LET ME REMIND YOU OF YOUR PLACE

Darrel

When I got back home after Aiden's session, the first thing I did was change my door lock. To think that creep had been inside my home.

“Fuck!“ I cursed. “Yet the police claim he isn't doing anything wrong. What do I do?“

Would changing the locks solve the issue? He could always find out my passcode again if he wanted.

Moving to the bedroom, I stared down at my rumpled bedsheets. Who knows what else Aiden did on my bed aside from lying down on it?

“This is driving me nuts,“ I grunt. I was already exhausted from my day at the office. Just to come home to this. 

Pulling out the bedsheets, I changed them. Then, I moved towards my bedroom window and drew down the curtain.

I wasn't going to let a stranger make me feel uncomfortable in my own home. Why did I have to sleep in a motel when Aiden was the one who needed help?

All this has to end. During our next session, I'll make sure to put Aiden in his place. As I climbed onto the bed to sleep, I found myself unsettled.

Jumping at the faintest sound I heard coming from the window or downstairs.

“I'm really going to have to put an end to all this tomorrow,“ I swore, staring up at the bedroom ceiling until my eyes felt heavy and I drifted off to sleep.

When morning came, I checked around the house to see if anything was out of place. Nothing was. Then, I freshened up and got ready to go to the office.

“Good morning, Doctor Darrel,“ Constance greeted, handing over a file to me. “Here is a list of patients scheduled for today's appointments.“

Retrieving the file from her, I opened it, searching for Aiden's name, but it wasn't there.

I let out a huge sigh of relief. “Got it.“

Settling down in my chair, I heard a soft knock on the door.

“Come in,“ I responded. The door clicked open as Zagreb, the hospital director, strolled in.

“I heard you left the office rather early last week, Darrel,“ he said, approaching me. When nearly a hair's breadth separated us, Zagreb grazed his fingers along my cheeks. “I hope you weren't sick or anything.“

The feeling of his fingers against my skin made me want to puke. But I sucked it up because he was the hospital director.

Zagreb always did this—found a way to touch me. I understood that he was attracted to me and all that, but this man seriously couldn't take a hint.

“I had a slight headache that day,“ I admitted. It was partially true. Aiden's revelation of having been stalking me for the past three months did give me a slight headache.

Zagreb's fingers brushed my cheeks. “You don't feel sick anymore.“

Shit. Get your fucking hands off me!

“Yes, I'm all better now. Thanks for your concern.“

Right on cue, Constance walked in. “Doctor, your first patient has arrived.“

“Send her in.“ Turning to face Zagreb, I added, “I have a patient now. If you don't mind.“

“Sure. I'll be taking my leave. I'll see you after your shift is over?“

I nodded. “I'll be waiting.“

My gaze followed Zagreb as he took his leave. I pulled out a bottle of water from within my desk, twisted its cap open, and gulped down its contents.

It was a ritual I often did when I was anxious.

“Are you anxious?“ a familiar voice asked. Even if I was asleep, I would have been able to recognize that voice.

My whole body tensed as Aiden's face came into view. Today, he was dressed in a gray shirt again and dark blue jeans.

“We don't have a session today,“ my voice came out barely above a whisper.

“I'm not here for a session,“ Aiden revealed, taking slow but deliberate steps toward me. “I'm here to remind you of whom you belong to.“

Before I could wrap my head around what he'd said, Aiden pulled out a bat from behind him and thwacked my head, knocking me unconscious.

When I came to, I was in an unfamiliar building with Aiden seated right across from me.

“You're up?“ he asked. “Good.“

I jumped. “What are you..“

My voice trailed off as I found myself strapped down to a chair with both hands and legs tied behind it. Plus, I was shirtless.

I managed to let out a short laugh. “Are you abducting me now?“

“I wish I could. But that would only make you hate me.“

Funny guy.

“What makes you think I don't already hate you?“ I asked. “I can't sleep in my own home without being aware of your presence.“

A wide grin spread across his lips. “That's good. You don't know how happy I am to hear that you think of me.“

I rolled my eyes, frustrated. What had I expected from him anyway?

“Untie me,“ I demanded. “My wrists hurt.“

His grin faded off completely. “Not so fast, doc. You crossed the line today, so you ought to be punished.“

I frowned. “What?“

My gaze followed Aiden's motion as he reached out for a long whip.

“I saw you and that man today, Darrel,“ he revealed. “That businessman dressed in a black suit and all that.“

Was he talking about Zagreb?

“He's one of the hospital directors,“ I found myself explaining. Fuck! What exactly had this kid turned me into? “There's nothing between us.“

“And yet, you let him flirt with you?“

I winced. He saw all that?

“He's my superior. I can't exactly talk down to hi—“

Aiden forcefully yanked my head back. “I hate it. Everyone gets to touch you except me. It's sickening. What makes me any different from that man? Fine. I observed you in secret, but I never made any advances toward you until now. So, why do you refuse me when you can't refuse your superior?“

I didn't respond to him. Not because I didn't want to, but rather, I didn't know how to.

“You have nothing to say?“ he asked. “Fine. Then, all I want to hear from now on are your screams.“

Releasing his grip on the back of my head, Aiden tightened the whip around my body. Without warning, the whip tore against my skin.

I cried out loud in pain. “Fuck!“

“ 'Fuck' isn't the word you're supposed to be saying right now, Darrel,“ Aiden growled. “You're supposed to be apologizing to me. Apologize for letting another man touch you. You belong to me. No one else. Is that so hard for you to get through your head?“

He whipped me yet again, harder this time. “Apologize!“

“I'm sorry,“ I pleaded.

“For what?“

“For letting another man touch me.“

“Good. Very good.“ Aiden tossed the whip across the room. Then he picked up a melting candle.

“What are you doing with that?“ I stuttered.

“I'm going to use this candle wax to brand you as mine, Darrel,“ he revealed. “So that you don't ever forget that.“

Slowly, he spilled the melting candle wax onto my skin.