The dim light of the room was still unfamiliar to me, even though I'd been here long enough for my eyes to adjust. I sat on the edge of the bed, legs tucked beneath me, wrapped in the silk robe Larisey had given me. I was alone, but I could still feel her presence lingering in the air, like an invisible weight pressing down on my chest.
She hadn't left me for long, but every moment without her felt like I was regaining some control over myself. My mind was racing, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. How did I even get here? How could I have let this happen?
It was as if the boundaries of my reality had been shattered in that first encounter with her. There was something about Larisey that unnerved me, but at the same time, there was an undeniable pull—a magnetism that made it almost impossible to resist. Almost.
The door creaked open, and my heart jumped into my throat. I knew it was her before she even stepped inside. Larisey moved with a quiet grace, as if she owned the very air around her. She was dressed in a silk gown that clung to her every curve, effortlessly exuding an aura of sensuality that sent shivers down my spine.
"Are you comfortable, Eulalie?" she asked softly, her voice smooth and warm, as if she were asking something as simple as whether I needed more blankets.
"I want to go home," I blurted out, trying to keep my voice steady. The words sounded fragile, almost pleading, even though I wanted them to come out strong.
Larisey tilted her head, her lips curving into a small smile, as though my resistance amused her. "Home?" she echoed, as if the concept were foreign to her. "But you are home now, aren't you?"
My hands clenched the silk robe tighter around me, my heart pounding in my chest. "I don't belong here," I whispered. "Please, just let me go."
She took a step closer, her eyes never leaving mine. There was something in her gaze that made me feel small, vulnerable. "But why would you want to leave?" she asked, her voice dripping with honey. "I've given you everything you need."
I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way her presence made my skin tingle. "I don't want this," I said, my voice firmer now. "I don't want any of this."
Larisey's smile faltered for a brief second, but then it returned, this time more sinister, more possessive. "You don't know what you want, Eulalie," she said softly, her tone almost patronizing. "You're too innocent to understand."
My fists tightened as she approached the bed, and I could feel the heat radiating off her body as she stood in front of me. I fought the urge to back away, to shrink under her gaze, but my body betrayed me. I could feel the flush creeping up my neck, the way my breath caught in my throat as her fingers trailed lightly across the silk robe.
"I know what you're feeling," she whispered, her voice low and intimate. "You want to resist, but there's a part of you that craves this, isn't there?"
I shook my head, trying to suppress the shiver that ran down my spine. "No," I said, my voice barely audible. "I don't."
Larisey smiled, her fingers now tracing the line of my collarbone, and I felt my heart stutter in my chest. "You can lie to me," she said softly, "but you can't lie to yourself."
I couldn't breathe. The intensity of her gaze, the way her touch sent electric currents through my skin—it was all too much. My body reacted on its own, betraying the resistance I was trying so hard to hold onto. But I couldn't let her win. I wouldn't.
"Please," I whispered, barely able to hold back the tremble in my voice. "Just stop."
Larisey's hand paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You're such a fragile thing," she said, her tone shifting to something almost nurturing. "You need someone to take care of you."
She reached down and gently tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet her gaze. "And I will take care of you, Eulalie," she continued, her voice soft yet commanding. "I'll give you everything you need, even if you don't realize it yet."
I jerked my head away, shaking off her touch. "I'm not a child," I snapped, my voice louder than I intended.
Larisey's eyes darkened, her expression hardening for a brief moment. But then, just as quickly, her smile returned. "Oh, I know," she said, her voice like velvet. "But you're still so innocent, so untouched by the world. You need someone to guide you."
She turned and walked over to a nearby table, where a tray of food sat untouched. "You haven't eaten," she said, her back to me. "You must be hungry."
I hadn't even realized how hungry I was until she mentioned it. My stomach growled in response, and I hated how weak I felt in that moment.
Larisey turned back to me, holding a plate of fruit in one hand. She walked over to the bed and sat beside me, offering the plate with a soft smile. "Here," she said, her voice gentle. "Let me feed you."
I stared at the plate, my mind screaming at me to refuse, to keep resisting. But my body was tired, my willpower slowly crumbling under the weight of her presence. I hesitated, and that was all she needed.
