Page 54 of While She Sleeps (The Hunter and The Thief #1)

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

EMBER

I was absolutely certain dick drunk was a myth.

Like, who would have thought sex, albeit good sex, could put someone into what amounts to a coma? But that’s exactly what happened to me.

The sun shining through the floor-to-ceiling windows drags me from my deep slumber, and although I try to sink back into the soft sheets and go back to sleep, my bladder screams at me to be relieved.

I stretch my arms above my head as a yawn overwhelms me. Jesus. How can I feel completely refreshed as well as exhausted all at once?

Something clanks nearby, and I slowly open my eyes, giving them a moment to adjust before looking for the offending sound, only to find a cuff around my wrist and a set of handcuffs attached to the headboard.

What. The. Actual. Fuck?

“Orion,” I yell. “Please do not tell me you handcuffed me to the fucking bed!”

Anger seethes through my body as I shove myself to the edge of the bed to assess the situation.

There’s a chain resting on the ground that I think will give me enough leeway to get to the bathroom.

At least he was considerate enough not to make me pee all over his pillows, however tempting it may be.

Deciding I need to take care of business before I can deal with the predicament I’ve found myself in, I rush for the bathroom, ignoring the sound of the chain trailing after me.

This is going too far.

Way too fucking far.

I promised I wouldn’t run, so why is he bothering with this bullshit? Surely, he could just lock the elevator so I couldn’t get away.

But maybe he knows me well enough to know I’d escape even that. It would have to have a failsafe in the event of an emergency, and it wouldn’t be hard to set off some smoke detectors throughout the penthouse until the fire escape unlocks.

I sigh. Damn it. That would have been a fun escape plan to enact.

But alas, it’s not an option while I’m chained up like a dog.

Asshole.

Once I’ve done my business and my bladder isn’t so mad at me, I head back into the bedroom, testing the chain to see how far I can reach. If I can find something to pick the lock with, I could be out of this in just a few seconds.

There were no hairpins in the bathroom, but there’s a closet on either side of the bed, and a fancy place like this probably has a dressing area in at least one.

The first one I tug open is filled with suits, but the chain stops me from getting anywhere near the end of the space where I can see Orion’s cuff links sitting on top of a dresser.

Fuck.

Panic begins to etch itself into my chest, but I need to keep moving. I’ve never claimed to be very good at spotting red flags, but chaining someone to your bed so they can’t get away is so obvious even I can’t miss it.

The doors to the other closet swing open, and I stop dead in my tracks as my eyes move over racks of women’s clothing.

Panic bleeds into anger until something catches my eye.

A note pinned to the set of drawers by the door.

I snatch it up, my heart pounding in my chest as I read over the words.

Little Flame,

Just in case you find this closet before I can show it to you, these are all the things I’ve bought for you. If you need proof of that, I’m sure the fact that everything, including the shoes, is your size.

There are also some monogrammed pajamas in the bottom drawer below.

Don’t doubt my devotion to you, Ember.

Yours, Orion.

Okay, I actually can’t tell if this is more or less of a red flag than the chains.

Because there are hundreds of items in here, and that’s not including the drawers and whatever is around the corner at the end of the shelves.

To buy this much stuff, he must have been shopping for me for weeks, if not months.

“He probably has an assistant who does that kind of thing for him,” I murmur the explanation to myself. That would make sense. Because I’ve only known him a few weeks, so it’s not reasonable to think he could have been buying me clothes for all that time.

Right?

Jesus. This is a lot to take in first thing in the morning. Especially without any caffeine.

I swallow heavily and back out of the closet, allowing the door to swing shut behind me. Maybe once I’ve been unchained I can investigate more, but right now I can only take one batshit crazy thing at a time.

I bite down on my lip, checking the room for any other notes before my eyes settle on my phone on the bedside table.

That’s something, I guess.

Snatching it up, I bring up his number and hit dial.

“Little Flame,” Orion answers on the second ring.

“You chained me to the bed,” I growl.

“I did.”

“And you think that’s okay? You think that’s normal fucking behavior in a very new relationship?”

“Well, at least you’re admitting we’re in a relationship. That’s a good start.”

“That’s not an answer to my question,” I snap.

He sighs. “No. I don’t believe chaining someone up is normal behavior in a normal relationship. But that’s not what this is, and therefore treating it as such would be counterproductive.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“It means that while normal relationships progress slowly over months, or even years, ours will be moving much faster than that.”

“Like hell it will,” I mutter. “Come unchain me now, Orion. I have work to do, and I can’t do it while attached to your bed like some kind of sex slave.”

“Now there’s an idea.” He chuckles.

A growl of frustration escapes my throat. “I’m not fucking joking, Orion. I will stab you in your sleep if you don’t come unchain me right this moment.”

“I doubt that, Ember. But even if I wanted to, I can’t. I’m not in the apartment right now and won’t be back for a few hours yet.”

My eyes widen. “What if there’s a fire? You just going to let me burn?”

“Never.” His answer is immediate, and I don’t miss the edge of emotion. “One of the guards would come right up and cut you free.”

“How much money do you have that you have guards that turn a blind eye to the fact that you have a woman chained up in your bed?”

“A lot. Now, there’s a brand-new laptop under your side of the bed for you, and your purse is in the top drawer. I’ve given your phone back to you, but if I get wind of you calling someone to come rescue you from your tower, I will confiscate it all. Don’t test me, Ember.”

I open my mouth to respond, but snap it shut again when I realize he’s rendered me speechless. Where the fuck does he get off with this bullshit?

“You can’t keep me chained up forever, Orion. That’s not fair to me, and it’s not how I want to live my life.” My words are softer now as I try to stamp down the panic edging into my vision.

“It’s not forever. Just until I know you’re not going to run off and get yourself hurt. Someone tried to kidnap you yesterday. I need to know you’re safe, and if that means keeping you locked up, that’s what I’m going to do. Even if you hate me for it.”

I sigh and press my eyes closed to ward off the tears that threaten to fall.

In a weird way, what he’s doing is kind of sweet.

And I know that makes me sound as insane as he is.

But to have someone care about me so much they’re willing to lock me away to keep me safe?

I don’t know, it’s not as terrifying an idea as it seemed a few minutes ago.

“I need to shower, and the chain doesn’t reach.”

“I’ll shower with you when I get back.”

“I’m hungry and thirsty.” I’m grasping at straws here, but I refuse to concede until I’ve been through every available option, even as my anger eases.

“There’s a bottle of water on the bedside table as well as a couple of granola bars. We’ll have lunch together when I get home.”

I run my hand over my face, trying to think of any other argument I can make, but there aren’t any. He’s got me exactly where he wants me, and I’m powerless to do anything other than remain exactly where I am.

“Fine. But I’m really fucking mad at you.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” He chuckles. “I have to go. Be good, and I’ll see you soon.”

The call ends, and I throw the phone down on the comforter.

It figures that the first man I ever have feelings for is a low-key sociopath. It seems there is a reason I spent so many years avoiding relationships like the plague.