14. Tilly

14

TILLY

I wake up groggy, my head throbbing, and there’s a strange sensation between my legs. I try to lift my arms to rub my eyes, but they won’t budge. Confused, I blink a few times, my vision clearing to reveal that I’m still tied to Phoenix’s bed.

I feel disoriented, and it takes me a moment to remember the intense night we shared. My body aches pleasantly, and I shift to get more comfortable. Then I notice Phoenix kneeling between my legs, his eyes shut, his mouth hovering over my core.

I should be scandalized, but a spark of pleasure shoots through me as I realize what he’s doing. He’s licking me, feasting on my most intimate place while I lay helpless, sleeping and bound to his bed. It’s wrong and still sends a thrill coursing through my body.

I watch, captivated, as he laps at me, his tongue teasing my clit. Despite my fuzzy state of mind, I’m so aroused.

A soft moan escapes my lips as he nuzzles further into my core, his breath hot against my sensitive flesh. I’m completely at his mercy, tied up and vulnerable, and the realization only fuels my desire.

His tongue darts out, swirling around my clit in slow, deliberate circles. I sink my teeth into my lip to suppress a whimper. The pleasure is electric.

His eyes flutter open as I watch, transfixed. He smirks, clearly pleased with the effect he’s having on me. “Good morning, sweetheart,” he whispers.

“Phoenix,” I breathe, my back arching as I seek more of his devastating touch.

He chuckles, the sound warm and intimate, and dives back in, his tongue teasing me, driving me closer to the edge. I know I should be embarrassed, tied up, and helpless while he eats me out, but I can’t bring myself to care. All I can focus on is the pleasure he’s eliciting, the way he’s driving me wild with just his mouth.

His fingers join the dance, slipping inside me, stretching and filling me while his thumb works in circles, adding to the delicious friction. I’m on the precipice now, teetering on the edge, and I know with just a little more stimulation, I’ll shatter.

“Please,” I beg, my voice hoarse and wanting.

He chuckles again, the sound vibrating against me, and sucks my clit into his mouth. That does it. I cry out, my body bowing as I lose myself in the sensation. My hips buck against his mouth, seeking more, needing to ride out the waves of my release.

Phoenix groans his approval, his hands tightening on my thighs, holding me in place as I come undone. “That’s it, baby,” he whispers, his breath hot against my sensitized flesh. “Let go for me.”

I’m floating, drifting back down from the stratosphere Phoenix sent me to, when a faint humming fills my ears. At first, I think it’s just the lingering echoes of my climax, but then I feel it. The trailer is moving. We’re rolling forward, slow and steady.

My eyes snap open, confusion and panic setting in. “What’s happening?” I ask, my voice laced with alarm.

Phoenix lifts his head, a playful smile on his lips. “We’re moving on. The carnival never stays in one place for too long.”

I struggle against my binds, suddenly aware of how vulnerable I am. “Wait, you can’t just?—”

He presses a finger to my lips. “Shh, it’s okay, sweetheart. I’m not letting you go.”

I spot my belongings neatly stacked in a corner of his trailer. My heart sinks as I recognize my favorite lamp, my stack of video games, and even the mug my sister gave me. “What...what are my things doing here?”

He brushes his thumb across my lower lip, his eyes holding mine. “I had to drug you, sweet girl. It was the only way to get you out of your home without a fight.”

I stare at him, unable to process his words. “You kidnapped me?”

The amusement fades from his eyes, replaced by a fierce intensity. “I prefer to think of it as a strategic relocation. You see, Tilly, I couldn’t bear the thought of being without you, and I knew you’d never leave your life behind voluntarily. So, I had to take matters into my own hands. ”

I swallow, my throat dry. “You’ve taken me with you on the road?”

He nods, his gaze unwavering. “You’re mine now. And I intend to keep you safe and by my side, no matter what.”

The trailer rocks as we continue rolling forward, each bump and sway sending a jolt through my body. Phoenix’s actions are unhinged, possessive, and utterly irrational.

“But...my life, friends, family,” I sputter.

Phoenix captures my hand, bringing it to his lips. “I’ve taken care of everything, baby. They’ll believe you’ve moved on, chasing some newfound dream. You’re free to start anew with me by your side.”

“You’re insane, Phoenix. Let me go! I demand you let me go this instant!” I try to sound commanding, but it comes out slurred, the effects of the drugs muddling my brain.

Anger flashes in his eyes. “You’re not thinking straight. Just rest for now. We’ll talk once you’re feeling more like yourself.”

“No, you don’t understand,” I say, struggling to think. “I can’t be here. My life, my friends, they’ll be worried sick. And my family—what must they be going through?”

“Shh,” he soothes, stroking my hair. “I told you, I’ve handled everything. No one is coming for you, Tilly. No one but me.”

“But they will!” I insist, my voice rising in desperation. “They’ll come looking for me. They won’t just accept that I’ve vanished!”

His jaw clenches, and his gaze hardens. “I’ve been monitoring them, Tilly. Your friends, your family. I had to, for your safety and mine. And I can assure you, they won’t come after you. Not anymore.”

The weight of his words settles in my stomach as I wonder if he’s hurt them. “What do you mean? What have you done?”

His fingers ghost my cheek, his eyes holding mine. “I had to sever those ties. It was the only way to ensure your safety and our future together. I made sure they’ll never bother us again.”

My breath catches, my mind running wild with horrible possibilities. “What—what did you do to them?”

He shakes his head, a pained expression crossing his face. “Just rest, Tilly. You need to recover your strength. We’ve got a lot to discuss about our life.”

“No, Phoenix, tell me!” I try to tug myself free, but the rope is firm. “Did you—did you hurt them? Oh God, please tell me you didn’t hurt my family!”

He flinches. “I’d never physically harm them, Tilly. I just faked your death. It was necessary to protect us.”

Faked my death?

My mind spins, trying to grasp what he’s saying. “You—you faked my death? Like, they think they’ve buried me?”

“It was the only way. They’ll grieve, but they certainly won’t come looking. To them, you’re dead and gone. Now, rest. We’ll create new memories, just you and I together.”

This psycho faked my death and severed all ties to my loved ones. In their eyes, I’m gone forever, just a tragic memory to mourn.

“No, no, you can’t do this!” I cry out, thrashing against my restraints. “My family, my friends—they’ll be devastated! You’ve got to let me go back. You have to tell them the truth!”

Phoenix shakes his head. “I’m sorry, but it’s already done. For our future together to work, your past had to be left behind.”

“You’re insane!” I scream, tears of rage streaming down my cheeks. “You’ve ruined everything, taken me from everyone I love! How could you do this?”

His face hardens. “It was necessary.”

I open my mouth to protest further, but a strange drowsiness overtakes me. My limbs feel heavy, my thoughts growing fuzzy.

“Wh-what did you do?” I slur, realizing he must have drugged me again.

Phoenix strokes my cheek gently. “Shh, it’s alright. You’re just going to rest for a little while. When you wake up, you’ll see things more clearly.”

I try to fight the darkness encroaching on my vision, but it’s useless. The drugs are too strong, pulling me down into a deep, dreamless oblivion. The last thing I see is Phoenix’s face, his expression a mixture of concern and possessiveness, before the world fades to black.

I drift into a void, my senses dulled, my thoughts scattered. Time holds no meaning in this endless abyss. Am I awake? Asleep? Alive or dead? The line between reality and nightmare blurs until I can no longer tell the difference.