As he said, he actually made me dance on his finger for the whole day. One time he was asking for a book, and the other time he was asking me to sit beside him as he worked on his laptop. I found myself constantly dancing to his tune.
By the evening, I became completely exhausted because usually I take a rest in the afternoon when he goes to work but today, as he was in my head all the time, I couldn’t even rest. He was in the room all the time and I felt uncomfortable because of that.
And now I am here, giving him a bath as per his request.
He sat luxuriously in the bathtub, water gently lapping at his skin, his posture relaxed as if he were the king and owned the world. His arms were spread wide, and a self-assured smile was playing on his lips, making him look every bit like a king in his domain which I was cleaning his shoulders as if I were his maid.
Personal maid, to be specific.
I felt helplessness tugging at my heart. This wasn’t how I imagined my life when I first met him. I had dreamed of love, companionship, and shared laughter, not servitude and submission. But I also knew that showing any hint of resistance would only lead to more trouble for me and my loves ones. So I decided to get done with it as soon as possible and call it a day.
I could see deep cuts on his back again.
They were not looking very old and as far as I remember, they were not there when I first came here.
It doesn’t seem like he got them I a fight; in tact, but seems like he has hurt himself with a hunter or something like that.
“Haven’t you eaten anything today?’ he asked about getting frustrated and breaking the chain of my thoughts, “Put more pressure ”
I continued to knead his muscles, his arms and shoulders-so wide that I couldn’t even grab them with my small palms. I was trying my best not to make him angry because I didn’t have any more energy to fight him.
My hand slowly moved from his elbows to his shoulder, rubbing the crook of his neck. I was tempted to squeeze his throat and end his game for once and never.
“Don’t even think about it” the words grumbled in his chest while his eyes were still closed.
I could feel frustration bubbling inside me even more. Even with his closed eyes, he could easily read my mind and my next move.
“Chest” he spoke, his eyes still closed, a selft-satisfied grin tugging at his lips, “Clean my chest as well”
Leaning forward, I started following his order. He moaned loudly as my palms did down his chest. The sensation that coursed through my own body was unexpected and intense. It was as if an electric current was passing between us, connecting us in a way that I despised.
My hands came to a halt monetarily as I shook my head to focus. And to my surprise, I found that my left palm was just above his heart, which was thumping loudly in his chest, faster than mine.
“I think I am going to add one more task to your list” he said, opening his eyes, which were now gleaming with amusement and miscellaneous, “Giving a bath to me daily” he laughed.
My hand moved back as an instant reaction but before I could react, his hand shot out, capturing my wrist and preventing me from pulling away. His grip was strong and unyielding, and I felt a shiver race down my spine at the touch of his skin against mine. His fingers pressed against my palm, and the contrast between his roughness and my own softness felt weirdly good.
“Your hands are cottony soft. I love the touch on my body and want to feel it more and more”
It was he who forced me to rub his body with my palms. He didn’t let me use the loofah or any other washcloth.
“I think you are done” I said as I tried to move my hand back.
The vulnerability I felt under his gaze was infuriating, and I couldn’t wait to escape this situation and regain some semblance of control over my own life.
“I don’t think you are in a position to decide that” he spoke his hold on my wrist tightened, “The portion of my body below the torso needs attention as well” he continued, his voice a combination of authority and something far more sinister.
My eyes widened. I won’t wash his legs or stomach because I know where it will lead. I don’t want it. I have already done things that are more than acceptable to me.
Suddenly he pulled me towards him and I was about to fall over him but took hold of the edge of the bathub in time.
“Please Ansell” I murmured softly, trying to break free from his grip.
“Shhh… I don’t want to hear anything else I would punish you in other ways”
Fear gripped me, and I could feel the sting of tears behind my eyes, threatening to spill over. I fought to keep my emotions in check, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing my distress.
He was not ready to leave my hand and this time he gently guided me down. I know really well where he was taking my hand and all I wanted was to make him stop anyhow.
My mind was racing, thinking about the way I could escape this situation when his phone started ringing.
I released a deep breath but my moment of relief didn’t last long as he spoke.
“Let it ring”
He left my hand on his stomach.
“Now wash me thoroughly before I decided to pull you inside the tub and teach you how we clean someone ” he threatened me.
My fingers trembled as they hovered above his skin, unsure of how to proceed, when his phone rang again. My heart is pounding in my chest in anticipation.
“Go and bring me the phone”
I was faster than the speed of light at pulling my hand back when I heard his command. I heard his chuckle when I ran out of the bathroom and grabbed his phone. I stayed beside him as he talked.
I was saved, even if it was for some time. Maybe this could distract him and give me a chance to escape.
“Yes?”
I could hear muffled screams coming from the back of the phone, which caught my attention. The voice sounds so familiar.
“Sir, he is going out of control. Shall we give him the drug?” The man on the other side of the phone asked.
Ansell’s eyes flicked at me and I immediately moved my gaze away, pretending I was not hearing his conversation.
“I am coming” he said before hanging up.
“Bring me a towel ” he ordered.
Handing him the towel and clothes, I came outside. The sudden shift in his demeanor was telling that there was something serious but the thing that caught the most of my attention was the muffled voice that I heard from the other side of the call.
He walked normally as he came out of the bathroom. Throughout the day, he had been playing up his injury as if his whole leg had been cut, using it to keep me under his thumb. Now, he was walking as if he had never been injured at all.
“It will be back in an hour” these were the last words that he spoke to me before leaving me alone in the room.
Left alone in the room, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of urgency. The mysterious phone call , the sudden change in his behaviour, his abrupt departure -all these pieces of the puzzle were nagging at me. I knew I had to find out what was going on.
This time I decided to act wisely and through I know that stealing is wrong and the last I want is anything from him, I need money at the moment. Hastily walking to his pants, I picked out his wallet and took the money, which would be enough for me to pay the fare. Putting on my shoes, I walked out, only to be stopped by the guards as expected.
Ansell has already blocked the secret way since the day I escaped from it. I needed to act cleverly at this time.
“Your boss has asked me to come with him. There was an emergency, which is why he left in hurry. He told me to follow him. I got delayed trying to put on my shoes. If you don’t trust me, I can call him, but I am not sure how he will react considering the urgency ” I said confidently not to raise any suspicion.
By the way, Ansell left the room: I am sure he must have pressed through the door with big and hurried steps. And he has taken me out three times, so it would not be so difficult for me to feel them.
The guard hesitated for a moment before conceding, “Okay”
I walked out with a pretense of calmness, and just as I stepped outside, I spotted Ansell’s black car speeding away. I immediately started running after it, fortunately finding a taxi shortly thereafter.
“Follow the black car” I directed the driver as I hopped into the cab. “But be discreet, and please hurry” my heart raced as I hopped to stay on Ansell’s trail without arousing any suspicion.
After around 20 minutes, his car came to a halt and I asked the taxi driver to park the taxi in such a way that he could not see us. Parking his car aside, he went into a broken house that was sealed, unkempt, untidy, and looked haunted.
I gave the amount to the taxi driver without caring about how much he was asking.
My heart was thumping loudly as I walked towards that house. There are was completely deserted and not even the animals were roaming around, which scared me even more.
My intuition was saying that something big was about to be revealed today.
Making myself ready for what was coming next, I entered the same house only to be met by a room in which a man was tied to a chair. My eyes seemed to be coming out of their sockets when I saw who it was.