She stared at the glass of come while I slid her pill across the table. I had the entire day with her, and I wouldn’t hide anything from her. She’d see who I was. I added some water to Rowan and Nick’s come and swirled it around the glass before handing it to her.
There was no flinch.
No emotion.
She put the pill in her mouth and swallowed it all down.
“Finish your omelette,” I said, pulling my phone from my pocket.
Me:You owe me £50.
Nick:Send proof.
I snapped a picture of the empty glass and sent it to the group chat.
Rowan:This is why I didn’t bet against you.
Nick:Fine. I’ll send you a transfer.
I grinned and slipped my phone back.
???
She took a walk outside after lunch, stopping by the blooming apple tree and exploring the far side of the garden. The tension was gone.
After breakfast, she’d waited for instructions, but I wasn’t in a rush like Nick or Rowan. The element of surprise would change things for her, so I urged her to relax.
She wandered through the house, tried to watch some TV, flipped through a magazine, and eventually went outside.
I rubbed the leather mask between my fingers, already anticipating the sensory deprivation it would cause her. The rest of the arsenal lay arranged on the bed.
The duration was set, and it was time for Ella to join me.
???
When the front door closed, I stood at the balcony, watching her. There was colour in her cheeks, and the dullness in her eyes had lifted.
“Ella,” I said softly.
She tilted her head to meet my gaze.
I smiled as she changed course and began to climb the stairs.
She stepped into the room and walked toward me.
“Did you have a nice walk?” I asked, brushing a curl over her shoulder.
“Yes,” she replied, her lips curling upward.
“That’s nice,” I murmured, unbuttoning her shirt.“We’re going to do something a little different this afternoon.”
“Okay,” she said brightly.
Poor, gullible Ella.
She reminded me of a caged bird trained to perfection—the kind that wouldn’t leave unless commanded to.
I slid the shirt down her arms, homing in on her breasts. When I leaned around her to unfasten her bra, she rested her forehead against my chest.
