YOU'VE BEEN VERY NAUGHTY TODAY

Darrel

“Fuck!!” I screamed at the top of my voice as soon as the candle wax hit my skin.

“Does it hurt?” Aiden asked, a glint of worry plastered across his face. It was enough to make me laugh despite my situation.

“Are you actually worried about me?” I questioned in disbelief.

“Of course, I am.”

“Then why did you spill the melting candle wax on my skin?”

His expression turned serious. “Because you've been very naughty today, Darrel. But you seem to not see a fault in what you did.”

Fuck. Given his expression, I knew I'd angered him once again.

“I'm sorry,” I blurted out. “What I did was wrong. It won't happen again.”

Aiden's expression softened. Did he buy it?

“Do you mean it?” he asked gently, his tone softer than before.

“I do.”

“Then it's all good now.” Aiden's gaze dropped down to the candle burn on my chest. “Let me treat that for you.”

Dropping the candle onto a nearby tabletop, Aiden climbed onto my lap, an action that took me by surprise.

I struggled to free my bound hands strapped behind the chair, but it was to no avail.

“Stop struggling. You're only going to hurt yourself,” Aiden advised, trailing his fingers across the burn on my chest.

I drew in a sharp breath—not from pleasure but pain.

“What do you think you're doing?” I asked.

“Treating you. Our roles have been reversed in this case, don't you think?” Aiden inquired. “I get to be the doctor while you, the patient.”

Should I humor his delusion? I guess I have no choice if I want to leave here in one piece.

“How do you intend to treat me without an ointment or anything analgesic?” I asked.

A slow smirk spread across his face. “That's easy. You only need me if you want to get better, Darrel.”

Without warning, Aiden leaned down—flicking his wet tongue all over the burn on my chest.

I flinched in pain. “Stop, please.”

“Why? Is the treatment not working?”

Of course, it wasn't.

“It's not that,” I lied. “I'd just prefer using an ointment to treat the scar faster—if that's alright with you.”

Aiden frowned. “Fine. I'll go get you an ointment.”

I let out a relieved sigh.

“But on one condition.”

I tensed. “W-Which is?”

He grumbled. “Loosen up a little, Darrel. I know you don't want to be here, but you're acting a bit too stiff, don’t you think? You're making all this no fun.”

Aiden clicked his tongue. “If I start losing my interest in you, doc, that would be bad for you. Wouldn't you agree?”

He was threatening me right now, wasn't he?

“All I'm asking is that you properly treat my scar, Aiden. That's all.”

Climbing down my lap, Aiden pulled open the lower desk drawer, took out a tube of cream, and approached me.

Turning the tube cap, he pressed a small amount of the cream onto his index finger, then gently dabbed it against the burn scar on my skin.

It stung, but I tried not to show it.

“Thank you,” I said. My stomach growled.

“Are you hungry?” Aiden asked.

“I...”

“What would you like to eat? Homemade food or should I order something?”

I froze. I didn't actually think he'd try to feed me.

“Why do you look so surprised, Darrel?” he asked. “Did you think I was going to leave you to starve here?”

“Yes, I did.”

He chuckled, amused. “That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard. I've clearly made it obvious how much I care about you, Darrel. Why would I leave you to starve?”

Beats me. Why on earth did I think a psycho capable of burning me with melting candle wax would leave me to starve?

“I misunderstood things again. I'm sorry.”

Shit. How much longer do I have to keep apologizing for things I didn't do?

“That's fine, Darrel. So, would you prefer homemade food or should I order in?”

Which one had lower chances of him poisoning me?

“Order in, please.”

“What would you like to eat?” he asked. “Something greasy? I know you like cheese pepperoni pizza.”

Of course, you do.

“That's exactly what I'm craving.”

“I'll order it up then. From your usual place—Den Pizza, right?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Aiden pulled out his phone, placed the order, and then shoved the transaction receipt in my face. “All done.”

“You know, Aiden, my wrist still hurts a lot,” I said, wincing. “Do you mind loosening the tie binding my wrist?”

“I don't mind, but...” Pulling out a small pocket knife from his jean back pocket, he added, “Don't try anything stupid. I won't hesitate to sink this knife into your thigh if you do.”

I gulped. I hadn't known this guy for long, but he wasn't one to make empty threats. Plus, I knew better than to push his buttons.

“Understood.”

Tightening his grip on the knife, he cut the rope binding my wrist and ankle.

Rubbing my wrist, I winced. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you, doc. Just say the word.”

My gaze took in the unfamiliar space. “May I ask where we are?”

“We're in my home—my room, to be precise.”

Staring out the window, I spotted my house next door.

A soft chuckle escaped my lips. “You live right across from me?”

“I didn't before, but when my curiosity got the best of me, I decided to.”

I knew my neighbor very well. I mean, the man who used to live next to me. He was a loud, grumpy old man who hated my guts.

I remembered him clearly saying one day that he would never move out of his place just to spite me. So, how on earth did such a man sell his house to this psycho?

“Thinking back, the house right across from me had a different owner. He sold the place to you? Just like that?”

Aiden tsks. “That old man wouldn't sell this place to me no matter how much I offered him. I've watched you closely these past six months, so I knew you hated his guts as well. With that fact, I decided to use the easiest way I could think of to get rid of him.”

Chills ran down my spine. “You didn't.”

“Oh yes, I did. In fact, if you don't believe me, would you like to see his dead body floating in the bathtub?”