Before I could say anything, she picked up a piece of fruit and brought it to my lips. "Just one bite," she coaxed. "It'll make you feel better."
My lips parted, almost against my will, and she slipped the fruit into my mouth. The sweetness exploded on my tongue, and I couldn't help but close my eyes as the taste washed over me. It was delicious, and for a moment, I forgot about everything else.
"There you go," Larisey whispered, her voice soothing. "See? I'm here to take care of you."
I opened my eyes, only to find her watching me intently, her gaze filled with something darker, something more possessive. I swallowed hard, the taste of the fruit lingering on my lips.
"I don't need you to take care of me," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "I can take care of myself."
Larisey chuckled softly, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. "Oh, Eulalie," she said, her tone almost pitying. "You don't know what you need. But I do."
She reached out and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, her fingers lingering on my skin. "You need someone to show you the world, to open your eyes to the things you've never experienced."
I pulled away, shaking my head. "I don't want that," I said, trying to keep the tremble out of my voice.
Larisey's smile faded slightly, her expression turning serious. "You will," she said softly. "You may resist now, but soon, you'll understand. You'll see that I'm the only one who can give you what you truly need."
She stood up and walked over to the bathroom door, her movements slow and deliberate. "You should take a shower," she said, her voice casual. "It'll help you relax."
I stared at her, my heart pounding in my chest. "I can shower on my own," I said, my voice firm.
Larisey raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a knowing smile. "Are you sure about that?" she asked, her voice teasing. "You're still so fragile. Maybe you need some help."
I felt a flush creep up my neck, my hands tightening around the silk robe. "I don't need your help," I said, trying to sound confident.
Larisey chuckled softly, the sound low and seductive. "We'll see," she said, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "I'll leave you to it, for now."
With that, she turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone in the dim light. I let out a shaky breath, my heart still racing in my chest. Every interaction with her left me more confused, more vulnerable. I wanted to resist her, to fight back, but there was something about the way she looked at me, the way she touched me, that made it so hard to hold onto my resolve.
I stood up and walked over to the bathroom door, my legs feeling unsteady beneath me. I could still feel her presence lingering in the room, like an invisible force pulling me toward her. But I couldn't let her win. I couldn't let her break me.
I stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind me, leaning against it for a moment as I tried to steady my breathing. The room was small, but elegant, with marble countertops and a large shower. I turned on the water, letting it run hot as I stripped off the silk robe and stepped inside.
The water cascaded over me, washing away the tension, but I couldn't shake the feeling that Larisey was still watching me, still waiting for me to surrender.
I closed my eyes and leaned against the wall, the heat of the water soothing my aching muscles. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't escape the thoughts of her—the way she looked at me, the way her touch set my skin on fire.
The water cascaded over me, each drop beating against my skin, but it did little to wash away the thoughts of Larisey. Her name echoed in my mind, lingering like the scent of her perfume—intoxicating, dangerous. I had asked her name earlier, though in hindsight, I wasn't sure if I truly wanted to know. It made everything more real, more personal. Knowing her name gave her more power over me, and I hated it.
Yet, the name felt like silk on my tongue. Larisey.
I scrubbed my skin harder, trying to erase the memory of her touch, her words. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the way her eyes had caressed every inch of me, like she was already planning her next move. She wanted to break me down, inch by inch, but I wouldn't let her.
I was stronger than that. I had to be.
But there was a part of me—a small, hidden part—that couldn't deny the pull, the strange attraction. No one had ever looked at me the way she did. No one had ever made me feel so... vulnerable, yet so desired. It was a dangerous combination.
I turned off the water, wrapping a towel around myself as I stepped out of the shower. The steam clouded the mirror, hiding my reflection, but I knew what I'd see if I wiped it clean—confusion, fear, and something else, something I wasn't ready to admit to myself just yet.
I dried off quickly, throwing on the same silk robe that Larisey had left for me earlier. The fabric clung to my damp skin, soft and sensual, reminding me of her touch. I shivered, my mind racing with thoughts I didn't want to have.
Just as I was about to leave the bathroom, the door creaked open. My heart skipped a beat, my body tensing as I turned to see Larisey standing in the doorway, her gaze locked onto me.
