I stayed true to my word, and now here I am, kneeling in front of Cleo in her living room.Her dark-blue eyes are sparkling.
“I’m Amirah, what’s your name?”I ask.
Cleo stares at me.“I’m Cleo.”
“And who’s this?”I ask, pointing to her faded pink teddy.
She looks down at it and grins.“Twinkles.”
“Very cute.”
“Wait until you see all my other toys,” she says, and I smile.
I catch Zion’s gaze behind Cleo, and the ground beneath me falls away.He looks at me with so much intensity my heart pounds.His mouth is slightly ajar, like he wants to say something but doesn’t.
He moves quickly, brushing past me, and kneels down to take Cleo’s arm.Then I notice the bruise.“How did you get this?”he asks, gently rubbing his thumb over the mark.
She purses her lips.“Daddy did it when I was naughty,” she says, and I fall backward onto my butt.Oh my God.Cleo pats Zion’s hand.“But don’t worry, Z, I won’t be naughty again.”
Zion hugs his daughter, and the silence stretches out between us.I hate Callan.
“We gotta bounce,” Bear says.He reaches out for me, and I take his hand, standing.
Zion picks up Cleo, and she melts into his chest, her little arms wrapping around his neck.Damn.I never got the whole single-dad attraction, but now I do.The way he protects her, like she’s the only person in the world, is so heartwarming.
Kai leads us toward the back of the house.Zion follows, and I’m right behind, Bear staying close to me.We make it out onto the back patio and move past the pool fence, sticking close to the tree line.It’s dark, the light from the house guiding us.
We reach the front of the house and keep moving, then head down the street and back toward the tracks.A couple of cars go past but none stop.
I should wave them down.This is my chance to flee.To run.To escape.Why am I not moving?Why can’t I leave?
Cleo watches me over Zion’s shoulder.She waves and I wave back.I can’t leave.I could ruin this for them.I won’t put her safety above my own.I can’t.It doesn’t feel right.
I’ll have another opportunity to escape.I’ve gained their confidence now.I have the upper hand.This will surely give them more reason to trust me.
Why do I want them to trust me?Why do I care?
My heart tugs at the thought.When did I start to care so much about them?When did the lines become blurred?It’s as though I want to be their captive.As though I don’t want to leave.What the fuck is wrong with me?
I’m too much in my head, and I don’t even realize that we’re back inside Bear’s compound.There goes my chance.Zion carries a sleeping Cleo, his arms wrapped around her little form.
Hands grab my legs and back from behind.I’m lifted up, and I scream, making Bear laugh.
“It’s time to celebrate, princess!”he sings, and before I can protest, he shoves me into that goddamn slide that goes into his underground playhouse.
Darkness consumes me and I smile.He’s happy.I’m relieved that Zion got his daughter back.That she’s safe with him now.
Loud laughter echoes off the walls of the slide, bleeding into my ears.I reach the bottom, but I don’t move.I wait until Bear bumps into my back.His legs wrap around my waist, his hard cock pushes into my lower back, and his breath is hot against my neck.
“I hate this,” he whispers, and I frown.His fingers tangle in my wig, and he rips it off, throwing it away behind him into the dark tunnel.
My breathing picks up.He runs his fingers gently through my natural hair, and my eyes flutter closed.He places his hand around my stomach and heads straight for my core.He cups my pussy through my jeans, his thumb rubbing against my clit.A deep need for release pulses through me.
Leaning my head back against his shoulder, I give in, letting him have me.I’m done denying my attraction to him.Tonight, I’ll let go, have fun, and tomorrow, I can return to being the captive.Planning my escape.
My stomach stirs.I’m torn at the thought of leaving here.Leaving them.
He unbuttons my jeans, then pulls down the zipper.His cold hand plunges into my underwear, his fingers slipping straight into my folds.My eyes flutter closed.
