I don't think I've ever slept this comfortably. My eyes were still closed but my mind was awake.

A light scent made my nostrils tingly and happy. And suddenly I felt that my back was a little cold but my cheeks and chest felt warm.

I opened my eyes and looked up.

She was sleeping while holding me close to her.

I looked at my arm around her waist. My gaze falls on her neck and I saw a dark hickey right there below her jaw. I was confused. I don't have any memory from last night at all. But deep inside I was... happy. Weirdly content.

I looked at her again and she was beautiful. Gorgeous. Perfect. I don't know why but I rested my palm against her cheek and she rested her whole face against my palm while she was still sleeping.

I looked at her for a couple of minutes. Noticing every perfect feature of her face. Her thin black eyelashes. My mark on her neck made me smile. I wished I could just love easily again. I lightly moved my arms from around her and got up as slowly as I could and made my way to the bathroom to freshen up.

When Emily woke up, she saw he was gone. She got up instantly because she knew that he'd get mad if he saw her sleeping in his bed.

She got up quickly. But before she could walk out, her eyes looked herself in the mirror and she saw the hickey he gave her. She took her powder from her office bag and applied some on the mark. Trying to hide them.

After a while, he came down. In his pajamas but still shirtless. No one was around. He looked at her already dressed up and asked: "Where is everyone?"

She put his breakfast on the table and said: "Grandma took Celeste and the other maid to the market."

"And you're here?"

"I woke up and she was already gone"

He noticed her neck again and said"You didn't have to cover them" He lightly smiled to himself and looked at the glass on the table. He asked, "What is this?" She replied, "That's carrot juice mixed with pickle juice and tomatoes."

"Why?"

"You were drunk last night. It'll help you with the hangover."

"I'm not drinking that."

"It'll really help you with the hangover."

He looked at her with one brow raised and drank the whole thing at once.

In the end, he groaned in disgust and she smiled a little.

She showed him a little smile and he adores it. He said, "I'm not going to work today and neither are you."

"Why?"

"Because I got a meeting in a couple of hours outside the company."

"Okay, master"

"And I know grandma and the others will not come back before 10 pm."

"Okay, master."

"And I'll be back by 4."

"Yes, master."

"So I want you to be ready.

"Okay, master. But for what?"

"I wanna take you outside. For dinner. Will you go?"

She smiles a little more and said: "I'd like to, Master."

After a little pause, she asked: "C-Can I ask you something?" He looked at her and saw how she played with the hem of her shirt.

He looked interested and she continued"Can Curtis come here? Just for an hour or two. He's my brother and I terribly miss him. Haven't seen him since the wedding."

She was nervous as she asked him and he said: "If you promise me he'll be gone before I come here."

Instantly her eyes lighted with sparkles and happiness. She gave a bright smile that melted his heart mostly and in a low voice said"Thank you."

As he got ready upstairs, she texted Curtis downstairs to come over.

When he got down, she instantly stood up.

In a hurry, he said"If anyone comes asking for me, don't let them in. At all. Don't open the door for anyone except for Curtis or me. Understand?" She nodded "Understood."

He walked towards her and again said: "Be ready on 6."She nodded like a child.

He was already in a hurry that he didn't realize what he was doing as he lightly pecked a kiss at the corner of her lips and walked past her. Causing her to be fully frozen.

When he reached in the car and put the key in the ignition.

He realized that he had kissed her. He rested his head against the seat and mumbled "Stupid Liam."

The thought of him actually lightly kissing her made her blush and smile.

An hour went by when the doorbell ringed.

She looked that it was Curtis.

She quickly opened the gate and hugged him hard. Happy tears falling from her eyes.

He asked, "How are you, Em?"

She took him inside the house and he sat on the couch opposite her.

She said, "I'm glad no one else came."

"No one knows I'm here. They think I'm out of town right now."

"And keep it that way. I've seen the look of greed in their eyes around Liam."

"They're like hungry wolves."

Emily laughed out loud at his statement. He smiled and said"It's good to see you laugh... How does he treat you?"

"Okay. Better than David, Tanya, and Melissa."

"Has he done anything... bad?"

She hesitated before she answered"No."

She asked, "Would you like some coffee?" He smiled and nodded.

As she got up to make coffee, a piece of paper fell from her pocket.

Curtis picked it up and saw it said'Masters Rules'.

He read the rules thoroughly and walked to the kitchen angrily.

He held up the piece of paper and said: "What the fuck is this?!"

She looked at him confused first because he had never used that kind of language. Ever.

When she noticed the paper he was holding, her eyes widened and she tried to snatch the paper away but he was taller than her.

He again asked, "What the hell is this?" She stopped and looked at him.

"I'm waiting for you to respond, Em."

In a low voice, she said"His rules."

"What?! Why?"

"There are things he hates. If I don't follow them there are consequences."

He asked out loud"Consequences?!" She said answered without thinking"Yes. Like the other times."

Her eyes widened when she said that. Curtis tried to calm himself and said"Other times?! Em, does he beat you up?" She instantly said"NO! Never. He never raised his hand at me."

"So what did he do?!"

"Curtis, don't worry. I'm telling you. He's better than the rest. Thousand times better."

"This is not right. He came to us for your hand and he's here treating you like a servant. Not fair."

"Curtis, when has my life ever been fair?"

He knew she was right. She continued" I'd rather be here then that house where they all live."

"You want me to talk to Liam?"

"No!"

"Have you told him? About anything?"

"No. I couldn't and I won't"

"Has he seen the bruises?"

"He hasn't touched me."

Then Curtis realized"You covered it up, didn't you? You keep it covered!" She lied"No, I don't"

He was getting really frustrated. He took her arm and pulled up her sleeve to her elbow. He looked at her shaking his head.

She snatched back her arm and said"Curtis I have too. I don't want David to find out. If he does, he'll come and beat me again. I can't. I escaped from that torture an..." He cut her off"And you arrived at another one. Please let me help you."

"I can't let you. He won't let me go. Not anymore."

"Then let's run. I'll take you away far from here. You can start a new life. You deserve it."

"Not in this life, Curtis."

He held her shoulders and said"Please, Emily. I hate myself so much that I can't help you in any way. Because if I do it'll put you in so much danger. But Liam can. He has power over David. He has the power to crush every one of them. Ask him for help." A tear rolled down her cheek as he said frustrated" I CAN'T! I can't ask the man who purchased me just because I slapped him."

••••••••••••••••••••••••

Halllllllloooooooossssss

Awwww she held him while sleeping. Ain't that cute? I think that's super cute 😍

Hope you like this chapter.

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Read my first book, Rogue Prince.

Bye!

Love, Hope

♥️♥️

(Edited)