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Lexie's panic attack had just settled and now she sat dumbly on Zheme's lap, unable to face him. After all, she had appeared vulnerable before him, her body had shaken like live branches caught in a storm and her voice had been nothing but a quiet squeak. She felt betrayed by her own body and within her, she couldn't find an ounce of pride left. But aside from betraying her, her body ached with cramps that held onto each of her muscles and pain bit into each of the wales on her back. She felt tired too, a nauseous feeling clinging to her head and the nerves within it, yet still, she refused to tarnish her already diminished pride any longer. Instead, she tried with all the strength she acquired to shuffle out of Zheme's lap. But she was too weak or was it that Zheme was too strong? His arm was like a shackle around her waist, clinging to her tightly and almost desperately. His chin rested gently on her shoulder, his heavy breaths torturing the sensitivity of her neck. It felt good and that was exactly why she wanted to move. She tried again, but her efforts only encouraged her captor to hold her even tighter. Then he drew in a deep breath, pulling her even closer to his iron shield of a chest. Lexie winced out in pain and immediately after, "Are you alright?" Zheme asked, a gentleness Lexie had never heard from him now audible in his deep voice, yet she couldn't help but think she misheard it. After all, no gentleness had been in that deep voice of his when he had her chained to his walls, weak and vulnerable, naked and helpless. Instead, his dark eyes and the words that left his lips held a lethal anger that had her trembling beneath his gaze, and he didn't seem to care whether or not she was alright then, so why now? Despite not finding a suitable answer for her question, she nodded out a lie to his, fearing that her lack of response would prove to be her demise. "Then why...?" Zheme asked immediately, his obsidian eyes assessing Lexie's naked body for any sign of a bruise. He found none, not on her thighs or arms, not on her chest or stomach, but his mind was sensible enough to remind him of the lashes she had received on her back and in realization a firm... "ohhhh." Left his lips. Gently, he eased her away from him, then quietly assessed the protrusion of the wales on her back. "Does it still hurt here?" He asked, hand moving forward to touch. His index finger ran along one of the wales blemishing her once flawless skin, sending an unexpected tremor down her spine. Lexie swallowed, barely able to hold back a whimper when something so wet, so soft replaced his gentle finger. Lexie knew what it was, his tongue and her nether region jumped in what seems to be joy when it ran along each and every curve of her back. He leaned back when he deemed himself done, assessing how moist his wet organ had made her skin appear. "Does it feel any better now?" Lexie didn't answer, her tongue was tied and her brain wasn't thinking logical enough to provide her with words. Her heart was beating fast too, but it wasn't the only thing pounding now, that fool thing that resided between her legs was pumping along with each beat of her circulatory organ. She was aroused, she knew this feeling after withstanding it every time her idiot boyfriend kissed her and refused to go further. But this time, it was stronger and it only augmented when he tightened his hold around her waist, gently pulling her back against him. Unconsciously, she relaxed in his arms, body begging him touch her more, but her fiancé did no such thing, instead he eased up from his perch, automatically taking her with him. "You must be hungry, Dan bought food earlier, I can heat it up for you, but first, let me assist you to the shower." Lexie turned to him, about to protest but the words died on her tongue when one of his arms circled beneath the plumpness of her ass and with little efforts lifted her. Now the relentless hunger in her body increased tenfold and heat drifted down in waves from the opening between her legs. She wanted to whimper, she was going to, but in order to save herself from the embarrassment, she bit her lips and stayed silent as he walked his way out of the dungeon, then up the stairs to the bathroom. He placed her down on the tiled floor and even filled the bath tub with warm water for her. Lexie was left dumbfounded, her arousal dispersing into confusion. He was being nice, for the first time since he kidnapped her, he didn't just order her around and though Lexie's mind questioned it, her foolish heart flipped twice in her chest like a happy dolphin. Her eyes, wide and curious watched as he receded to the door and as soon as he left, she stepped into the tub and started her bath. She took her time, wanting to cleanse her body of the dirt that visibly adorned it and once she deemed herself clean, she stepped out onto the tiled floor, eyes scanning the room for something to finally cover her nakedness. A white towel, that's what she found and she carefully and firmly wrapped it under her arm before staggering weakly out the room and back down the stairs. Her weak steps took her to the kitchen and as soon as she stepped in, her eyes met the form of her captor. He was seated before the table, brows furrowed in what seems to be curiosity. "I forgot to ask you earlier, are you allergic to anything in particular?" Lexie reluctantly shook her head, moving further into the room when he gestured her forward. "Sit." Lexie easily did so and watched him with eyes that held anticipation. Zheme watched her too, but with eyes of hidden adoration as he shoved a place of spaghetti across to her side of the table and kept one in front of himself. "It's mixed with shrimp and cheese, and since a lot of people are allergic to seafood, I decided to ask you first." Lexie nodded her head in understanding, but those blue does of hers held defiance. "But then again, did I tell you I want your food? Zheme took ahold of his fork, then tilted his head. "If you didn't want my food, why are you in my kitchen, Lexie? Why didn't you stay in the bathroom?" His words cut through her pride that had acted up and even sliced through her heart. "Because... Becau-" Zheme flipped her off, dismissively. "Just eat Lexie, I know you're hungry." He rolled spaghetti onto his fork, then pointed at her with it. "Oh and drop that towel, since you won't be receiving the lashes, sleeping naked is the simpler punishment I was talking about." "But..." Zheme squinted his dark eyes, shutting her up. "But what? You'd prefer the lashes?" In disapproval, Lexie shook her head and dropped the towel. She should've known better, him being nice was just a facade. AN/|\ I feel like I'm being too nice, but nice me won't last long...? Evilness rules my mind!