[Music: Bad Choices By Saint Vice]

Breathe, Ana. Fucking breathe.

I did, but it was impossibly sluggish and took all my willpower. I hitched heavier when Zade turned and our eyes locked.

There was something heated behind those eyes that made my skin tingle with warmth, and suddenly, the water seemed too hot.

I could feel my cheeks burn, spreading across my face and down my chest, where it felt almost melting.

I dropped my gaze, and a soft gasp fled from me. He’s hard. But that alone was an understatement; he was solid as steel.

I gulped, the mere sound echoing in my eardrums.

My eyes tracked as that broad hand of his pushed the stall open. He stepped out of the shower, dribbling from head to toe like a buttered cream waiting to be licked as he walked to me.

The closer he got, the more I sank into the water until it was just my head. I don’t mind drowning right now if I could escape this. This was beyond anything I have ever handled.

"Done?" he asked in a more huskier voice, lips tipped wickedly. "Join me for a shower. The water’s warm enough for two."

"No."

"I wasn’t asking, kitten."

My whole body hollered for me to get out of this tub, like there wasn’t any other end to this.

"How about this?" he muttered, wetting his lips as if to taunt me further. "Join me, and I’ll answer every question you have."

This bastard.

Throwing conditions around like it was sports day every chance he got.

"That’s not fair," I muttered.

He grinned, flashing a row of perfect white teeth. "I never was."

"What makes you think I want to join you there?"

"If your eyes weren’t devouring me like the last thing on the menu, I might have thought otherwise."

"That’s where you’re wrong." I pushed my body upward, my nipples hardening from the kiss of air. "I’m not attracted to you."

"Haven’t we been over this, little kitten? Do I need to remind you how you came on my tongue and fingers like a slut."

Chills grasped my spine, a log in my throat, but I didn’t let that stop me. "A girl got her release. Something I could have taken from any—"

My word died when I hung on my tiptoes, suspended by his hands wrapped around my throat.

The move was so swift that there was suddenly no space between us, the heat of his body shrouding mine.

"Finish that, and we’re gonna have a problem," he warned, the muscle beneath his jaw ticking.

It was rare to see him so affected.

"Oh yeah?" I rasped. "There is only one problem here, Zade. I’m married to you."

"That’s right. You’re my wife." He bent toward me until his nose touched mine. "My property."

My breath turned ragged as well as his.

"You’re inescapable..." I rasped.

"Till death do us part."

His lips captured mine, and a tear slipped beneath my lashes, getting swallowed by his thumb stroking my cheek.

I was out of the tub as Zade pinned me to his body. My feet were on the floor, but I rose to my tiptoes as the furnace disguised as our lips burned hotter.

Why do I keep getting pulled back to him?

He took everything from me, and ruined my life. And yet I was kissing him back with the same vigor, a locked feeling of inexplicable attraction blossoming inside me.

I planted my hands on his chest, a string of saliva hanging between our lips as I peeled them off his.

I closed my eyes, turning the other way. I had said nothing, but my actions were louder than anything I had ever screamed at him.

I stood like that, long enough to feel him move, and when I opened my eyes again, I was alone.

Conflicts battled their way into my mind; the bridge between sanity and insanity was closing in on me. I wasn’t just confused. I was tearing apart bit by bit.

How do you stop craving the one thing that’s destroying you?

I swallowed back the tears that threatened to fall and walked to the shower. The warm water cascading all over me felt like a need.

I don’t know how long I was in there, but steam fogged the glass stall, and that was the cue I needed to get out.

I neared the sink and carefully shifted my eyes to my reflection. I look... I don’t even know what I look like. I could barely recognize myself. I wasn’t the same girl who tried to run away from marrying a monster.

Who am I?

I don’t even have an answer to that question. I’m no longer a Morri, nor was I a Salvero.

I released a shaky breath, veering my eyes to the marble toothbrush holder. I reached for the blue one. The bristles were pristine.

It’s new.

I brushed my teeth, an action that took forever before I rinsed my mouth. Grabbing the nearby white towel, I wrapped it around my frame and walked out of the bathroom.

There was no sign of Zade.

I walked closer to the bed and found a neat folded T-shirt. It’s his.

I brought it closer to my nose and took a whiff, a strange euphoria dousing my brain. The scent of cedarwood. As if I wasn’t already trapped with everything that screamed ’him’, now I had to wear his shirt too.

This was so unfair. I’m practically asking for my mind to eat me alive. I tossed the shirt aside, and shifted my eyes to the door. The only way to go about this was to head back to my room.

I moved, my hands reaching for the doorknob, but when I twisted it, I found it locked.

"What?" I tried again, but the damn door wouldn’t budge.

He locked me in. He fucking locked me in!

"Zade!" I yelled, banging on the door and rattling the knob. "Let me out!"