Deviance

I didn't move; my body was frozen. Kieran leaned into me and whispered, "I did warn you about the wolves in sheep's clothing. Get in the car Roisin. I won't repeat myself again." The heat of his breath sent a shiver down my spine, but it was enough to kickstart my body into moving.

Hesitantly, I climbed into the car, and Kieran followed. As soon as the door shut, we were moving.

Kieran Hayes. That name sounded familiar. My mind was quicker than before, and I soon realized why I recognized his last name.

"You're the new face of Hayes Technologies."

He nodded.

"But I don't understand... none of this makes any sense."

A thousand and one thoughts force their way to the forefront of my mind, but I couldn't force my lips to move. Kieran was staring at me as I opened my lips to speak, but the words refused to form. After the third time, his grin deepened. It was enough to push me over the edge.

"You think this is funny?"

"You certainly are amusing." His eyes found mine, but he wasn't looking at me. Instead, he was analyzing me, studying me. It was unnerving.

"So, all of this--it was you?" I didn't wait for him to respond. I didn't give him the opportunity before the floodgate broke through. He'd been responsible for all of it. I was finally beginning to understand. He must have done something to my car and forcing me to wake up in that cell, the contract. "You bastard. I can't believe I thought you were--." I clenched my fists as best I could while the pieces fell into place, one by one.

"--Charming, gentlemanly, alluring..."

He was all of those things and more, but I didn't dare inflate his ego.

I raised my left hand, prepared to strike when he caught my wrist, stopping me dead in my tracks with a warning. "If you think that is wise, think again." His voice was low and dangerous. Slowly, he turned to look at the driver through the rearview mirror.

"Walsh, some privacy, please."

Walsh pressed a button, and a divider surfaced between the front and rear seats. Within seconds, we were alone. There was no one to intervene, but I doubted they would anyhow.

I wasn't thinking; my emotions just took over. With my right hand, I struck him across the face, but he barely moved. The sound of my brace hitting his cheek was not nearly as satisfying as it might have been if it was barehanded, but I instantly regretted it.

Pain rocketed through my hand; the vibrations coursed deep, radiating the pain even with the brace limiting my movements.

"Fuck!"

His hold on my other wrist tightened as I tried to recoil.

"You should have listened," he tisked, his voice low and daunting. "I am going to let go, but only if you can control yourself. Do you think you can manage that?"

I glared at him but, after a few seconds, nodded.

"Good." He relinquished me, and I retreated instantly. "How bad is the pain?"

"Why do you care?" Everything I'd thought about Kieran was wrong--mostly. He wasn't one of the good ones; he was the monster lurking in the shadows.

"Because your well-being is my responsibility, and despite whatever you think of me, I do not wish to see you in pain. I am not a sadist, Roisin."

"No, you're just a psychopathic arse who kidnaps women until they agree to sleep with you."

"Is that what you think?" he seemed off-put.

"That's exactly what I think. Your contract," I spit the word out with hostility, "was pretty explanatory."

I don't know what I expected him to say if anything, but when the silence filled the space around us, I found the courage to look at him. He was watching me closely, with curious brown eyes.

"It's not what's written in the contract that bothers you."

"What?" I hesitated, the words falling short. I returned his gaze, befuddled.

Kieran continued, never taking his eyes off me. "Nothing, I'm merely thinking out loud." He paused, but when he finally spoke, his voice had softened. "I will say this, I never expected this to be easy for you, and if I thought you couldn't handle it, I never would have taken you."

His words seeped in. "Why?" I paused, our eyes meeting. "Why did you take me?"

Kieran's gaze was intense but gentle, with a depth I suspected he rarely showed anyone. "If I hadn't, you never would have realized your life is a cage."

"Says the man who kidnapped me. Kind of ironic, isn't it--when you're the one putting me in the cage. I turned to look out the window and realized I didn't recognize where we were. "I thought they were taking me back to my apartment."

"That was before you forced me to get involved." His phone beeped as he pulled it from his pocket. He glanced at the message without revealing anything to me. He was guarded in that regard. "The plan has changed."

I felt uneasy but not as concerned as I should have been. Was that a bad thing? Wouldn't a sane person go down kicking and screaming? What did that say about me?

He tucked his phone away before saying, "I have one rule Roisin, it's a simple one, but one I suspect you'll resist."

A number of sarcastic replies popped into my head, but I didn't dare interrupt him. He looked at me sternly; he'd piqued my curiosity.

