She watches me silently.
She looks thin and exhausted. I also know that she just needs to eat and sleep. The stress of the situation is making her feel ill.
“It’s a chalkboard,” I say. I write a time on the board: eight in the morning. I write another one down: six in the evening. I write two more times: nine in the evening, and one in the morning. She watches me the whole time, unmoving, quiet as a mouse.
“I’m changing the rules of the game, just a little bit,” I say. “On this board are a list of times. Starting at each time, you have one hour to leave the cage. I will not enter this room, and I will not touch you.”
She remains silent, but I can tell she’s listening intently. She moves closer to me, closer to the entrance to the cage.
“You can do whatever you want during this hour,” I say. “Sleep, shower, whatever you desire. If you’re good, I’ll give you more time. Maybe even a few hours at night so that you can sleep.” I pause and smile at her. “But only if you’re good.”
“How do I know you’re not lying?”
Her sudden speech surprises me. I stare at her for a second, feeling like I imagined it, but no, she definitely spoke.
“Have I lied to you yet?” I ask.
“No,” she says.
“No, I haven’t. And I’m not lying to you now.” I crouch down in front of the cage and watch her, eyes hard. “I can come into that cage any time I want, but I don’t, because I made you a promise. I will keep my promises to you, princess. I’ll never break them.”
She stares at me, but says nothing. At least she isn’t recoiling away from me like she normally does.
Emboldened, I stand up and leave the room. Out in the kitchen, I get her meal together: a delicious soup, some freshly baked bread, and a tall glass of lemonade. I carry it on a tray back into the room and place it down on the table.
She watches the food, her eyes wide. I can tell that she wants it, and wants it badly. I've always given her food, but I’m a bastard. It’s been mediocre and only there for nourishment. This is a treat. And she knows it.
“Come here, princess,” I say softly. I crouch down near the cage’s entrance again. “Let me hold you. Let me feed you.”
“No,” she says softly.
“Come,” I say. “You’ll be safe. I’ll take care of you if you come out. I promise I’ll only feed you this time.” I’m hoping this time she’ll give in. She’ll crack, and whatever held her back before won’t sneak up again this time.
She stares at me and moves closer to the entrance. Hope blooms in my chest. She’s considering it. She looks me up and down with her brows drawn together. “Promise me?”
“I promise,” I say. “I want to hold you and feed you. Come here.” I hold out my hand.
She slides closer, close enough to touch. I reach in and gently take her hand.
My heart begins to pound in my chest. She’s finally letting me touch her. I pull her toward me, being as careful as I can, but I see pain on her face. I frown, surprised.
I didn’t think she was actually sick. But as I pull her out, I realize she’s burning up.
She has a fever.
“How do you feel?” I ask her as I carry her in my arms to the table. I try to control my expression, but I’m worried. I didn’t feel a fever two days ago. This is new.
“I’m fine,” she says quietly.
I sit down with her in my lap. I can feel my cock stirring with excitement and the darkness begging to be fed, but I block it all out. I made a promise, and I’m going to keep my promises to her.
“You feel warm,” I say softly. I take a spoonful of soup and bring it to her lips. She accepts it gratefully. I get another and another, and she eats every single one. Good girl.
“I’m fine,” she says finally. I break off some bread and gently feed it to her. My fingers slip past her soft lips, and I feel the warmth of her mouth. Again my dick hardens, but I ignore it. I can feel my breathing coming in heavier, but I don’t act on the thoughts screaming in my head.
I shift her weight in my lap. Her whole body rests against mine, almost like she can barely keep herself upright. She’s so damn light, and I marvel all over again how easily I could break her if I wanted. She’s not well, I remind myself. I’m not well.
It’s so fucked that I keep having these thoughts. I keep thinking about taking her, breaking her, making her mine. I want to feed her and make her well again, but the darkness inside of me keeps warring against that, begging for me to go against my promises to her.
