Erica“Thor! Thor!” I walked into the dense thicket that outlined the trees as I cursed myself for putting him down when I came out of the castle. The little dog ran off like a shot, like he was living in a cage and just now saw the outside world, whereas in truth I had spent the last few days playing with him all around the castle especially at night when we would enjoy our time on the terrace after dinner. At that time Antonio would leave me alone as he maintained his distance with Thor like my little dog carried plague with him. Now here I was looking for him, when I should be teaching him a new trick. Just yesterday, I taught him to sit and stand. It was fun being with him, especially when he took my mind off certain things and one sexy arsehole who had somehow managed to hypnotize me because one dark look and one sensual touch from him sent me into heat that I couldn’t seem to shake off.I heard a branch snap behind me and turned around to find Ephraim standing there with Thor i

EricaToday, I woke up with a shadow over my head. It was the beginning of a nightmare. I had felt like there was a presence beside me with a dark mask to hide his face and it was looming over me waiting for a perfect time to hurt me.But then, Antonio’s sleep roughened voice had broken into my slumber and I had jerked awake, narrowly missing the tight grasp of the darkness. And when Antonio had asked me if I had a nightmare, I had kissed him so I wouldn’t have to answer him. He becomes an irritating arsehole when I don’t answer his probing questions. Talk about relationship boundaries between a captor and his captive. I mean it’s not like we have any kind of real feelings for each other, we fûcked just because we were insanely attracted to each other and he gave me what I wanted. It’s not like we have a real relationship where we will share feelings which will lead us to talk about our past traumas and share our fears. Gah. Impossible.But it sure prompted me to ask questions about h

EricaThe darkness surrounded me from everywhere. Shadows threatened and touched me without my permission even when I screamed. It hurt when they touched and they didn't care when I pleaded with them to stop. They didn't stop they never stopped. I was a little girl trapped with the faceless monsters. I didn't have anywhere to run. I was trapped. Trapped with these dark shadows.Until...The door opened and the shaft of light entered, backlighting a tall man who entered the darkness like he feared nothing. Like he ruled it and everyone in it. I cried for help and begged him to save me. Wondering if this shadowy figure would be my salvation and then he turned to look at me and I caught his golden brown eyes.“Antonio!”I jerked awake, my breathing fast and hollow as I looked around myself, half expecting the shadowy figures standing around the bed but there was no one. I tried to clear this heavy feeling surrounding my mind and my thoughts. I was in the bedroom. In Antonio’s bedroom. I

EricaAs I walked to Antonio’s office, Thor followed after me but I had to pause and instruct him to stay put to stop him from entering his office. Even though he had brought the dog for me, I had noticed every time he’d stiffened just because Thor got too close to him. Thor gave a cute little whine but stayed still as I knocked on the door. Antonio’s deep voice filtered through the thick wooden door, “Come in.”I pushed the door open and entered. Antonio was sitting behind his desk as he wrote something on the ledger opened in front of him. The fire was burning low in the hearth, keeping the room warm as the temperature outside dropped with each day that passed. For a brief moment, I took him in in his shirt sleeves that were rolled up to his forearms and the way his shoulders looked, strong and wide. Even here sitting in his office, engrossed in his work he looked the most handsome man I had ever laid my eyes on. And believe me, I knew most of them.And then he looked up and paused,

Erica “Hey, big sister.” I said into the phone. The silence on the other end was weighty until it broke as my sister gasped, “Rica! Oh my god... Where are you right now ? Are you okay? Did you get out of there? Tell me, where are you? Are you hurt or—” “Summer... Take a breath. I’m not hurt, I am okay.” I took a shaky breath as I sat down on one of the chairs near the window. “What about you? Are you okay?” “Don’t try to turn this conversation around. Tell me, where are you?” My sister demanded, her voice turning determined even as I could hear the tears in her words. “Is he there with you? Who's number is this? Are you still in his house?” “If you’ll let me talk, I’ll tell you everything.” I said, wiping my tears. “Fine.” There was a sound of the door closing and then she said, “I am putting you on speaker. Gabriel is here.” “Erica...” Gabe’s warm voice settled over me, reminding me of all the time he had taken care of me and my sister. “Hi..” I replied. “Where are