ter

n's

e photo wouldn'

locked inside this mansion. And that was saying some

chores, kept my head down, avoided locked doors and sharp

y there. Pain. A

wanted to

arted d

laundry folding. No one said much. Just tight lips and qu

them finally muttered under

uriosity was already chew

retending not to peek at the shelf where her photo had once s

nce was still

ng perfume on an arm

edge of the desk, as if finge

on on the rug where a

iding her memory-he

nted to

ed before I even kne

olishing antique tables that were already spotless. The head maid, Eda, followe

e snapped when I

ps. Do you even belong

thighs were sore. B

ew exactly w

was poking around in memories I had no right to to

d. Let her feel jud

it w

my patience fried. I snuck away toward the western corrid

it-his office do

pt

n flicked

think.

cedar and leather wrapped around me as I stepped inside. His desk was line

found th

ck

ot ti

ed it.

ulled

pen with a

k notebook. Leather

ped it

e. No

. Some were notes on business deal

e anymore. That I'd become

to leave.

arble. I didn't

lammed int

't just a

was g

ess

ss, m

k behi

tebook sti

here

el

sculpted in flesh. Shirt rolled at the s

fr

dn't

't m

even

stretched lo

n't-"

't l

The kind of calm that came bef

closed the notebook and s

o know who she w

the door behind him with

ne of you

oked li

your conce

knees. "Why keep her photo where anyone

es nar

ld've

I di

was. And now you want me silent, obedie

mething flicker in his express

rov

oved

d me, gripping my wrist. Not

m his pocket. I hadn't e

eath

ehind yo

sita

obe

ht enough to hold but gentle enough

rmured, mouth near my ear

d not

il my back pressed against his chest. I fel

over this desk a

raced dow

reward. And you don't

roat

I whis

wh

, s

tightened

d gi

til I stood in front of a tall leather chair in the

ta

lked

squeezed

later with a black

indf

before I could object. My w

en...

n't to

't s

tied, blindfo

it

he anticipation. My b

xhale be

my ear: "You're al

impe

e inside of my thigh-up, up-and

e pull

le

rm

ithout sat

ted

nted

he wouldn

til I

ere. Blind. B

unto

se... t