion and take some bacon.”

He controls everything about me—if I get clothes, what I wear, what I eat, when I sleep…

the idea of killing him shouldn’t weigh on me, but it does.

I don’t want to kill him. Not because he doesn’t deserve it, but because I recognize something in him that resonates with me on a deeply personal level.

A grieving soul.

I see it in his behaviors, mood swings, and mannerisms. I see the darkness and sorrow in his eyes.

I even understand that he might be telling the truth when he says he never would’ve harmed me if he wasn’t given false evidence that I led his twin, Sam, to his death.

Once in a while, I see the man underneath the Monster.

And even though I have every right to, I don’t want to kill that man. I don’t want to become a killer at all…

But I might not have a choice.