MasukHAZELI turn toward Axel and look him straight in the eye.This is a rare moment where he’s not really that cold self of his. He’s lowered his defences. And this is the question I have asked him over and over since the moment he brought me into this house, until I stopped, until I realised he wasn’t going to answer me.But we have never had this moment before. This might be the golden opportunity, so I feel like I can try, right?“Why am I here, Axel?” I ask. “Why did you bring me here?”He doesn’t break eye contact. There’s a subtle change in his expression, so small most people wouldn’t catch it. But I’m looking too hard. I’ve been trying to read him for so long, trying to read his reactions.I’m still not there yet. But I do know something passed over his face before his hand comes up to my cheek.He uses two fingers to lightly graze my skin, and it makes me shiver, holding back whatever sound was about to leave my mouth.“You’re so beautiful, Hazel. Do you know that?” he asks inst
HAZELI hear the sound of the door closing and immediately stand upright on the bed, and I have to admit, I am scared for a second. My heart is beating so loud it feels like it might echo off the walls.For a split second, I think it’s Luca coming to finish the job or coming to do exactly what he threatened to do to me last night.But it’s not Luca.It’s Axel Moretti standing there.He’s got his hands on his pants, leaning back on the door, looking all sexy and dreamy.... and he's just looking at me, without a smirk in place.For a second, we just stare at each other. No one says anything until I finally recover. Swallowing, I ask, “What are you doing here?”He smiles, taking one hand out of his pants and walking closer toward the bed. He doesn’t just walk, either. Every step is measured, controlled, deliberate, while his stare strides into my eyes. Those powerful, long steps toward me make me hold my breath.“I remember you saying you had a good day because you had a great sleep,” he
HAZELBecause that smirk from Axel… it was a knowing smirk. Like he knew I had had a great sleep and he knew why. Like he was a reason. Like the two of us shared a dirty secret. And given what happened last night, I didn’t want him to think..... oh, this is so embarrassing.“That’s not what I mean,” I quickly say, trying to retract my words, and his smile grows even bigger from my denial.“Great to know I helped you. How’s.....” he starts, then pauses. “I hope you're sleeping involved me doing filthy things to you.”I stare at him m eyes wide. I can’t do anything but look toward my plate and swallow whatever I was about to say, hoping the earth would swallow me and I could disappear.I take the glass of wine and chug it all down before placing the glass back on the table, then concentrate on my food because… conversation doesn’t seem to be the right word to describe what's happening between us right now. And he’s already giving me this knowing, winning smile that is just so....lovely
HAZELI turn to the computer in the library and start looking for work I could do online and the skills I would need. And it’s there that I choose to create a new persona.I’m going to register myself for these skills and start learning them so that by the time I’m out of here, I have something steady.....Plus, I remind myself I still have the money that Axel gave me, the money he sold me for. I still have it.So the first thing I should do when I get out of here is either take it all or transfer it somewhere else so he won’t know when I withdraw the money, so he has no way to trace me.Maybe I should start doing that now.That decided I start researching and planning for the moment I leave this mansion, that I don’t even realise it’s lunch. I try to make Angela bring me food in the library, but she says food isn’t allowed there, so I go to the dining room, eat lunch alone, and then go right back to researching.****Later, when I’m heading upstairs to prepare myself for dinner, I see
HAZELWhen Axel has finally caught his breath, he gets off me, and his cock slips from within me. A small whimper escapes my lips as the emptiness replaces the warmth he left behind. I am sore as hell.Axel immediately goes for his clothes, not turning to look at me. He doesn't say anything. No lingering touch, no glance back...just silence.He quickly pulls his clothes on, efficient and controlled, like nothing just happened between us.And then he leaves the room. I watch him as he walks out, the door closing softly behind him. For a few seconds, I keep staring at it, almost expecting it to open again.... It doesn’t.Slowly, I turn my head and look up at the ceiling, releasing a long breath I didn’t realise I was holding. I swallow through the soreness and the dull ache spreading across my body where he held too tight, where he bit too hard, where his grip still lingers like fingerprints beneath my skin. I take another deep breath, replaying everything that happened between us.I t
HAZELHe smiles.“Yes, you do.” He brushes his thumb lightly over my bottom lip, his gaze lingering on my mouth. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you want me...... Desperately.” His touch trails down my jawline. “And I’m going to give you exactly what you want..... Exactly what you need.”His words are a promise, and I’m both terrified and excited.“This won’t change how I feel about you. It's just sex, I still hate you.”“I know.” He grips my hips, flipping me onto my stomach and pressing me into the mattress. His chest presses against my back, his weight a heavy reminder of his dominance.“I don’t want you to love me, Hazel.... I do love that you hate me though. Makes this even more satisfying.” He wraps one hand around my throat, fingers tightening with a possessive grip.He trails his other hand down my body, slipping his fingers between my wet folds. I gasp, arching my back as his grip tightens around my throat.“Good girl,” he purrs against my ear.Two of his fingers push







