Sleep evaded me, but not for the normal reasons. Old memories and devils liked to make their presences known in the dark of night. But tonight, they were strangely silent and absent. Rolling over, I punched the pillow, before tugging it back underneath my head.

Thoughts of the naked, handcuffed body only three doors down perked my cock to life. But I ignored it. What I focused on was the rampant thoughts running through my head.

After I'd thrown Austin onto the bed, I'd had the urge to lay down next to him. I'd never had that urge before, not with any other man. It was always just sex. A release, a hook up. Where once the condom had been filled, we'd both walked away without another look.

Both Austin and I were clean, and I was quite glad I wouldn't have to deal with that fucking barrier once I finally claimed his hole. Our gazes locked together as our bodies become one. The familiar twinge from earlier could be felt in my chest, and I pushed down the urge to throw my pillow across the room.

There it was again. My cold, dead heart begging for something. A real connection with another human being, something it had never had before. Would it really be so wrong to give into the urges, the suppressed part of my brain prodded at me. Wouldn't it be kind of....nice to be close to another human being? Not alone with my nightmares night after night in chilled sheets, but snuggled close to a warm body that would chase the terrors away.

I could almost pretend like I was a normal man, with a normal childhood, a normal 9-5, with a crush on my next door neighbour.

I closed my fingers over the raised skin of my bare right palm. And like a douse of cold water, reality washed away the fantasy. There are no happily ever afters for people like me, no such thing as normal. And I would do well to remember that.

••••••••••••••••

Days passed, and after an embarrassing first morning where a stony mannered maid came and undid the handcuffs, all I've been able to do is acquaint myself with my room. The wardrobe on the wall across from the king bed held a large tv (but no clothes), with Netflix set up. I'd started binge watching Modern Family, pacing circles around the room, eating the meals brought to me by the same maid, and sleeping to relieve the boredom.

I was a little anxious Maddox would visit for a repeat of the first night, but after a week had passed with neither hide nor hair of him, I became a little miffed. At him and myself. Him for not visiting me, and myself for caring if he visits me or not.

One night, when the maid came back to collect the dinner dishes, a man servant accompanied her. I had been confused at first, until I saw the handcuffs. A flash back to night one had me hard as a rock in seconds, and red as a tomato that the servants could clearly see it with my lack of clothing.

But I hadn't put up a fight. I didn't want to risk any of the privileges I had being revoked. And I knew they were privileges. Through one of the windows that looked out onto the driveway, I had seen one of Maddox's business deals go bad a few nights ago.

The gunshot had awakened me, and in the limited light flooding from the mansion, I could see Maddox striding back to the front door, a figure still and unmoving on the concrete behind his back. A shiver had coursed through me, and it really sunk in how fortunate I was to have Netflix and good food.

So here I was the next morning after being handcuffed to the bed a second time.

"Sleep well?" The mocking tone grated on my already frayed nerves.

I gritted my teeth and turned my head towards Maddox standing in front of the closed door. "No, not really. No."

A very sleepless night had seemed to have eliminated my filter and sense of self preservation. The fucking idiot had cinched the metal far too tight against my wrists, leaving my arms at an awkward angle all night, and I was a little grumpy because of it.

Instead of anger at my tone and words, however, Maddox just took a key out of his trouser pocket and set to work on the hand cuffs. The man was always impeccably dressed, and I'm not going to lie, it turned me on a little. Huh, never knew I had a thing for guys in suits. I filed that away for later examination. I've learned a lot about what my body craves this week.

And what it mainly wanted was Maddox Stone. The powerful and commanding Boss.

"Get dressed."

The words were whispered in my ear, and I jumped from the proximity. My hands fell slack on the pillow as the handcuffs released.

"I'm sorry, what?" I still wasn't sure I had heard him correctly, and Maddox's minty breath brushing across my cheek was distracting as hell.

Stone moved back to stand with his hands loosely clasped behind him, and I noticed his ever present glove. I was curious about the glove. Very curious. But I wasn't going to ask. Not yet, at least.

"As much as I love seeing you naked," he purred in a seductive voice. "People tend to frown when one walks into a mall sans clothing. However, you may go as you are. I doubt anyone would try to stop us." With a shrug, Maddox started towards the door, and I bolted up in my haste to respond.

"No, wait!" He paused to turn back and look at me with a raised eyebrow. God is he sexy.

Snap out of it! "I-I'll get changed. I just need some clothes first." I pointed out timidly.

The raised brow became more condescending than questioning. Maddox nodded his head, and I discovered a pile of neatly folded clothes beside me on the bed. I felt my cheeks colour in embarrassment.

"Oh." Was all I managed to say as I pressed my cool palms to my heated cheeks.