21. Chapter 21

Chapter 21

-Jared-

I hadn't meant to drift off, but my body recognized the sudden peace enveloping me, and with sweet Alison by my side, I could finally rest a little. As my mind attempted to settle after the tumultuous night, a loud noise of running water in the other room jolted me awake. Fear momentarily gripped me, wondering if I were still in Astrid's domain, but I quickly realized I was back in the safety of my own space with Alison. A smile crept across my lips at the thought, but it faded as I noticed something amiss.

Why was the water running? I turned my head, noticing the empty space beside me. Why was Alison out of bed? She could barely walk without my assistance, and yet the water was running.

"Fuck no!" I hissed lowly, ignoring the pain in my own body as I leapt out of bed. Alison was under my care now, and I refused to let her endanger herself by acting independently. Storming to the bathroom, I slammed open the partially closed door. There stood a very naked and wet Alison, running her hands through her long blond hair, her back to me.

Yet, I couldn't afford to appreciate her beauty at that moment. Instead, anger boiled within me at the thought of her jeopardizing her health. Now that I had her back, I was determined to protect her from any harm.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing, slave?" I growled, my voice laced with frustration. Alison turned to look over her shoulder, and to my astonishment, there was no trace of apology in her expression. Instead, an icy anger, all too familiar, resurfaced on her features, and she didn't even bother to respond to my question.

"I thought I wasn't your slave anymore."

"You are when you don't fucking listen to me. You can't shower by yourself," I snapped.

"I seem to be doing quite fine."

"Oh, really? Is that why your legs are trembling like I fucked you all night?" I spat.

She hissed angrily before turning to face me again, the water cascading down her body, giving her the appearance of something out of a magical fantasy—beautiful yet dangerous at the same time.

"I don't need your assistance," she retorted. "You can go back to your wife and satisfy her."

"Excuse me?" I inquired, my fury momentarily clouding my understanding of her words.

Alison leaned a hand on the wall, subtly needing the support it provided.

"Just come out here, Alison, and I will dry you off and take you back to bed," I ordered.

She shook her head, refusing to meet my gaze.

"Alison!"

"No, I don't need you," she stated firmly.

"What did you just say?"

"I said I don't need you. But your wife clearly does," she snapped.

How could she claim she didn't need me? She had declared I was all she had, and now she seemed to be backtracking. I couldn't accept that.

"Alison, get out of the shower or I will pull you out!"

"And then what? Spank me?" she taunted, her words causing a tingle in my palm as I remembered the sensation of her skin beneath my touch.

"Perhaps," I replied, my tone laced with a mixture of frustration and desire.

"Were you spanked all night?" she inquired, and suddenly, everything clicked into place within my mind.

She glanced over her shoulder, her anger waning, replaced by a look of betrayal. Normally adept at masking my emotions, I couldn't understand how she had seen through me.

"Were you a good boy?" she mocked.

"Alison..." I whispered softly, my heart aching at the pain in her voice.

"I thought you meant it," she murmured. "The only thing keeping me together these days is knowing you want only me, just like I have only wanted you."

"It's true," I insisted.

"But it's not, or you wouldn't still have sex with Astrid," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

As tears threatened to spill from her eyes, a wave of guilt washed over me. Alison was clinging to me, relying on our bond to hold her shattered pieces together. Knowing that I had shared myself with another woman was tearing her apart, and I couldn't bear to see her in such pain. My anger melted away, replaced by a deep sense of remorse.

"Alison," I began.

"You said you were working," she choked out, struggling to compose herself.

"I was," I affirmed.

"I don't really define a night with your wife like that," she accused bitterly.

"It was work," I insisted, desperately trying to explain.

"Really?" she spat, turning to fully face me, her eyes red with unshed tears.

"I... made a deal," I confessed, my gaze falling to the floor.

"I know, your empire for me."

"Yes, my empire and… and my submission for a night," I revealed, then meeting her surprised eyes.

"W-What?"

"Astrid has wanted to fuck me since she saw me. She thrives on breaking those who resist. She demanded not only full control over my empire but also over... me," I explained.

Alison leaned against the wall, her expression pained.

"W-Why would you do that?" she inquired.

"Because I couldn't get you back on my own," I said.

"But…"

"It was worth it, Alison, because now I don't owe Astrid anything. I don't owe anyone anything. I can disappear, with you," I empathized.

She blinked rapidly, her anger dissipating. I couldn't blame her for drawing conclusions.

"You really meant it?" she whispered, searching my eyes for the truth.

"Yes, I meant it."

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"I didn't want to burden you with more worries," I explained, regretting my decision to keep her in the dark.

Alison nodded, understanding my intentions. She stepped out of the shower, allowing me to wrap a towel around her trembling form. I dried her off gently, my touch a silent apology for the pain I had caused her.

As I held her close, I vowed to never again let her doubt my commitment. We had weathered storms together, and I was determined to stand by her side, come what may. With her in my arms, I knew that together we could overcome anything.

"Jared, you shouldn't have done this for me," she whispered, her voice filled with anguish.

"Should I have let you stay captured?"

"It's not fair that you pay this price. Not for me!" she insisted.

"It's over now. Let's not dwell on it anymore," I urged, gently wiping away her tears.

"But how can I not? Why does this keep happening to us?" she murmured, her voice heavy with sorrow. I knew she wasn't speaking directly to me, so I simply comforted her.

"It won't happen again. I'll make sure of it," I vowed.

She shook her head, continuing to voice her pain. "I-I should be stronger, be able to do something too."

"No, you allow me to take care of it," I reassured her.

"That's not how a partnership works," she argued, looking up at me with intense blue eyes. "It's about working together."

"I guess I don't have much experience with that," I teased, trying to lighten the mood. Her faint smile gave me some relief.

We locked eyes, the tension easing between us as we cleared the air.

"Do you promise it was only this one night?" she whispered.

"Yes, I promise. It's over now," I affirmed.

"And you don't want it to happen again?"

"I truly don't. I would rather never think about it again," I admitted.

She nodded, and I pulled her closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. In that moment, it felt like she saw only me, and it warmed my heart.

"I'm sorry," she breathed.

"Don't apologize for her actions," I insisted.

"I apologize for my own. If I had done what you told me, packed a bag, come to you, we wouldn't be here," she said, her voice filled with regret.

"I'm not so sure that's true. Astrid informed Vince of my continuing obsession. I wasn't truthful with him regarding seeing you, and he has a way of teaching you the hard way to fall in line. Besides, you were..." I trailed off, knowing where my words were leading.

"What did my father do? You never told me," she reminded me, stepping closer.

"I don't think you want to know right now," I hesitated.

"Jared, they were all dead. There are so many I should grieve, but I can't, because it's so overwhelming. Give me a reason not to," she pleaded.

"Alison, you have enough—" I started to say, but she interrupted.

"Jared, just tell me. Tell me now and let me use this time to recover," she urged.

"It's not pretty, Alison," I warned.

"Tell me regardless. Dump it on me now, so nothing can come between us again," she insisted firmly.

I sighed, dreading the necessity of honesty, but realizing it was the only way to move forward without secrets.

"Your father and his old friends trafficked women," I confessed solemnly.