Chapter Five
Ava
It both disturbsand relieves me to see clothes hanging up for me when I get out of the shower. I’m disturbed because Gage must have picked the lock and come in to put them there because they certainly weren’t there when I got into the shower.
I’m relieved because it means that Gage was in here unbeknownst to me. He could have done anything to me, yet he didn’t. I don’t know why that relieves me so much. On some basic level, I somehow know he won’t hurt me. If he was going to do that, he’s had plenty of opportunity to do so.
I put on what are obviously his clothes. Even with pulling the drawstring of his sweats as far as it will go, the pants want to hang off my hips. Fortunately, the shirt is long enough to cover my exposed hips. It’s so long, in fact, that it comes down to my knees. The way the clothing swamps me only serves to remind me that my captor is not a small man by any means.
When I emerge from the bathroom clean and dressed, he’s waiting there for me. He’s dressed in sweatpants too—nothing but sweatpants. I instantly avert my eyes. Even though I slept with all that hard muscle curled around me all night, it seems somehow different to see it all on display so close up in the light of day.
The man is gorgeous. There’s not an ounce of fat on him. The tattoos that I’d only glimpsed under his rolled-up shirtsleeves only heighten his attractiveness, adding to his dark allure. I want to study each one, but I won’t allow myself to look. This is not the reaction I’m supposed to be having to him.
Him. The man who kidnapped me. Who’s holding me here against my will. Who decided to accept me as payment for a debt. I feel the anger roiling up in me again and force myself to stand straighter at the thought, crossing my arms over my chest.
I refuse to make this easy on him. In fact, I’ll make him so damn miserable, he’ll have no choice to but to let me go.
To my surprise he chuckles.
I glance up at him sharply.
“It won’t work,” he says softly, grinning down at me like I’m a recalcitrant child.
“What won’t?” I ask him.
“What you’re thinking.” His grin widens.
“You have no idea what I’m thinking,” I scoff.
“I won’t get pissed enough at you to let you go. And I won’t get bored with you. So, let’s just skip the part where you determine to make my life a living hell and end up only making it harder on yourself.”
I glare at him, wishing I had a knife—anything—to stab him with and wipe that smug smirk off his face.
“Come on,” he says before I can say anything.
“Where are you taking me?” I ask suspiciously before allowing myself to move to follow him. I will not be a willing captive.
His blue eyes pierce me with a sudden intense light. “To your new room.”
* * *
Ava
He moves me out of his bedroom. I’m glad for that. I really am. If I’m no longer stuck in his bedroom, then I shouldn’t have to endure his hulking form wrapped around me at night.
Besides, why would he want to keep me in his bedroom forever? It’s not like we’re a couple or anything. I’m his captive. A slave, basically. Nothing more.
Of course, the new room he moved me to has a lock on it—from the outside, though, which means that he can lock me in here when he goes away, which of course I’m sure was the whole point of moving me here.
I really can’t complain about the room, though. It’s just as luxurious as his was—if in a softer way. This room gives off a gentler vibe. It’s not as masculine as his room was, but there’s still a huge en suite bathroom and even a spacious sitting room with shelves of books to read to keep me occupied during the day.
I suppose my captivity could be worse.
After he deposits me in my new room, he leaves, telling me has business to attend to but that he’ll see me later.
I just stare at him stonily, not giving him the pleasure of a response.
I’m already trying to plot my escape from him. I have no idea how I’ll manage it, but it will become my life’s mission to do so.