Little Dark One

8 - feel

Keira

I woke in a bed that was not mine, tangled in luxurious silk sheets. My pale legs were a stark contrast against the dark charcoal bedding. I gazed around what looked like a huge master bedroom, doors led to a massive walk in closet and an even bigger bathroom covered in black marble. My surroundings were no doubt masculine, a warm musk mixed with peppermint and tobacco scented the sheets around me. I was alone. 

I sat up, noticing a silver Nordstrom bag sitting on the bench at the end of the California King bed. I crawled to the end of the bed and pulled the bag into my chest, digging into it. 

I pulled out a set of white lingerie, a soft cream colored bodycon dress, and a pair of white puma sneakers. The dress was sleeveless and had a small slit running up the thigh. I had to admit, whoever did the shopping had good taste, and I was desperate to get out of my days old, ripped work clothes. 

I grabbed the bag and padded across the expansive room to the lavish bathroom. Sitting by the sink was a large Sephora bag. I was too overwhelmed to even look inside that one. I went straight into the glass shower and turned it on, flipping the handle to the hottest setting. I needed to feel something, anything. 

I couldn't pull myself out of this numb feeling and I knew I had gone too far last night. I let my despair get the better of me and I made a stupid decision. I know now I wasn't in my right mind. I was more of a danger to myself than the scary men surrounding me were. 

I found myself wondering if it was Knox who went shopping for me, but he wouldn't. He had men for that sort of thing, I'm sure. This had to be his room, the masculine energy and the signature scents I remember inhaling while I poured my tears down his shirt last night confirmed it. 

I stepped into the scalding water without flinching, I let it run through my hair and down my back. The water burned my skin, but I didn't move. I let myself feel it all. As long as I was feeling the pain, I was feeling something.

A hard knock on the bathroom door snapped me out of my reverie. I shut the water off and wrapped my dripping body in a plush white towel.

I opened the bathroom door to find Knox standing on the other side. His eyes widened slightly, almost unnoticeable, but I caught it. His gaze followed the water dripping from my hair down my damp skin and for the first time I saw him speechless. I was speechless myself, I knew this was his room, but I didn't expect to see him for some unimaginable reason. I thought it would be Blaze standing where Knox was. 

"What." I murmured, not interested in seeing him. I was embarrassed about last night, and on top of that, waking up in his bed. I don't even want to know how I got there. 

He cleared his throat "Breakfast." 

I raised my brow, not understanding his vague answer. "What about it?" 

"It's on the balcony." He said, his tone arctic. He seemed just as detached as I was. 

"Thanks." I replied in the same tone. 

I slammed the door in his face and heard a thud on the other side, the sound of a fist hitting the wall if I wasn't mistaken. 

I slipped into the lingerie, too disgusted with my old clothes to even consider them an option. I pulled the creamy dress over my head, it slid down my body like butter, hugging my slight curves in all the right places. 

I admired the dress in the mirror, but it was the only thing about my reflection I appreciated at this point. I still had bruises on my neck, the finger marks were beginning to turn yellow on my warm ivory skin. New marks were beginning to show from the makeshift noose I created last night. 

I stared into the mirror and didn't recognize the girl staring back at me. I couldn't even comprehend who I've become this past week, and I saw no way back to my old self. 

The balcony overlooked most of the property, a single stone table with two chairs sat in the middle, covered with a whole buffet of breakfast foods. It was something out of an influencer's instagram post. 

Knox was gone, leaving his deliciously musky scent behind. I was equally attracted and terrified, but I would never admit either of those things. I sat and poured myself a cup of coffee from the french press, following it with way too much cream and sugar. I liked my caffeine creamy and sweet. I underestimated the comfort the drink brought me, it was the first thing i'd consumed in days and I didn't even realize how much I truly needed it. I couldn't hold back the moan that hummed though me with the last sip.

I noticed a shadow in the corner of my eye and jumped, dropping my thankfully empty mug on the stone on accident. I slammed a hand to my chest to calm my racing heart when Knox stepped out of the shadows of the bedroom and onto the sunny balcony. 

"You scared me" I breathed. 

"Good." He responded, no expression on his hard face. 

I rolled my eyes at the ridiculously gorgeous gangster. I immediately corrected my subconscious, reminding myself he was a ridiculously dangerous gangster.

"Thank you for the clothes..." I said casually, internally freaking out at his intense presence "and for last night. I didn't mean to... I mean.. I wasn't myself-"

"I know. You don't need to explain." he interrupted my nervous rambling. 

"I wasn't thinking clearly." I said. 

He lowered his toned, inked body into the chair opposite me. "It was a test. You failed." He said matter-of-factly, completely void of any emotion.

"I failed? Because I tried to kill myself?" I shot up out of my chair, temporarily seeing past the attractive hold he had over me. 

He remained in his seat, regarding me in his signature ice cold manner. Completely unfazed by my reaction. "If you were with the FBI you wouldn't have done what you did." 

"Oh." I chose to remain standing, processing what he said. I wasn't sure if I should be offended or not. "So you believe me?" 

"You have proven your innocence. And I don't hurt innocent women. I may be a monster, but I'm not that fucked up." He leaned back in his seat and folded his hands together, his honey eyes staring me down curiously.

I was surprised by his statement. I'd proven my innocence by failing his fucked up surveillance room test? There was something seriously messed up about this guy. I could feel the rage boiling in my veins. Finally. I was feeling something, and I knew just who to take it out on.