I slowly wake, feeling groggier than I did when I passed out in the trunk. And hot. So fucking hot. I try to sit up, but then I realize I’m on the floor. My eyes pop open and adrenaline shoots through me. Memories of yesterday come flooding back. Fuck, no. No. I close my eyes and wish it was a dream. But it’s not. This is real. Was it yesterday? Or two days ago? How long has it been?

I see movement to my left, and I instinctively jump back.

“Now, angel, that’s no way to greet me.” His eyes hold a threat I haven’t seen before.

“Get on your knees.”

His words haunt me. Scenes from yesterday flash before my eyes. I lower myself to my knees slowly and wait. Outside the bedroom I can hear noises. Other people, although I can’t make out what they’re doing. At first I get the inclination to scream for help. But then I realize he brought me here for a reason. Whoever’s outside that door is on his side, not mine.

“You can listen to me,” he says with feigned amusement. Fucking prick.

He holds out a glass of water in front of me. But I’m not a fucking idiot. I’m not drinking that, or eating anything he gives me. I don't know what he might have put in it. “Drink,” he commands with a deep voice that makes me question my resolve.

I take the glass in my hand and hold it, but I can’t bring it to my lips.

He takes the glass from my hands and waits for me to look at him. When I do, he keeps my gaze and takes a sip before handing it back to me. My cheeks burn. I hate that he can read me. Not that anyone in my position wouldn’t be easy to read. I’m an emotional wreck.

“Olivia, I’m trying very hard to make this easy for you. You need to obey me.”

My blood boils with his bullshit. Make this easy on me. My bottom lip trembles, but not from sadness, from anger.

I bring the glass to my lips, but I still don’t drink. I can’t look at him. I can’t look at the glass. I let it fall, and it drops to the ground. The glass doesn’t break, but it spills the water on the floor, splashing my leg.

He grabs the nape of my neck with a bruising force, lifting me to my feet so that my head is closer to him. So close, his lips barely touch my cheek. I can feel the heat of his hard body pressing down on top of me. He leans forward, growling in my ear. “Why do you always defy me?”

His hard, chiseled body presses against me. I close my eyes as I feel his erection dig into my stomach. A warmth flows through me as my nipples harden. “You will listen to me.”

“Yes, Kade.” The words stumble from my mouth.

“Master,” he whispers in my ear with a deep, rough voice. “Master K.” His grip loosens.

“Yes, Master K.” I swallow thickly, waiting for him to release me.

“You’re going to learn quickly to obey me. I want you to be perfect. And tonight, you'll see what that means.”

Kade reaches into his pocket, and before I can see what he has, he snaps it around my neck. It's not tight and hangs just above my collarbone, but it feels as though it’s strangling me.

My heart clenches with betrayal. I don’t know why I keep waiting for him to let me go, but I do. I keep hoping he’ll see how wrong this is.

“You will obey me,” he says sternly, but I don’t look at him. I don’t respond at all.

“Angel, don’t make me angry.” He crouches down so he’s level with me, and I’m forced to look into his cold blue eyes. But I'm surprised to see they’re not cold at all. They’re heated, and he stares at me as though he’s holding back something dangerous.

It steals my breath from me.

“I’m trying very hard to go easy on you. I want to make this transition as easy as possible. But if I need to remind you of your punishment earlier, I will.”

He holds my eyes for a moment, but then backs away. He leaves me on the floor, grabbing a thin piece of fabric from the dresser behind me.

“I want you to wear this tonight.” His voice is soft and sincere.

He picks the garment up so I can see. It's a somewhat sheer shift dress with thin silver straps that cross in the back. The straps also look like they would wrap around my throat like a necklace. The dress is a pale blush color--so pale, it’s almost white.

He raises his brows and waits. Clothing. Yes, I want that. I’m quick to lift my arms, although that means my breasts are just hanging there for him to see. His eyes travel along my body with appreciation. My pussy clenches despite myself, and I bite down on my lip. I look away as he slips the dress over my shoulders. I just need to cover myself with something.

The soft fabric feels lavish against my skin, although my ass is still raw from yesterday.

He circles me and pulls my hair out from under the dress. His hands linger on my skin and make my eyes close from the comforting touch.

He sighs and sounds disappointed. “Next time I’ll be more prepared.” I’m not sure if he’s talking to me or to himself.