"Did you enjoy your shower?" she asked, her voice low and smooth.
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. "I... I can take care of myself."
Larisey smiled, stepping into the bathroom and closing the door behind her. "Oh, I have no doubt about that," she said, her eyes never leaving mine. "But sometimes, it's nice to let someone else take care of you."
I backed up against the counter, gripping the edge with trembling hands. "I told you, I don't need your help."
She took a step closer, her presence filling the small room. "Are you sure about that, Eulalie?" she whispered, her breath warm against my cheek. "You seem so tense... so uncertain."
My heart pounded in my chest, my body betraying me as I felt the heat between us grow. I wanted to resist, to push her away, but her touch—when she reached out and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear—sent shivers down my spine.
"Don't be afraid," Larisey murmured, her fingers trailing down my neck, lingering on the pulse that raced beneath my skin. "I'm not going to hurt you."
I wanted to believe her, but everything about this felt dangerous. It wasn't the kind of danger that came from physical harm, but the kind that threatened to unravel everything I thought I knew about myself.
"I can't... I can't do this," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Larisey's hand paused, her eyes softening as she looked at me. "I know you're scared," she said gently, her tone almost comforting. "But I'm not asking you for anything you don't want to give."
Her words hung in the air, thick with unspoken meaning. I could feel the tension between us, the way her touch made my skin tingle, but I couldn't let myself give in. Not yet.
"I want to go home," I repeated, my voice firmer this time. "Please, just let me go."
Larisey sighed softly, stepping back and giving me space to breathe. "I understand," she said, her voice laced with disappointment. "You're not ready. But I'm not going to force you into anything, Eulalie."
I blinked, surprised by the softness in her voice, the sincerity in her words. For a moment, I almost believed her.
"Come," she said, gesturing toward the door. "You must be hungry. I made dinner."
I hesitated, my mind racing with conflicting thoughts. Part of me wanted to refuse, to stay here in the safety of the bathroom, but I knew I couldn't hide forever. I needed to keep my strength up if I ever wanted to find a way out of this place.
Reluctantly, I followed her out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. The scent of food filled the air, and my stomach growled in response. I hadn't eaten since before... before all of this.
Larisey led me to the small table in the corner of the room, where a plate of food was waiting. She pulled out a chair for me, her movements graceful and poised, as if this was all part of some twisted seduction game. And maybe it was.
"Sit," she said softly. "Eat."
I sat down, eyeing the plate in front of me. The food looked delicious—fresh fruits, roasted vegetables, and a perfectly cooked piece of meat. My hunger won out over my resistance, and I picked up the fork, taking a hesitant bite.
Larisey watched me closely, her eyes never leaving mine. "Good girl," she murmured, her voice dripping with approval.
I bristled at her words, hating the way they made me feel. Like I was some kind of pet, something for her to mold and control. But I needed to play along, at least for now. I needed to buy myself time to figure out a way out of this.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked between bites, my voice steadier now. "Why me?"
Larisey's smile widened, her gaze darkening with something I couldn't quite place. "Because you're special, Eulalie," she said softly. "You don't realize it yet, but there's something about you that drew me in from the moment I saw you."
I looked away, my appetite fading as the weight of her words sank in. She was obsessed with me, that much was clear. But what did that mean for me? How far would she go to keep me here?
"You can't keep me locked away forever," I said, my voice quiet but firm.
Larisey's smile didn't falter. "I don't need to keep you locked away," she said softly. "Eventually, you'll want to stay. You'll see that this is where you belong."
I shook my head, pushing the plate away. "I don't belong here," I whispered.
Larisey stood up and walked over to me, her hand reaching out to brush against my cheek. "You will," she murmured, her voice full of promise. "You just need time."
I flinched at her touch, but I didn't pull away. Part of me hated how gentle she could be, how easily she could make me doubt myself. But I couldn't let her win. Not yet.
"I need to get out of here," I said, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to stay calm.
Larisey's smile faded slightly, but her gaze remained steady. "Not yet," she said softly, her tone full of finality.
I looked up at her, my heart pounding in my chest. "Why not?"
She leaned down, her lips brushing against my ear as she whispered, "Because I'm not done with you yet."