Yasmin nodded, once again getting the feeling that she was in an alternate universe. Or that she’d stepped back in time a few hundred years. Volkan wanted her to obey his every command? He only had her best interests at heart? No chance. Any man who thought kidnapping was the way to a woman’s heart couldn’t possibly have her best interests in mind. Volkan only cared about one person. Himself.

“Come sit.” He waved her toward the table.

Yasmin edged around him and slid into the chair he was holding out for her. He bent to smooth a cloth napkin across her lap, sending a chill of fear through her. He was much bigger than her, stronger and faster. She would have to incapacitate him if she wanted to get away.

Volkan took the chair next to her, sitting and placing his own napkin across his lap. He nodded toward her dish. “Go ahead and eat.”

Yasmin lifted her fork and touched it to the food, then stopped. Volkan was watching her intently. She dropped the fork and stared down at the food, blinking as it swam in front of her. Her heart hammered like a drum and her palms felt damp.

“What’s wrong, aşkım?”

She shook her head, but the blood was rushing through her, making her dizzy. She was afraid of the food. More than afraid. She was petrified. What if it was drugged?

Volkan took hold of her hand. He felt warm and firm and, despite her fear of him, reassuring.

“Talk to me, Yasmin.”

“I’m scared,” she admitted, the words coming out in a rush. “Is it drugged?”

“I see the problem.” He looked at her steadily and said, “Your food isn’t drugged.” He gave her plate a pointed look. “Now eat.”

Still, she refused to pick up her fork. She couldn’t possibly believe his claim about the food. She would be stupid to ingest anything he gave her.

He set his own fork down and leaned forward, his expression darkening. “There’s no point in starving yourself. The drugs are not in your food.” He reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a syringe, placing it on the table between them. “This is the drug I will use on you if you refuse to cooperate. It’s not a sedative like the last one, but something to paralyze your muscles, so you’ll be aware of me and everything around you.” He leaned closer until his breath touched her face. “But there’ll be nothing you can do because you won’t be able to move.”

His words were sinister, disgusting and evil, but his tone was soft, as though he were speaking the words of a lover.

Her gaze flicked to the syringe. She couldn’t let him use it on her.