I’ve been abducted, and I’m in a stranger’s bed.
What the hell am I doing in a stranger’s bed, and what the hell are they going to do to me?
A blood-curdling scream flies out of my mouth as I attempt to rip the ties holding me down, but with every tug, every pull, the rope digs into my wrist, not letting up.
I try to lift from the bed to look around, but the way I’ve been tied, I can barely get my head up.
Okay, this is not good.
This is not good at all.
Panic is replaced by terrifying fear.
I’ve been abducted with no way of knowing where I am, who took me, and how to escape. Easily the scariest moment of my life, and as tears fill my eyes, I hear the distinct sound of feet moving around outside the bedroom.
Since I can’t see anything, all I can do is listen carefully. The feet come closer, fear ramps up in my chest, and when the door to the room creaks open, I can’t hold back.
“I’m not who you think I am,” I shout as I can’t see anyone. “I know what you must think. I look like Princess Lilly, and I was technically sleeping in her bedroom, but I’m actually a decoy. The palace has used me to make it look like Princess Lilly has recovered from the cancellation of her wedding, so whatever plans you have for me, they won’t work.” Yes, this is good. This is really good. Run with the decoy thing. “Although, job well done on the kidnapping thing. I’ll be sure to applaud you when I get my hands back. Which by the way, when will that be? I have an itch on my nose that’s just unrelenting, plus . . . yes, you know, I think I have to go to the bathroom. Is that something you can accommodate, or is this one of those mattresses that can soak up pee? Just let me know my options because I don’t want to pee on your mattress if it’s something you care about, and also, the pee smell might make it unpleasant in here. Anyway, if you could just let me loose, I promise to pretend this never happened, and we can go our separate ways. How does that sound?” I tack on a smile and offer a thumbs-up, hoping my capturer will go easy on me.
But silence falls in the room.
Was there even a person near the room?
Am I hearing things?
Is this all some sort of weird dream?
I try to crane my neck to look toward the door, but it’s useless.
Just as I give up, I feel a presence near the bed, then . . . “You fucking retained nothing when I trained you.”
My body stills.
My heart stops.
And the blood in my veins freezes over.
Keller?
I lift my head up as high as I can, straining my neck just to catch the smallest of glimpses of a tall, broad figure standing in the doorway. Shaggy blond hair, a thick full beard, arms like boulders . . .
Holy.
Shit.
“Keller?” I ask.
He takes a step forward, coming fully into my view, and from the mere sight of him, an entire shiver works through my body.
“Why . . . where . . . I don’t understand,” I say, taking in his overbearing stature. He looks so different, not just because of his hair and beard, but he looks weathered, like he’s seen hell and just returned. His waist is thinner, but his chest is broader, and his arms are chiseled. I can see every sinew of muscle, every vein working in his forearms. “Where are we? Why are you here? Why am I tied up?”
He doesn’t say anything. Instead, he moves to the bed, his sizable stature eating up all the oxygen in the air as he undoes the ties on my legs, then works his way to my arms. The entire time, I take him in, a million questions running through my head.
The most important one being,why the hell are you here with me?
Once I’m released from the constraints, I sit up and scoot against the headboard like a scared animal, pulling my legs into my chest. His eyes roam me, sunken and lifeless. The man I once knew is nowhere to be found. He’s been replaced by this cold, comatose human.
I’m scared.
