“Please, I can...” My cheeks heated, and I bit my lower lip. “I can smell you on me.”
The corner of his lips curved. “Maybe I like that.”
I shrivelled inside. “Oh.”
“But you can take a shower. It had better not be a trick, though. You know I’ve cleared the bathroom of anything you might use as a weapon, and the window is locked. I’ll hear if you try to break it.”
“I won’t. I already told you, I don’t have anywhere to run to.”
“And you have to keep the bathroom door open. I want to know what you’re doing in there.”
He was denying me of any privacy, but I didn’t feel like I had much anyway.
“Okay. You’ll need to untie me.”
“Very well, but make it quick.”
He led me into the bathroom and leaned into the cubical to switch on the shower. Water thundered into the shower tray and, with no window open, the room quickly grew steamy.
“Turn around,” he said.
I obeyed, and he moved closer. The presence of him at my back felt almost overwhelming. He loomed over me. The warmth of his fingers brushed the sensitive skin of my wrist. A shiver ran through me, and my nipples tingled. He was so close, radiating danger. I’d experienced what he was willing to do to me and I needed to remember those parts, not the way my body had bowed with pleasure when his fingers had penetrated me, or the way he’d been in my dreams.
He untied me slowly, and I held my breath the whole time, a part of me willing him to spin me around and do what he did to me yesterday again, and the other part praying he didn’t. Was I the only one who sensed the sparks flying between us? I imagined he was the kind of man who fucked whoever he wanted, while I’d never even been touched...until him. This all might be completely normal for him.
The bindings came loose, and I exhaled and brought my hands around to the front of my body. I massaged my wrists with the opposite hands and rolled my shoulders to loosen the muscles. The tie—histie—had rubbed red marks but hadn’t broken the skin.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Don’t get used to it. I’ll be tying you back up as soon as you’re done.”
I tried my luck. “You won’t be able to get me through an airport if I’m tied up. People will ask questions.”
“That’s something for me to worry about, not you.”
“I already told you, I won’t cause you any trouble. I want to get out of here, too.”
He shook his head at me. “I’m not going to be your happy ending, sweetheart, if that’s what you’re thinking. What’s waiting for you in London might be far worse.”
“I doubt that.” I folded my arms across my chest. “Can I shower now?”
He nodded. “Door stays open, and I’ll be right outside. Got it?”
“Got it.”
Sure enough, he stepped out of the room. He pulled the door shut behind him but left it open a couple of inches. I glanced at the gap. Was he watching me through it? I couldn’t see him, but the room was steamier now. Did Iwanthim to be spying?
With my heart fluttering, I yanked my top over my head and hung it on the back of the door, and then did the same with my underwear. I was completely naked now. Did he know that? Was he thinking of me and what I looked like? Did it turn him on?
The cabin came with towels and small bottles of toiletries provided. I’d have to put my dirty clothes back on afterwards, but at least the rest of me would be clean.
I stepped into the flow of the shower.
The hot water felt incredible on my strained muscles, drumming onto my shoulders and the back of my head. For a moment, I forgot all about the man standing outside the door, and even my own father, and just focused on the heat and repetitive drumming of the water on my body.