She narrowed her eyes at herself in the mirror, took a deep breath, plastered as much of a smile as she could manage on her face and went to open the door. She was wearing only a towel when she emerged and Volkan’s eyes skimmed her body.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to take so long,” she said in a pleasant tone. “I’ll hurry and get dressed.”

She tried to walk past him toward the closet, but he stepped into her path, his gaze on her face. Her heart picked up speed and for a second she thought he was suspicious of her sudden about-face, but then his gaze dropped to her arm and he brushed his fingers over her bicep.

“I bruised you.”

She looked down and saw what he meant. Shadowy finger marks were starting to show against her brown skin. When she looked at him again, she didn’t see shame, but pride. He enjoyed seeing his mark on her.

“Excuse me,” she said through a throat gone suddenly dry. How was she supposed to pretend she could tolerate him when he said and did weird, creepy stuff every time she saw him?

Instead of letting her pass, he gripped her arms over top of the bruises he left and lowered his head to hers, kissing her. He used too much pressure, bruising the already swollen tissues of her lips. She whimpered and eventually he let up, but she could tell he enjoyed her pain.

Touching her lips, she rushed past him and into the closet. She prayed he wouldn’t follow and let out a sigh of relief when he left the bedroom. She went through her new wardrobe searching for something to wear on the flight to Turkey.

Then it struck her that she hadn’t seen her luggage since the day before. Had he done something with it? She glanced in the bedroom and realized that she was right. Her bag was gone. Along with all of her belongings. Where had he taken them? Would he give them back? She had to fight the urge to storm into the kitchen and demand her things.

No, she was determined to lead with logic rather than her emotions. It was only stuff. She could replace everything that had been in the bag. But had he also confiscated her purse, along with her passport and identification?

She disappeared back into the closet and randomly chose a white sundress with a big yellow sunflower splashed across the skirt, a white cotton panty and bra set and tan leather sandals with three-inch heels. She wouldn’t be anywhere near Volkan’s height, but she’d have more than nature gave her.

After dressing, she ran a brush through her hair, brushed her teeth and declared herself ready for the next leg of her kidnapping. With a bitter laugh, she walked into the kitchen, plastering an innocently curious look on her face.