Bound

Chapter Eight

  Brianna felt completely starstruck as Gareth continued his tour of the home.   The spiral staircase led to an enormous second floor, with several bedrooms branched off the main hall.  It was quiet and austere up here, elegance in all the furnishings.   The view of the ocean was incredible however, each room opened up like a rare bloom.    He led her to the master bedroom, and one entire wall was glass, with a long balcony running the length of the house, attached.    There was an en-suite with marble soaking tub, separate shower and fixtures that looked to be actual gold.   

Nervously she moved away from the large bed dominating the huge room and stepped out on the balcony.    The call of seagulls drifted to her, the ocean calling to her with each swell.  While her little studio had a good view of the ocean across yards of sand and tourists, this was on an entirely different level.   No noise save the sound of the waves and calls of the gulls met her ears.  

There were no end to the words to express how fantastic this place was.   She turned to the man standing so silently by her side and said "It really was nice of you to bring me out here today.  It's incredible, really.  I can see why anyone would want it."

He had watched her, every step, every breath she took as they walked the silent halls of his home.  For him it was energizing to see her so refreshed and excited.  It had been such a long time since anyone had interested him, particularly for his needs, that his smile was warm as he replied to her.  "Indeed it was an honor to bring you here.   Sometimes one needs a bit of reassurance when making a purchase like this.  Your enjoyment has cemented my decision."  

Brianna looked into the dark eyes, her smile genuine, forgetting any reservations she'd had of this man of mystery before.   He seemed so kind and deferential to her, so unlike anyone she'd ever met.    She held her ground, eyes on his as he raised his hand to brush a lock of hair out of her eyes.   Her skin tingled where he briefly touched it, but she didn't shy away.   She saw the smallest flicker in his eyes, the tightening of his mouth.   

He saw her, saw his prey as clearly as ever before.   She was done for, he knew it.  There could be no stopping him now.    She would soon find her life would change, and change drastically.   His eyes blazed at that thought.  Her totally helpless, completely at his mercy.   As his fingers brushed her silky hair from her brilliant eyes he thought of how she would look soon.   He thought of how she would taste.

Marshalling the dark urges in himself, keeping the control firmly in place he stepped away from her.   "I shall bring you home now Brianna...but you will return here again, soon, I promise"

Brianna smiled, grateful for the attention, happy to have gotten to see this place, with this man.  If only.  If only she knew what truly attracted him, she would have never done more than served him a cup of coffee.   But her fate was headed down a path she could not even imagine, let alone believe.   

He escorted her from the home, careful not to touch her or alarm her in any way.  It would not do for her to know the real Gareth, at least not until she could not escape him....