Love in Captivity: Chains of Obsession

You look exhausted

I force myself to take a breath. He was testing me that much I was sure. He was pushing my limits to see how much control he truly had. But I wouldn't give him that satisfaction, not fully.

Not now.

I can't believe, I almost let him in.
Or that I did....

"Do whatever you need to do, Colton," I reply cold and defiant as possible. "But don't think I'll bend to your will so easily."

His jaw clenches almost immediately, and I see a flicker of frustration cross his face before it's quickly masked. "You're stubborn baby, I'll give you that." He leans back and he crosses his arms and watches me with a look of both amused and irritated. "But stubbornness will only get you so far. I've dealt with tougher than you, sweetheart."

I shift in the bed, refusing to look away from his gaze, despite how exhausted and groggy I was from him drugging me. "Maybe you have, but I'm not one of your games, Colton. You can't just trap me here and expect me to fall in line."

He chuckles lowly in response to my anger. "Oh, but you already have, baby, in more ways than you realize." His fingers tap slowly on the night stand. "I don't think you understand how far I'm willing to go to make sure you're mine, Hannah. I could take away every freedom, strip away every ounce of that fierce independence, until there's nothing left but submission." His words a clear and obvious threat. Maybe a promise is the right word.

A shiver runs down my spine at his words, but I keep my face as blank and plain as possible."You can try," I whisper defiantly. "But you won't break me. Not completely, not ever.."

Colton tilts his head almost with what I would call amusement. The thought pissed me off. "We'll see about that, baby." He stands up and takes a slow step toward me, his eyes never leaving mine. He reaches out and brushes a piece of my hair back a gently. "In time, you'll understand that all of this, everything I do, it is all for you. To keep you safe and with me."

I hold my breath as I try to fight against the rising panic drowning me. "Safe? You're only keeping me safe from the things you've created and made, dangerous you brought to me. This... twisted world you've built around me."

He smiles with no warmth. "You'll thank me for this someday. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but you will."

I swallow as I feel the weight of his words press heavy on me. "I'll never thank you for taking away my freedom, Colton. Never."

His eyes darken instantly and for a moment, I think I see a flicker of something—regret, maybe—but it vanishes as quickly as it appeared. "We'll see about that." He takes one last, lingering look at me before turning away, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the echo of his words.

I exhale shakily. I needed to get out of here.

Colton turns back as he watches me with that familiar and that infuriating smirk. His gaze travels over me, lingering as though he can see right through my act, see the exhaustion I'm trying so hard to ignore.

I just need time to think so I can leave.

"You look exhausted, baby," he murmurs soft.

I press my lips together as I resist the urge to roll my eyes at him. "I'm fine," I say firmly. "I don't need sleep."

His eyebrows raise ae though amused, as if he finds my resistance entertaining. "Is that right?" he says as he takes another slow step toward me. "Funny, Hannah, because you look like you're about to drop. Its normal to feel tired as the sedative is leaving your system."

I glare at him as I cross my arms defensively. "I told you, I'm fine. I don't need you telling me when to sleep." I snap.

Colton sighs and the small amount of patience he's been holding slips. Before I time to react, he steps forward and catches my wrists, his grip firm but not painful, and guides me backward toward the bed to lay down flat. I struggle against his hold, but it's no use; he's stronger.

"Colton, stop," I protest as I push and pull against him with all my might, but he doesn't release me. Instead, he eases me down onto completly on the mattress flat in my back, his hands quickly secure my wrists with a soft cloth he pulls from his neck.

I tense, heart racing as I realize he's not just trying to put me to bed—he's tying me down, making it impossible for me to leave to escape.

"What are you doing?" I snap at him my voice coming out with a mixture of anger and fear. I tug at the tie, holding me in place. "Colton, let me go!"

He shakes his head, a weary look crossing his face. "You're exhausted, baby. It's time for you to rest,
I don'tknow why you are being so stubborn about this."

With a final knot, he pulls back and he studys me as I struggle, then turns and strides to the balcony. The dim light casts a glow across the room, but he reaches up and pulls the heavy curtains closed, shrouding us in darkness.

"Colton!" I hiss as I squirming against the bindings. But he ignores me, his silhouette visible only as he moves back to the bed.
Slowly removing his own clothing.
He climbs beside me.
"There," he says, his voice gentle but firm. "Now you have no choice but to sleep."

I grit my teeth, glaring at him, even though he can't see it. I don't want to sleep. I want to think, to plot, to find some way out of this nightmare. But as I lie there, my body slowly betrays me, the soft mattress and the darkness pulls at me, making it harder to keep my eyes open.

Colton reaches out, brushing a strand strand of hair from my face. "Get some rest, baby," he murmurs, his voice softer now, almost tender. "You'll thank meater you take a nap."

I scowl at him as I sink deeper into the bed, the weight of exhaustion presses down on me, dragging me toward sleepyt again.

My mind drifts, blurred images of escape and freedom flickering through my thoughts. I fight to stay awake, but it's a losing battle.

I feel his arm wrap around my waist.