The Heartthrob's Dark Obsession

Chapter 31

Chapter 31:

Nori knew what Theo was going to do with her. He hadn't assaulted her in a week and she had felt his growing need. She sat in the bathtub as he cleaned her skin.

She felt wrong. Nori could have called for help when that door opened but she didn't. She sat there. Frozen.

But if she called for help Theo said he'd kill the person at the door and she couldn't have that on her conscience. She already hated herself enough. But a dead body on her hands would be unforgivable.

Theo turned off the water and wrapped Nori in a soft grey towel. He sat her in front of the mirror and left the room. When he came back he slipped her glasses on her face.

Was that her? In a week she was hardly recognizable. She slid the towel up and down along her line of sight confirming the sickly grey color she saw was her skin and not the towel. The cuts on her face had fadded to large pale scars. But Theo's name on her chest was still just a giant scab.

These scars were joined by a host of new disfigurements. Hickeys, scratches, bruises, strangulation marks. Nori hated it. She hated herself. She burst into tears.

"Why are you crying?" he asked.

She wanted to scream at him, curse at him, and break his stupid perfect cheekbones. But she just sat there crying, for her sadness was overwhelming compared with her anger.

"Don't ignore me, Nori. Why are you crying?"

Nori grabbed the towel and wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry. I...I got soap in my eyes and it hurt."

"You're lying to me, little one."

She turned from the mirror to face him, determined to stop looking at the damage he'd done to her. She wiped her eyes once more. As Nori looked at her beautiful captor, her overwhelming sadness vanished to be replaced by overwhelming anger. She felt a new surge of confidence. She straightened her shoulders. She could do this.

"I'm not lying. I'm following your rules."

He studied her expression and smiled, genuinely smiled. "I'm sorry I accused you of lying."

"It's okay."

"Do you think you can stand?"

"I'll try," she said softly.

She pushed herself up, using the sink to help. Her legs felt like jello after hanging from the ceiling. But that wouldn't stop her. Theo extended a hand and she took it.

The fear that normally coursed through her veins was gone. She took small steps behind him out of the bathroom.

For whatever reason a switch was flipped inside Nori. Her determination to fight back and survive was stronger than she'd ever felt it. Theo guided her in the direction of the bed, but Nori tugged his hand.

"Theo. I want to get dressed."

He looked at agitated. "Why?"

She tried to focus on that confidence she'd been feeling. She told herself that all this was just acting, just lying. She needed to do this if she wanted to protect herself.

"I'm still really exhausted from the last week and I just want to spend time with you. Besides," she paused and lowered her gaze, hoping he wouldn't flip out at her lack of eye contact, "it's more fun if I have clothes on so you can take them off." She looked back up at him.

He was eyeing her salaciously as he licked his lips. "Go on, get dressed." He released her hand. She couldn't believe that had worked. Her legs ached as she walked to the dresser and the closet to gather her clothing.