Author's note: Thank you for words of encouragement on the last part! Part three will be coming soon :)
Chapter 4
"I have no idea what you're talking about" I shrugged, watching Will's increasing frustration at my denial.
"Do not lie to me, Annalise. It will get you nowhere"
Will stood up quickly and began to pace around the living room. The damask curtains were drawn, the only light emitting from the grand fireplace that Will had lit a few hours before. Two stately mahogany bookcases stood either side of it, the shelves bowing under the weight of the leather bound books.
Will stood behind a red leather chair, his shirt sleeves rolled up his forearms. In the glow of the fireplace, it was easy to forget who he really was. It softened his icy exterior, turning his dark eyes into pools of gold.
We'd been talking in circles for hours, my indignant responses infuriating him more as the evening disappeared into the clutches of the darkness.
Eventually, he sighed, dropping like a stone into his chair and running his large hands through his mess of black curls. Seeing him so desperate reignited my defiance, and I suddenly felt brave enough to challenge him.
"So what now? How long will you force me to sit here with you, listening to your accusations? If I tell you what you want to hear, will you let me leave?" I snapped, watching him raise an eyebrow in surprise.
"Oh, Anna. You came to me. You practically ran to me. Even if I unlocked the door, right now, can you truly say that you'd leave?" Will laughed to himself, reaching for another glass of whiskey before swirling it around a crystal glass. I watched his hand move, mesmerized. It was large- but not clumsy, there was a slight delicacy to his movements that I'd only ever seen from pianists or the very peak of high society.
I took a sip of water, my hand trembling as it reached my lips.
"Of course I'd leave," I stuttered. Truthfully, I wasn't so sure but I couldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing that.
Will sighed before standing up and walking towards me.
"I was worried that you'd say that, but now you know too much and that is just not an option" He declared decisively. My heart sank in my chest and I looked for something, anything to inspire an escape.
"Are you going to kill me, Will?"
He laughed again, and anger shot through my body. I was sick of his mind games.
"Oh love," he muttered, amused. "How many times do I have to tell you- I don't want to hurt you. You'll live".
I sighed in relief before he continued.
"But you'll live with me. I'll need to keep a close eye on you from now on".
Chapter 5
Will pocketed the keys with a grin.
I grimaced, grasping my grass of water with such force I thought it would shatter. It had been three hours since Will had declared he wasn't going to let me leave. I had attacked him eight times with various objects, smashed a window and even locked myself in the bathroom like a stroppy teenager.
He found it all hilarious.
It had just gone midnight when he carried me up to the guest bedroom again. I was exhausted from my attempts to escape, and had slumped on the floor like a dog after smashing the window. My small frame ached from attacking my 6"4 captor.
"Silly girl" Will mumbled, popping me down on the bed with unexpected care. He looked in disgust at my dirty clothes and the deep cuts in my hands from the glass. Shaking his head, he began to rummage in the dresser for supplies, muttering to himself in frustration at not being more prepared.
He tossed me a large men's shirt and gestured for me to get changed. I folded my arms in protest.
"Turn around," I spat.
He did as I asked and I began to strip, wincing in pain as I moved my hands. I couldn't help but sigh when I unclasped my bra- I had worn it for two days and the wire had begun to poke through, stabbing me in the breast repeatedly.
I pulled the shirt over my head. It was huge on me, even when fully buttoned it showed much more cleavage than I was happy with, but thankfully fell at a respectable mid-thigh length. I tossed my dirty clothes onto the wooden floor and mumbled quietly that I was decent.
"Good girl," He replied, "Now let me fix those hands up".
I was too tired to protest, and placed my hands on the white sheets, slightly smug that I would stain the expensive thread count.
Will gently wiped them with antiseptic and I gasped in pain. His eyes shot up, and he cradled the side of my face with his hand. It was warm, and somewhere, deep inside of me, I wished he'd never let go.
My face must have betrayed me, as Will chuckled to himself at my reaction.
Once he'd wiped them clean, he planted a kiss on each palm before wrapping them in soft bandages.
"I think you'll be okay now, love. Do you need some painkillers?" He stroked a strand of auburn hair away from my face as I shook my head. I hated myself for the way I was feeling, but I couldn't deny the pleasure of having someone take care of me.
