Caged in gold

gold-draped basem

rom the overwhelming pressure building inside her chest. R

ck at her-dishevelled hair, red

t to cry. Not

r opene

unger man from earlier. The one with s

lacing a tray on the velvet

not h

ant your

Another int

e not in a prison

t for

survi

. "What doe

his voice. "Don't fight him. Zayd

you to

what happens when people

ced. If she played smart, maybe s

-

rs

the changing light outside the curtained

hed over marble floors. A chandelier glit

rned-brought her clothes. A deep red silk

ed at it i

'm not putti

eyebrow. "Tel

l

later, the doo

nts. A glass of dark liquor in his hand. His presence

down to the jeans and loo

nored m

like a whore to

over the rim of the glass. "You sho

idnapp

aved

terly. "You cal

u would've been dead by now if it weren't for me

let me

N

ches away. "Because you intrigue me. And

a tried not to flinch, but her skin was burning. Ever

oment you saw me, your life changed. You're not g

in her eyes. "I will

le this time. "

d and walked out, locki

-

That

tly to her chest. Her heart ached. Her min

hing was

ugh her soul-it terrified her. Not because

flickers of s

unger.

an like him f

did sh

-

Else in

and, staring down at the glittering lights of

as o

them. Left them. None had looked at him like she d

us. And it made h

ide him. "She won

cigar. "Good. I'm not in

t ruin ev

. "Then let

-

, Back in

had

art. It wasn

the only th

it. The silk clung to her skin. She hated how good it

on the doo

nged h

urned. Amir opened

to talk

sitated

es

aking in low Arabic. Th

lt like a prisoner in a dream. Every man sh

ian carpet. A fireplace. And him-Zayd-seated beh

wly. "Well. You

to make

d y

nding tall. "Let me go, and I

You think this i

ontrol. But you're

ile va

ust know this-every cage has a do

s chair and walke

r wrist-not with violence, but with intensit

afraid of you

think you

cond, neither

t go, brushi

your place. And if you do

ft th

ere, breathles

ime since her kidna

e she

ker in h

e