Love in Captivity: Chains of Obsession

Senses

I watch as Colton leans back in his chair with what I'd call a self-satisfied smirk on his lips as if he could sense my internal struggle. I fought the urge to roll my eyes; the mix of affection and control in his gaze sent a shiver down my spine.

"See, baby? You're already starting to understand," he says with confidence. "You just need a little time to adjust."

Adjust? The word made my blood boil. This wasn't an adjustment; it was wrong, what he did taking away my choices. My heart races as I push the food around on my plate I feel my stomach churn with unease.

"Colton," I say trying to test the waters. "What if I don't want to adjust?"

His expression shifted slightly and the small amount of softness was replaced by irritation. "You don't get a choice in this. Not anymore, beautiful,he says. "But I promise, I'll take care of you. Just trust me."

Trust him? again?

I take a bite of the food and force it down, but the taste is almost bitter in my mouth. "I'm trying," I say, "I just... it's hard to see things your way when everything feels so wrong."

Colton leans forward and his eyes narrow as he studies me. "You think this is easy for me?" he asks and his voice drops to a low and what I could only describe as an intense whisper. "I'm doing this because I care about you. You have no idea what I've had to go through to keep you safe with me."

Safe. The word echoes in my mind almost like a taunt. I look at him as I try to find any sign of truth behind the mask of control he always seemed to have. "But what about my feelings, Colton?" I ask with agitation. "What about what I want?"

His eyes darken and for a brief fleeting moment, the man I once trusted flickers into view. "What you want is dangerous,baby, I told you to stay put. You just couldn't listen to me. My men are dangerous especially the one you saw at our front door. He's my brother right hand. My brother was to push me out of the way or make me step down. They will not use you against me.," he snaps at me and a flash of anger breaks through his calm demeanor.

I straighten my back as my heart pounds in my chest. "You're not the one who gets to decide that," I shot back at him the words leaving out before I could stop them.

For a moment, silence enveloped us. I could see the gears turning in his mind as he processes what I just said and how to respond and I knew I had crossed a line when I ssee the look on his face .

Then he smiled at meand it didn't reach his eyes. "Oh, my sweet girl," he says. "Baby you seem to have gotten back fire that drew me to you in the first place, do you rememberwhat it was like in the beginning?" he reaches forward and touches my cheek with his thumb.

I feel my stomach drop instantly at his wicked words. "Colton, this isn't a game."

"Oh, but it is, darling. It's a game you've already lost, I have you right where I want you." he tells me casually.

A heavy silence fills the room.

I take another small bite of food and force myself to chew as he watches with amusement at me trying to contain my anger. I could feel his eyes look into me as if watching my every move.

"Finish your meal," he orders as he grew impatient with my small bites his tone leaves no room for disobedience.

With a tight grip on my fork, I nod and swallow the lump in my throat. As I force myself to eat, I mentally plot my escape, anything and everything.

I need to buy time. I need to play the part of the obedient captive while I figure out how to outsmart him, i don't need him.

When I set my fork down, Colton's eyes lit up with approval. "Good girl, see? Was that so hard?"

I force a smile. "Not at all," I say steady.

He stood up and moved around to stand closer. "Good girl," he murmurs as he brushes a thumb across my cheek. "Now baby girl you're actually starting to see how much better this can be if you just let me in."

I bit my lip to suppress the retort. Let him in? No, I needed to keep him out.

As he leans down to press a soft kiss to my forehead, a rush of conflicting emotions flooded through me. I hate the way my heart races at his touch, the way my body betrayed me. But I wouldn't let him see that. How he already had his nails dug into me. Just how deep.

"Let's talk about our future," he says as he pulls back slightly to look into my eyes. "I want to show you everything we can have together."

I force myself to nod and bite back my anger and fear that wants to snap at him. "Okay," I reply above a whisper. "Let's talk."

No matter how strong his hold was, I refused to let him keep me captive forever. Not again.

He leans back in his chair. "Let's talk about our future," he says with authority and expectation. "You need to understand how much better your life will be with me."

I narrow my eyes,. "You mean your version of my life," I snap back. "I don't want to be a possession, Colton."

"Possession? Is that what you think this is, baby?" his amusement fades slowly as he leans forward closer to me. He engulfes my space with warmth. "You're mine, Hannah, whether you like it or not. You will learn to accept that. This is about keeping you safe."

I kept his look as I refused to look away. I feel my jaw tighten in anger."You can't own me, I'm not a thing to be controlled or manipulated, Colton. I'm a person with my own thoughts and desires."

He smiles. "That's adorable,baby. You think you have a choice in this?" He leans closer again and with a low whisper. "You will learn to obey, and in time, you'll come to love it. Love me."

"I'll never love you for what you've done," I reply firm as I stare plainly at him. "This isn't love, it's control, Colton in a twisted way but I won't stand for it." I stare at this man who i grew to love in a twisted way. His twisted way.

"You're testing me, aren't you?" he asks as he arches his brow. "You think you can provoke me Hannah, and get away with it?" he asked with dark amusement.

I swallow hard at his words as I push back the fear.

"I'm not afraid of you," I snap at him angrily as I try and even my breathing . "You may have tried to break me, Colton,but you'll never succeed I refuse to submit to your twisted version of love."

"Oh, I think you really underestimate me, babygirl. I enjoy a challenge and you, my sweet, are the most delicious challenge I've ever faced. I could keep the lights out again, what about that? See how long it takes for you to come to your senses."