"It won't be easy with your stubborn nature, but I need you to try to be open-minded. You took the first leap when you signed your name. Now, I'm asking you to take another. One step at a time."

The car slowed to a stop beneath a stone carport. Gazing out the window, I studied the massive archway and heavy oak doors with wrought iron details leading into the central part of the house. We were most definitely not at my apartment; we weren't even close to the city.

Kieran stepped out of the car and held a hand out to me. "Ready?"

"Not particularly."

The corner of his lip curled as I placed my hand in his. His touch was warm and inviting, but as his strong hand wrapped around mine, I felt the weight of my decision. He pulled me from the car and toward the house, his grip was ironclad. Kieran flashed a card across the security pad as we approached the doors, and they opened. Kieran ushered me forward, his hand at the small of my back. Two of his men followed close behind.

We stopped in the foyer as one of them informed Kieran, "Mr. Madritz is waiting in your office."

Kieran sighed before turning to the guards, "Escort Miss Ward to the guest bedroom in the east wing." Kieran started to walk away.

"Wait, that's it?" I pulled my arm free from the guard's grip and stepped toward Kieran. "You're just going to lock me away."

"I told you, your life is a cage," he paused, "only this time, I hold the key." Kieran gave the guard a look--that was all it took before they were nudging me toward the stairs. I could have fought them, and there was a part of me that considered it, but my thoughts were consumed with Kieran's words.

My life wasn't a cage. At least, it hadn't been until he stepped into it. I had a decent job, even if it wasn't much; it paid the bills. And sure, I hadn't started college when I wanted to, but that didn't mean I was trapped.

Kieran's men escorted me upstairs and opened the double doors wide before nudging me in. Before I had the chance to turn around, they shut and locked the doors. When I reached for the handle, I was alarmed to find there wasn't one.

He had done exactly as he warned, only this time, I was in a gilded cage. The room was lavish yet simple, with beautiful furniture and ornate crown molding with a vaulted ceiling. But this was no ordinary room. The exterior most wall was made of thick, solid stone--the same as the stone in the entryway. I ran my fingers across the rugged texture and felt the coolness of the stone. The other three walls were painted a soft, calming green which accented the rustic grey stone.

It was strange. The house seemed incredibly old, but someone had gone to great lengths to modernize it. The bathroom had been renovated to include heated floor tiles, a clawfoot bathtub, and a sleek rainfall showerhead. At first glance, the notion of modernizing such an old home might have seemed impossible, but this room was proof the century periods could coexist.

There was still no way out. The large arched windows were fixed; they physically couldn't be opened, and without a doorknob, I was stuck. I was precisely where he wanted me.

Then it struck me. I still had my phone! Rummaging through my purse, I pulled out my phone and dialed Cillian's number. He was probably the one person in my life I trusted more than anyone, but the call wouldn't go through.

There was no cell service.

I moved around the room, holding my phone high, but the result was the same no matter what I did. I paced the room, itching to find a way out.

Twenty minutes later, a knock sounded at the door.

I spun around as Kieran stepped into the room, his gaze following me. A light smile formed on his lips.

"Don't bother. There is a signal jammer in this room; your phone won't work just yet."

Just yet. There was hope.

For a brief moment, I'd forgotten Kieran Hayes was to inherit his father's tech empire. Was it so far-fetched to think he might know a thing or two about cell phone jammers?

Kieran took a step toward me and I, one step back until I realized I wasn't going to let him intimidate me. So, I stood my ground as he closed the distance between us. He stood so close to me, I could smell his cologne--a hint of cloves--and feel the heat radiate off his body.

Without saying a word, I watched as he retrieved a slender metal bracelet from his pocket.

"Your wrist," he instructed, adding, "please" when I did not instantly obey. I watched him closely as I surrendered my wrist to him. Kieran placed the metal bracelet around my left hand and clasped it. The two metal ends melded seamlessly, leaving no trace of the connection at all.

"Jewelry so soon? Forgive me if I am not flattered." I pulled my hand free to inspect the dainty bracelet closely. A tiny digital screen was displayed on the surface, reveling the number ninety.

Ninety days. He was keeping track, and this was his way of reminding me that I had agreed to this. I was his for ninety more days.

"This will be your room for the time being. Later this week, you'll be able to retrieve some of your things from your apartment. Decorate the room as you wish. That," he nodded toward the bracelet, "will allow you access to certain parts of the house."

