“We’ll be sleeping in our bed,” he says tersely.

“Yes, warden, sir,” I say, offering him a mock salute before turning and marching to the door, pausing and spinning around to face the guys. “All prisoners get exercise time in the yard, I run at five a.m. and as I’m not allowed out without one of my guards, I’ll let you decide which one of you gets to accompany me.”

My Bravado lasts until my fingers wrap around the door handle for my door and it doesn’t open. As much as I can throw sass at the guys and pretend like I’m just full of anger when I’m around them, as soon as I’m alone, the sadness and fear take over. Stumbling into Sebastian’s room, I rush into the bathroom and turn on all the faucets, letting the sound of running water cover the sound of me breaking down. Reality hits me like a wrecking ball and my legs collapse beneath me as I sink to the floor and sob into my hands for the life I should have had and the reality I’m being forced to live.

I’m not sure how long I cry for, long enough for the water to heat and for the room to fill with steam. Pushing the plug into place I let the tub fill with water and then climb into it fully clothed, ignoring the burning sensation as the water scalds my skin. When the stinging fades, my body goes numb and I lean my head back into the water and close my eyes, steadying my breathing as I listen to the sound of the water moving around me.

I feel it the moment he opens the door and steps into the bathroom, but I don’t open my eyes, or make any attempt to speak to him. After a moment, he leaves again and I exhale a breath I hadn’t known I was holding. When the water goes cold, I get out, shrugging his sopping-wet shirt and my panties to the floor before wrapping myself in a fluffy towel.

His frenetic energy pulses between us when I step into the room, but I don’t speak and neither does he. I can feel his gaze following me around as I open the closet and take out another of his shirts, pulling it on.

My stomach’s empty, but I ignore it, lifting the edge of his rumpled sheet and climbing into his bed. Rolling to my side I turn my back on him, but he doesn’t speak as he turns out the light, climbs in behind me and curls an arm around my waist.

I’m not sure what time it is when I blink awake, it’s dark out, but my body clock is so out of whack it could be midnight or five in the morning. There’s heat at my back. Sebastian. Everything comes back to me in a rush. This is his bed, I’m his captive and there’s nothing I can do about it.