“You still look beautiful, but next time I’ll make sure you’re ready for them.” His eyes linger on my breasts and I realize my nipples are hard.

“Are you cold?” he asks with a smirk. Asshole.

I don’t respond, and have to seriously resist showing my anger.

He leans his head down and whispers against my neck. “You look utterly fuckable, Olivia. Especially when you tempt me like that.” His hand fists the hair at the nape of my neck. He pulls slightly, just to the point of pain and exposes my neck to him.

He plants gentle kisses behind my ear and down my neck. “You make me want to do bad things when you disrespect me like that.”

He pulls back and stares at my lips. They’re parted, and I swear he’s going to kiss me. But he doesn’t. He pulls away from me and walks to the dresser. I watch him as he adds cufflinks to complete his ensemble.

“Would you like that, angel?” he asks.

“Would I like what?” I ask him warily.

“If I did bad things to you?”

My eyes linger on his broad shoulders and then down his muscular frame. The faint smell of his scent lingers, a mix of woodsy pine and cigars. I would. Some fucked up part of me wants him to do very bad things to me. But those aren’t the words that come out.

“No,” I answer with bated breath, and he pauses his movements, looking at me expectantly. “Master K.” He gives me a small, approving smile.

“Good girl.” He looks in the mirror and then back at me with a devilish glint in his eyes. “I wish you wouldn’t lie to me though.”

My cheeks heat and I look away to avoid his gaze. It's the first time I really take in the room.

It’s luxurious, and by far the most beautiful room I’ve ever stepped foot in. All the furniture is modern and dark with clean lines. But the linens are a soft white with silver threading. The overall feel is bright and airy, with a fresh atmosphere. It’s a con though. I may as well be in a fucking dungeon.

I hear noises outside the room, and for a moment I think it’s someone coming in here. I shuffle closer to Kade and grip onto his leg, staring at the door, but the noises pass and no one comes in.

He looks down where my hands are and then to my face. I’m quick to take a step back and flash him a hateful look.

He doesn’t like that, and I wish I could take it back. My cheeks heat and I look down, hating that his approval is something I need for survival.

“This is your home for the time being. I’ll make sure you have everything you need.” I nod my head once, although I don’t really consider what he’s saying. Anxiety is still racing through my blood.

“We're going downstairs. You will not say a word. Do you understand?” I don’t know what it is, his anger, maybe his dominance, but something about the threat in his voice makes me want him even more. It shouldn’t, but it does.

“Yes, Kade,” I answer. His eyes narrow, and my heartbeat picks up with fear. I don’t know why he’s upset.

“Master K,” he corrects me.

“Master K,” I repeat as quickly as I can, and he relaxes his shoulders.

“When we’re here you can call me Kade, so long as we’re alone. But down there, you will call me Master K.”

I nod my head, keeping my eyes on him. He said not to speak, so I won’t. Even though I feel like I should. It's confusing.

Something shifts inside of me. I don’t mind his anger so much when I know what I’ve done to cause it. I expect it. I can’t help that I want to fight him. And he should fucking expect it. But the fact he got angry and I didn’t know why… I don’t like that. Not at all. I don't want it to happen again. At least when I'm pushing him I feel like I have some control. I need that. I need to know what to expect from him, and that's dependent on what I do.

I look up at him and realize I've taken a step closer. My hands are outstretched, ready to touch him.

“It’s alright, angel.” Kade pets my hair as I try to back away from him. I hate myself for doing that. I don’t know why I keep thinking he’s the one who’s going to save me. He’s the reason I’m here.

“Hands out,” he says gently, and I slowly will my arms to obey. In an instant both of my wrists are bound in thin silver shackles that are more like bracelets from Pandora than handcuffs, but they’re attached by a loop and he’s quick to set a lock to bring them together. The snap of the lock makes my pussy clench. This is so wrong.

I stare down at my wrists not wanting to accept it, but somehow I have.

Kade attaches a leash around the loop on the bracelets and leads me from the room.

“I want you to walk beside me.” Kade speaks to me as though I have a choice. My body seems to move of its own accord.

“I’m going to show you something tonight, angel. I’m going to show you lots of things, in fact.” He brushes the hair out of my face and cups my chin.

“I want you to try to enjoy this. If you don’t, this is going to be much harder for you than it has to be.”