Chapter 17

LEILA

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For the first time since arriving at this prison, I reached for the light switch on the wall and flipped it on, making the large room come to life, bathed in a warm, inviting glow, a welcome change from the single, shallow light I usually kept on.

I looked around the room, taking it fully in, noticing the expensive furniture, the tasteful décor, the sheer size of the space. At least now, my life was getting back a little… normalcy?

The question lingered in my heart if that was actually what I would call it at this point.

 “Not bad,” I shrugged to myself after taking it all in, a wry smile playing on my lips. Until my eyes landed on the clothes on the bed and on  top lay a dress that looked like something out of a fairy tale, the kind a princess might wear, except it was sleeveless.

It was more of a corset gown, but not all that ball-like, more form-fitting. The color was stunning, a deep, rich green, something royal, more like emerald. I picked it up, and a small piece of fabric fell to the floor.

I bent down and picked it up, my ass a view from the mirror.

It was a matching green g-string.

“Who picks all of this for him?” I wondered aloud, a blush creeping up my neck, because who actually does, this are ladies things so its not meant to be picked by men.

With the phone clutched in my hand, I walked towards the dining room.

He stood there by the large window overlooking the sprawling grounds, his back to me as if he’d been waiting.

I guess he heard my footsteps because he turned immediately as I approached the large dining table pulling out a chair to sit.

He didn’t say anything, his gaze intense as he joined me at the table.

I looked at the spread before us being  an extravagant feast, so much assorted food meant for dinner, and to think of it, after the emotional rollercoaster of the day, I was actually famished.

I looked at the food, my stomach rumbling, as a woman entered the room, carrying a silver platter. It was the first time I’d seen a female staff member here since I arrived, aside Tracy.

My eyes widened in amusement as she gracefully dished out portions onto my plate, a generous helping of what looked like grilled fish, roasted vegetables, and some kind of creamy pasta and so much more. She then poured red wine into one glass and water into the other.

I picked up the glass of water and gulped it down, my throat feeling dry. I could feel Damien’s gaze on me, intense and not moving, like I was some kind of prize he had finally won.

“You look different,” he finally said, his voice low and husky, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Your hair… that style looks nice.” A compliment from Damien. That was actually praise, if he actually meant it.

“Thank you,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. I picked up my own silverware and carefully cut into the steak on my plate.

We ate in silence, the only sound was the clinking of our cutlery against the plates and once we were done, he simply stood up and instructed me with a curt nod to follow him, making me feel like a hesitant puppy trailing after its master.

He opened a door at the end of the hallway, and I walked in, my senses immediately overwhelmed by the sudden shift in atmosphere.

The room felt all noisy but not extra noise, just some sweet noise, filled with the low thumping of music, soft and sensual, the kind that made your hips sway subconsciously.

I moved forward, my steps a little unsteady, I could already feel the weight of the drink on me, feeling  a little intoxicated, though I hadn’t had much wine.

Maybe the stress of everything was finally catching up to me.

“The floor is yours,” Damien said, his voice a low murmur in the dimly lit space.

The room had that purple and red mix of light I couldn’t quite pinpoint, but it cast long, dancing shadows, making it look like a clandestine club hidden within the mansion.

I walked forward, I knew what he was asking for and I had no other option than to comply.

I walked towards the counter of the room, my eyes adjusting to the low light.

Reaching the pole that stood gleaming under the colored lights, I subtly released the down layer of the emerald dress, knowing ever since  that it was detachable from the corset-like bodice. It fell to the floor in a soft heap, leaving me in corset and the g-string i had worn.

I moved forward in my heels, my heart pounding in my chest. It might be my first time doing this, truly performing, but I had to present a perfect performance, a flawless display.

I forced a small smile to my lips as I moved forward, my hand gripping the cool metal of the pole. I turned around it, my body feeling strangely disconnected from my mind.

I could barely see his eyes in the dim light, but I felt his gaze on me, intense and possessive.

He found his way to a velvet seat nearby, drawing closer making me feel some kind of weird way.

The music shifted, the slow, sensual beat replaced by something more overly sexual, the rhythm vibrating through the floor and into my bones, making my head spin slightly.

I reached down and rubbed my hands against the cool metal of the pole, the cold feeling different  to the sudden heat that flared in my bare ass under the skimpy fabric of the g-string.

I tilted my head upwards, my gaze locking with his across the dimly lit space, and then slowly, deliberately, I hooked my leg around the pole, the muscles in my thigh protesting slightly.

I used my free hand to pull out the pin I had used to loosely hold my hair, allowing the dark strands to fall freely down my back. I arched my head back as my eyes was never leaving his.