“Yes,” I admit.
“No, princess. I won’t fuck you until you beg me.” My eyes widen at his confession.
I can’t live in this fucking cage forever. I crawl out, my heart beating faster and faster as I get to the opening. It’s been days since I’ve left the cage for anything other than rushed trips to the bathroom. My muscles ache from the movement. I stop at the very edge. He’s so close to me. I can feel the heat of his body.
“Gio,” I whisper so softly, I can’t hear my own voice over the sound of the blood rushing in my ears.
“Yes, princess?”
“Please don’t hurt me.” I’m ashamed of how weak I sound. I want to be stronger, but it’s been so long, and I can feel myself starting to break. But something in me is telling me that if I ask him not to, he won’t.
He reaches his hand out to my face, but doesn’t bring it beyond the invisible boundary. I move forward, letting him cup my cheek and pushing myself deeper into his touch. My heart swells with the gentle touch.
I need more, but I’m rooted in the cage and I don’t trust him. At the realization of what I’ve done, I snap out of the haze that clouded my judgment. My lips part, almost as if to argue with myself, but somehow I find the strength to pull away.
I almost went to him. My heart thuds with disbelief.
I sit at the very edge of the cage, avoiding his stare. I can feel his eyes, but I don’t look back at him.
My chest feels hollow and my stomach hurts. I can’t live in this cage forever, but I don’t want to cave to him. I feel like I’ve only just gotten my sanity back from the stupidity of starving myself. I have to resist him, even if I don’t want to anymore. I won’t let myself be weak like I was with my father.
“Sit with me, princess. I want to feed you.”
I can’t answer him. I can’t talk to him. He confuses me and makes me question myself. I pick up the blanket and cover myself.
“Grace.” His use of my name makes me look at him. There’s admonishment in his tone. “You were doing so well.”
The tenderness in his praise makes me question my resolve.
“I brought this in so I can feed it to you. That was the only reason.”
My heart sinks. He’s going to take it away.
I swallow the lump growing in my throat and shake my head.
He’ll feed me something else. I know he will.
I ignore him and sit against the cage, used to the pain from the bars. He rises, leaving the tray at the entrance to the cage and stands there, staring at me, and I can’t help but to look at it.
I expect him to take it, but he doesn’t. Instead he says beneath his breath, “Just so you can see what you’re missing, princess.”
As he walks away, my fingers rise to my cheek. His warmth and touch felt… complete. I need it. I need more.
I don’t want him to leave. I know this is a punishment of sorts. I refused him, so he’s leaving me alone. And I hate that I want him. I want his companionship. I want him to talk to me, even though I refuse to talk back.
But I can’t give in. I don’t know what I’m doing; I need a plan. For now, my only defense is this cage. It's my safety but it’s also a curse. I’m too scared to look beyond it. I need to though. I can’t stay here forever.
I tried eating last night, and I couldn’t even hold it down. I’d only taken a few bites before everything came up. I made it to the toilet, but just barely in time. I shouldn’t have starved myself. I can feel my ribs, and every little movement hurts, even breathing. I need to get well. I look back at the plate of food Gio left. I need to eat.
I hear the door click open and peek up at Gio as he leaves me, the hard lines on my face softening as he turns to look at me. I watch him leave and say nothing.
Chapter 11
Gio
Several days pass, and I feel nothing but frustration.
Grace barely ever leaves the safety of the cage. No matter what I do to try and tempt her, she stays hidden away from me, just out of reach. She only granted me that one touch. She tempted me, teased me with that touch. She stares at me defiantly when I enter the room and looks away when I speak to her, but I see something in her glances that always surprises me. I thought I was so close. She almost came out, but in the end it made her retreat further into herself.
