Page 19 of All Your Hate
It’s huge and I’ve already lost count of how many rooms we’ve passed by the time we reach the stairs. “Can you make it down by yourself?” he asks me over his shoulder.
“Of course, I can,” I snap and he stops midstep. I only just manage to not walk into him. Slowly, he turns and I expect to see him angry from my talking back, but he’s grinning.
He takes a step closer until we’re eye to eye and my breath catches in my throat. In this light, I can really see his eyes. They’re a breathtaking shade of dark green and begging for me to get lost in them. He’s a few inches taller than me, but the height difference isn’t that much. I find myself studying the rest of his face and my eyes settle on his full lips.
“What’s your name?” he asks.
“Autumn,” I say way too quickly.
“Autumn.” He rolls the word on his tongue as he looks me up and down like he sees right through my lie. Rather than question it, he abruptly turns away and heads downstairs.
Gripping the railing, I follow him down and do my best to hide my shaking legs. My muscles are still sore and weak from lack of use, but I can’t let him know that.
“Is this your house?” I ask when we reach the bottom.
“Yes.” He makes a left and I linger as I stare at the front door that’s just a few feet away. “It’s locked and so is the front gate. Even if they weren’t, you wouldn’t make it far like that.” He doesn’t stop walking as he talks and I hurry to catch up with him.
We enter a dining hall with a long table in the center, there are two places already set at the far end.
Pulling out the chair to the left, he motions for me to sit down. I hesitate because this is all so weird. I don’t want to play house or whatever this is.
What I want is answers, but I have to bide my time before I start making demands. If I can make him think I’m obedient enough to not have to lock me away twenty-four seven then I might have a shot at freedom.
“Would you rather sit on my lap?” A shiver runs down my spine as his warm breath caresses the nape of my neck and I quickly sit down.
He takes the seat next to me and leans back, grabbing the glass of red wine from the table and knocking it all back in one go. With a heavy sigh, he closes his eyes and rests his head against the back of the tall chair.
I steal the moment to study him again. There’s just something about him that makes me want to stare at him all night. He’s strikingly handsome, beautiful even. That means I need to be more wary of him.
“What is this?” I quietly ask.
Peeking one eye open, he watches me through his thick lashes and smiles. “It’s baked fish. If you don’t like it or have any dietary requirements just let me know.”
I scowl at him. Obviously, he knew what I meant.
“I mean, why am I here?” I cast my eyes around the room, looking for any sign of the man before, but it’s only the two of us here.
My new captor ignores me as he fills his glass with more wine. I’m tempted to have some to settle my nerves, but I need a clear head.
“You need to eat,” he says plainly, his long fingers that are stacked with rings and end in black painted nails tap away at the table, irritating me.
“What I need is to know why I’m here.”
“Eat and then you can ask me questions. Can’t have you passing out on me.”
I grind my teeth together so I don’t lash out at him. Then I snatch up the fork and stab a small piece of carrot, chewing on it without taking my eyes off his.
He smirks as he watches me, his eyes lingering on my throat as I swallow.
“Happy now?” I snap as I hide my shaking hands under the table.
“Yes,” he says in that obnoxiously smooth tone of his.
“Then tell me why I’m here.”
“Eat some more first.”
“But you said—”