"Or deny me," I concluded; my words were small.

"Or deny you access." Kieran reiterated. "Attempts to access an unauthorized space will trigger an alarm. Attempts to leave the grounds will trigger an alarm. Any tampering to remove the bracelet...

"Let me guess... will trigger an alarm."

"I knew you'd understand."

"What?" I snuffed, "a cage wasn't good enough?"

Kieran grinned. "Simply redefining the terminology," he paused, gesturing a hand toward the door. "Come, I'll give you a tour."

I followed, watching with curiosity as the bedroom doors opened, but I hadn't seen him push any button. It was a mystery to me.

"What about my apartment? Do you expect me to move in with you for the next three months?"

Kieran pulled the bedroom door shut and began walking down the hallway we'd come. "For now, you'll stay here to allow you time to adjust. We can revisit your living arrangements later."

"And if I don't want to adjust?"

"Then you're free to part ways in ninety days."

"Actually," I stopped in the middle of the hallway. "It's less than that. I signed the contract over a week ago."

Kieran smiled, "Check the screen again." He pointed to the bracelet; my eyes followed. Displayed on the slender digital screen was the number 81. I should have been overjoyed that my time was already shortened, but instead, I was overwhelmed with the idea of having lost nine days already. Nine days had gone by since I signed that contract, and I had no memory of it."

"What happened while I was..." I couldn't find the right words. Unconscious? Comatose? Captive?

"You were sedated," Kieran said bluntly. "My medical team kept a close eye on you while you were under. You were very rarely ever left alone, but perfectly safe."

"For a broken hand? That seems excessive."

He choked back a laugh, "You have a fighting spirit, Roisin; surely you recognize that too. Of course, in any normal circumstance, you'd be met with a quick reprimand, but you weren't mine yet."

His.

Possessive.

Demanding.

"Throwing yourself at a wall, breaking your hand--all of those are unacceptable behaviors."

I opened my mouth to protest when he cut me off. "It is a form of self-harm, and while I know you felt trap, it was not an appropriate reaction. Even in a drug-induced haze, you fought the doctor. We agreed it was the best way to prevent further injury at the time."

"You agreed. Not me."

"Yes, I made that decision on your behalf because, as I mentioned before, your well-being is my responsibility."

"Then you should consider the dangerous psychological effects kidnapping has on my sanity." I shrugged my shoulders, "All these changes, the stress, the anxiety, it can't be good on the body or the mind." I ridiculed.

"All things considered, you're taking this in strides."

I rolled my eyes as we moved down the stairs and past the entry. Kieran showed me the kitchen, dining room, and pantry, where I was free to help myself. "If there is something we don't have in the house, make a list and give it to Ms. Potter."

Ms. Potter was the live-in house manager. She handled the cooking, and cleaning but the way Kieran described her, she seemed to have a longer standing relationship with the Hayes family than he let on.

As the tour continued, Kieran showed me the small reading nook, the game room, the indoor pool, and the workout room. These were all spaces I was allowed to access, according to him. We progressed toward his office, but before crossing the threshold, my bracelet beeped and vibrated a warning. I stopped in my tracks.

"There will be times where you are allowed in my office, but if I am in a meeting or have company over, your access will be restricted." His eyes fell to the bracelet, and for a brief moment, I think he admired the dainty device.

He was right. He might as well lock me in a cage because this house was exactly that despite the amenities. I was bound by four walls and technology I couldn't control. A mouse trapped in a maze of rooms.

As we walked toward the back patio, I brushed my hand along the wall and witnessed the exterior door lock. The security pad next to the door flashed from green to red. He pretended not to notice, but he knew what I was doing. And it didn't look good for me.

"The south wing is completely off-limits," he explained as we walked past large steel double doors, circling back through the house.

That was his first mistake. Declaring it off limits only fueled my insatiable curiosity. I'd just have to bide my time until I could find out just why the south wing was restricted.

He led me back up the stairs and hovered near my new bedroom, holding the door wide for me. I stepped through hesitantly.

He lingered in the doorway; our eyes met, but he seemed distant.

"Kieran," his name fell from my lips as I realized he intended to lock me in. I took a step forward, silently pleading him not do this.

"Roisin." His voice was soft, as if he was unsure of his actions. The hesitation was only momentary, though, because he shut the door a second later, sealing me in.