An Eye for Art

Chapter One

Fuzzy. Warm. Oh so warm. My body. A weighted bliss. Soft. Silky. The covers underneath me caress my skin. A scent lingers from the room. What is it?

The fog from my eyes creeps away, and my head pounds in its absence. The room is gloomy, lit with miniature candles. Taking a deep breath, the scent drifts into my nose. Ah. Leather. Where am I? My mind remains aloof; my eyes can see, but the connection between sight and awareness is severed. Where am I?

    Rattling erupts from the side of me; creaking. A door? Footsteps draw closer. My head is immobile. Not by choice. By some invisible force. My eyes shift as far as possible to the sound next to me. A figure stands there, staring; the silhouette of a body. Their face inch closer. Why can't I comprehend their face?

    "So precious." Deep. Somber. The voice is husky and sends chills down my spine. Who is he? Who is he? His arm shifts and his hand caresses my cheek. He breathes in, his nose pressing against my cheek, and breathes out, sighing.

    "So sweet." His breathing is steady.

    "Time to go." Grabbing my arms tightly, he yanks me from the bed. Fuck. I struggle against his grip, crying.

    "Stop fucking crying, Adilene," he growls. My mouth slams shut, but my eyes are wide open, sending floods down my cheeks. How? How did I get here?

    The halls are made of elegant wood with intricate trimmings. He drags me into another room with the same wooden walls. Detailed cupboards, modern stove, rustless sink, amber dining table.

    "It's time for my dinner." We stopped. Bending down, he hoists me onto his shoulder and holds me there with one hand. Rough, cold. His hand feels like ice against my skin, but the chains he clasps around my ankles and wrists are frigid. Sliding me off of his shoulder, I nearly fell to the ground, but I am jerked in place, stopped from falling by the chains that hold me. Pain sears through me as the chains bite at my skin, my weight fighting an impossible war against the chains that counteract gravity.

    He backed away. Taking in his prize. A grin was etched on his face, so full of craving. Turning around, he walks toward the cupboard. He grabs a black plate. A wine glass. A fork. I observe his movements carefully. He's rich. Finished with setting the table, he opens up the stove and pulls out a lasagna. He can cook. Steam rises from the glassware, and he breathes in the smell.

    "Nothing like a good risotto to satisfy a man's hunger," he snorts, "well. . . except for you." My body trembles at his attraction. Popping a bottle of wine open, he fills his cup and sits down. With his plate all prepared, he stares at me as if I'm his favorite television program, eating his food delicately. Sip. Chew. Sip. Chew. Sip. Chew. He took his time. An everlasting agony on repeat.

    "Wine is a delicacy. It has been for centuries. From the Greeks to the Romans, the French and Italians." He swishes the liquid in his glass.

"Don't forget the Wisconsiners," he chuckles before gulping the rest down. "Ah," he sighs," Do you want some?" He cocks his eyebrow and gestures the glass toward me. I stare at him. What's going on here?

    "I'll bring it to you." Grabbing the wine bottle, he rises out of his chair, the legs scraping across the floor, and walks over to me. His eyes are lustful but as dark as the night. Cold. Deceiving. Gripping my jaw, he forces my mouth open slightly and tips some wine into my mouth.

    "Do you like it?" he asks, twirling my hair between his fingers. I spit the wine in his face. He wipes his face and slaps me across the cheek. The sting burns against the icy state of my skin. Rushing out of the room, he comes back with a needle. A needle? No. No.

    "You're not playing nice. Adilene. I think you need a time out." Gripping my jaw, he tilts my head to the side. He injects a warm liquid into my neck, the fuzzy sensations rush back. Sooo peaceful.

. . .

. . .

A/N

This will be my first novel. I have excited to share it with you all, and I hope everyone enjoys it! Don't forget to comment, follow, and/or vote if you enjoyed it!