Chapter 9
Oakley
Sabastian didn’t say a thing as he clasped a small, slim chain around the end of the bed. It connected to the leather cuff that was attached to my ankle. Tight enough I couldn’t escape, but loose enough to not cut off the circulation to my foot.
I eyed it from where I sat on the bed, not sure how I felt about it. I had no plans to try to run. But, he probably didn’t know that.
His lips were set in a firm line like he wasn’t pleased about restraining me to his bed either.
All morning, he hadn’t spoken to me, other than an order to lift the long black shirt so he could put cream on.
Now, as the cream had since soaked in, and the ache all but gone for the most part, I sat, waiting.
I wasn’t sure what I was waiting for, but that’s what I always did. It wasn’t like I had much else to do.
Waiting for the end of my life. Waiting for the next punishment. Waiting for the next order.
Breakfast had been a quick affair this morning, mostly since I once again, ate faster than the man would have liked. Thankfully, he didn’t punish me for that. Yet.
Sabastian pulled on the chain, testing its strength. It didn’t break on him, so it definitely wasn’t going to give for me, either. The cuff had been lockedwith a key, so there really was no escape. If he wanted to keep me as a hostage, I certainly was one now.
I dropped my eyes to the bed instead of my cuffed ankle. Dread began to grow in the pit of my stomach as the seconds ticked by.
I was used to Sir telling me what I did wrong. I was used to his voice that’d tell me how much of a disappointment I was.
Sabastian didn’t tell me anything. No hateful words barked my way. No sneers as his eyes traveled over the chain and up to my body.
It seemed I was more of an inconvenience than anything else. And I wasn’t sure that was any better than being someone’s huge disappointment.
If he was so worried about me running off, why did he wait until today to tie me to his bed? Was there more he planned to do, now that I was healing? Was he trying to prove a point that I was too stupid to pick up on?
Pulling my legs closer to my body, the metal rattling at the movement, I held my breath.
Was that what this was about? Was I too quiet? Did he want to hear every move I made? Was he going to attach a bell to my neck, too?
Sabastian sighed, stepping back. I quickly looked in his direction before dropping my eyes once more. He didn’t look happy. Eyes flat, lips thin and anger rolling off of him in waves.
“You aren’t in trouble,” he huffed, letting his hands flop against his pants. I jerked against the dull thud. “It’s for your safety. I’ll be gone for a few hours. The chain is long enough for you to get to the bathroom. There’s some snacks and water on the dresser.”
I didn’t know what I did, but I was in trouble.
Sir didn’t let me stir in my thoughts. He’d always be quick to dish out punishments. Every time. Even for the simplest things, like not cleaning up after myself or even not making my bed quickly enough in the mornings.
This man was obviously different. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever find out what I did wrong, but I did know that being tied to a bed for however many hours it’d be, wasn’t bad. Not in the grand scheme of things.
“Tell that speaker over there, to play music or a book if you want. You can’t make any phone calls out to anyone, but I can send a message. And I’ll be watching.”
Of course, he would be, I thought. I wasn’t a stranger to being watched.
If he was waiting for a reaction out of me, he didn’t get one. I knew how to keep my expression blank. It may have taken me years to perfect, but by now, I could.
Keeping my thoughts and feelings unreadable was the best way to go.
He sighed one last time as his gaze swept over me. I wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but whatever it was, wasn’t going to be found.
A few seconds later, he left the room, closing the bedroom door behind him and leaving me in an empty room.
Could be worse,I told myself. At least I had clothes on, kinda. A long shirt didn’t do much, though. And a soft place towaiton. It was better than what Sir graced me with.
