We walked for what felt like several minutes, though it was probably less, with me kicking and screaming the entire way. I scratched at Jake’s hand, desperate to break free, but his grip was like iron. He didn’t even flinch, not once. This man was clearly insane, dragging me along like a rag doll. My mind raced with fear and confusion as I continued struggling against his hold. But he ignored my protests, as if I was nothing more than an annoying fly buzzing in his ear.
Suddenly, he stopped. Without warning, Jake grabbed my waist with ease and threw me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing. I let out a sharp squeal, pounding my fists against his broad back. “Put me down! You can’t just carry me around like this, you lunatic!” I screamed, my voice high-pitched with panic, but he kept walking, completely unfazed by my outburst.
We climbed a long set of stairs, each step making me bounce awkwardly on his shoulder, and soon found ourselves in yet another hallway. The house seemed massive, endless really, with so many rooms and corridors it made my head spin. After what seemed like forever, he finally stopped at a large door. He unlocked it with one hand, pushing it open before stepping inside and closing the door behind him. I didn’t have time to think before he roughly dumped me onto a grey leather couch. I landed with a thud, letting out another squeal of surprise as I tried to sit up straight, quickly glancing around the room, searching for a way out.
The room was dimly lit, the walls a muted shade of grey. It was large, clearly a personal office, with a massive black oak desk taking up the center of the room. Behind the desk stood a high-backed leather chair, and just beyond that were floor-to-ceiling French windows that offered a breathtaking view. The mountains outside rose majestically into the sky, surrounded by a thick layer of mist, giving the entire scene an ethereal, dreamlike quality. For a moment, I was mesmerized by the view, the beauty of the fog rolling over the jagged peaks, but I quickly snapped back to reality.
My gaze shifted back to Jake. He was standing just a few feet away, his glowing red eyes locked on me, his expression dark and menacing. He looked like a predator eyeing his prey, and I couldn’t help but feel a wave of fear wash over me. He was growling low in his chest, and I could feel the vibration of it in the air. He towered over me, his broad shoulders blocking out the dim light in the room, casting an intimidating shadow over me.
I stared back at him, confused and angry. Why was 'he' the one fuming? He was the one who had beaten my friend to a bloody pulp for no reason. He was the one dragging me around like some kind of object. Shouldn’t I be the one who's furious? Shouldn’t I be the one yelling?
Gathering the little courage I had left, I pushed myself up from the couch and stood, even though I had to crane my neck to look up at him. At 5'4", I felt incredibly small compared to him, like a mouse standing in front of a lion. But I refused to let my size intimidate me.
“What is your problem, huh?” I shouted, my voice trembling slightly despite my efforts to stay calm. “First, you tell me to follow your orders, to train with Bryan. Then you beat him half to death for no reason! And now you’re dragging me around like I’m your property. What the hell is wrong with you? Are you completely crazy?”
He didn’t respond at first, but I noticed his eyes slowly shift from that terrifying red back to their normal, mesmerizing grey. For a brief moment, I thought maybe I had gotten through to him. But just as I was about to turn and storm out of the room, he moved.
Before I could react, I found myself pinned against the cold grey wall, Jake’s strong arms caging me in. My breath caught in my throat as he leaned in dangerously close, his face mere inches from mine. His minty breath washed over me, and I could feel the heat radiating from his body.
“You are mine,” he growled softly, his voice low and possessive. “Once you get that through your pretty little head, mate, everything will be a lot easier for you.”
His words sent a shiver down my spine, but I was too stunned to respond. Jake bent down further, burying his face in the curve of my neck. I froze as he inhaled deeply, like my scent was intoxicating to him. The warmth of his breath on my skin sent tingles through my entire body, and as much as I hated to admit it, a part of me liked it. Liked how close he was, how his presence made my heart race.
No! I shook my head, trying to snap out of whatever weird spell he had me under. This was wrong. This was all wrong.
“Get off me, Jake! This is... this is abuse!” I stammered, trying to push him away, but he didn’t budge. He was like a solid wall, unmovable and unrelenting. My heart pounded in my chest, panic rising with each passing second.
Suddenly, he grabbed my thighs, lifting me up and pinning me against him as he positioned me higher on his waist. I let out a squeal, my arms instinctively wrapping around his shoulders for balance.
“Hey!” I slapped his shoulder, my frustration boiling over. What was he doing? This man needed serious help. “Put me down!”
His grip on my thighs tightened, almost painfully, and I could feel his lips brush against my neck, followed by the sharp graze of his teeth. My breath hitched. Was he going to... bite me? I pushed at him harder, desperately trying to free myself. “Jake, let me go! If you don’t let me go, I swear I’ll scream so loud that—”
“Maybe if you shut up for a second, I’ll let you go,” he interrupted, his voice calm as if everything that was happening was perfectly normal and I was the one being irrational. His tone only made me angrier, but I clamped my mouth shut, hoping he would keep his word.
True to his promise, after a few agonizing seconds, he let me down. My legs were shaky as I regained my balance, and I took a step back, my hands trembling slightly from the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. Jake stood in front of me, watching me with an amused expression, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
“You talk too much,” he said, his voice filled with teasing humor, as if none of what just happened was a big deal.
My jaw dropped. That’s all he had to say? 'I talk too much'? No apology, no explanation for his psychotic behavior, just... that?
I had no words. None at all.
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