“Beer, water, soda, juice?” Evan asks, dragging my attention from my internal freak-out.

“Water’s fine, thanks.”

Getting up from the table, he crosses to the huge built-in drinks cooler and takes out four beers and a bottle of water, then hands them out, giving me mine first. His eyes seem to be raking over me, his brows furrowed lightly.

“Are you okay?” he asks cautiously.

“Well, I’m a prisoner, the guy I moved halfway across the country to get away from apparently wants to lock me in a cage and I just let him take my virginity because he worked me up so hard I forgot that I hate him,” I word vomit, laughing hysterically.

Evan’s eyes widen and he looks from me to Sebastian behind me.

“You’re not a prisoner,” Sebastian says quietly.

“Aren’t I? Can I get up and leave, pack my stuff and go home?”

“No.”

“Then let’s call a spade a spade. I’m a prisoner.”

The guys all stare at me, like they have no idea what to say, like me calling them on their bullshit is completely unexpected.

“Little bird,” Sebastian growls in warning.

“There’s no point sugarcoating it, is there? You wanted me here, so here I am. None of this was my choice and you know it’s not what I want. But like you’ve already told me, what I want isn’t important, this is all about you, because I had the audacity to not fall in for your plans for me when I was sixteen.”

“Starling.” His voice is icy, but really, what else can he do to me now that he hasn’t already?

“What do you want from me, huh? I’m not going to pretend that I’m happy about this situation just to make you feel better about it. The four of you are holding me captive; I’m a prisoner and this is my cage,” I say, throwing my arms in the air and scoffing.

Hunter, Evan and Clay all shuffle uncomfortably in their seats and I can’t help the smirk that spreads across my lips. “What’s up, boys? Not enjoying your role as jailer as much as you thought you would. At least Sebastian gets to fuck me. I’ll still hate him for it, but he’s getting his dick wet. What are you three getting? I don’t hate you quite as much as I despise him, but make no mistake, I hate you all too.”

“We” Clay starts.

“You what?” I interrupt him. “You what?”

“We don’t want you to hate us,” Hunter says quietly, his intense eyes boring into me.

“Awww, well that sucks for you then doesn’t it,” I say sardonically, ignoring the plate of food in front of me and reaching over to grab a roll from the bowl in the center of the table. Sebastian’s hold on me loosens marginally, so I take the opportunity to stand up. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll take my prisoner’s ration of bread and water back upstairs to my cell.” Turning to Sebastian, I smile widely. “Now am I in solitary confinement in my own bed, or am I being shackled to yours?”