Criminal

Chapter 20

I groggily opened my eyes, the events of the previous night feeling like a hazy dream. As I lay in bed, I could hear sounds coming from downstairs - clinking and clattering as dishes were washed and pots were put away.

I slowly got up, still feeling disoriented and confused, and walked down the stairs to find an older woman cooking breakfast in the kitchen. "Who are you?" I asked, the words tumbling out of my mouth before I could even think.

The woman turned to look at me, her eyes sizing me up with a shrewd, assessing gaze. "Good morning, dear," she said finally, her voice warm but tinged with a hint of distance. "My name is Alice. I'm Mr. Jensen's housekeeper."

"Mr. Jensen?" I repeated, trying to rack my brains for any memory of the name. But nothing came to mind.

"Yes, Mr. Kael Jensen," Alice clarified with a small smile. "He's the owner of this house, dear."

Owner? What did she mean by that? And why couldn't I remember anything about him? It was as if my memory had been wiped clean overnight.

As if on cue, I heard footsteps approaching from the hallway, heavy and purposeful. A moment later, Kael strode into the room, his expression dark and brooding. "Alice," he barked, his voice laced with annoyance. "I thought I told you not to bother our guest."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Jensen," Alice said apologetically, quickly gathering up her things. "I was just making breakfast."

"Well, next time make sure you do it quietly," Kael snapped, grabbing me roughly by the neck and pushing me towards the stairs. "Come on, Ava. We need to talk."

I stumbled along behind him, struggling to keep up with his long strides as he dragged me back up to the bedroom. Once there, he pushed me onto the bed and loomed over me, his face a mask of fury.

"What did you think you were doing, talking to Alice like that?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

"I didn't mean to offend her," I protested weakly, feeling trapped and cornered by his intense gaze. "I was just curious."

"Well, next time keep your curiosity to yourself," he growled, advancing on me with a fierce glint in his eye. "Or else..."

I didn't even want to know what the "or else" entailed. But before I could react, he had undressed me and yanked me towards the bathroom. I struggled against his grip, kicking and screaming as he dragged me over to the shower.

He bound my wrists to the shower head, leaving me completely helpless as he turned on the water. The cold spray hit me like a shock to the system, sending shivers down my spine as I gasped for breath.

Kael stood there, watching me with an unreadable expression as he began to wash me with rough, punishing strokes. I cried out in pain and frustration, but he showed no mercy, relentlessly scrubbing every inch of my skin until I felt raw and exposed.

And yet...as much as I hated him in that moment, there was still a part of me that couldn't help but feel aroused by his touch. The way he handled me so roughly, without any concern for my comfort or pleasure, only fueled the fire burning inside me. It was twisted and perverse, but I couldn't deny the rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins as he dominated me in such a brutal way.

As the water cascaded over us, mingling with our mingled sweat and tears, I found myself teetering on the edge of pleasure and pain. Each touch, each caress, was like a brand searing itself into my skin, marking me as his in a way I couldn't fully comprehend.

And despite my best efforts to resist him, a small part of me couldn't help but crave more. More of his rough touch, more of his punishing control, more of the forbidden ecstasy that came from surrendering to him completely.

In that moment, as he continued to ravage me beneath the unforgiving spray of the shower, I realized that I was trapped in a dangerous game of desire and domination. Kael's dominance over me ignited a primal need deep within, a need I couldn't ignore no matter how hard I tried.

With each punishing stroke of his hands, I felt myself unraveling, surrendering to the overwhelming sensations consuming me. And as the intensity of our encounter reached its peak, I found myself teetering on the edge of release, desperate for the forbidden pleasure only he could provide.

But just as I was on the brink of ecstasy, Kael abruptly withdrew, leaving me hanging on the precipice of desire. Gasping for breath, I looked up at him, my eyes pleading for more, for the release I so desperately craved.

But he just smirked, his gaze dark and predatory as he leaned in close, his hot breath sending shivers down my spine. "You're not ready to handle what comes next," he murmured, his voice low and filled with promise. "But don't worry, Ava. I'll teach you."

With that, he untied me from the shower head, leaving me trembling and breathless on the bathroom floor. As he disappeared from the room, leaving me alone with my tangled thoughts and desires, I couldn't help but wonder what other dark pleasures awaited me at the hands of this enigmatic man.

But one thing was certain: I was already hopelessly entangled in his web of seduction, and there was no turning back now.