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this place and why was I there?
    I hated myself. I wanted to pound at my own skull and berate my absent mind for failing me so drastically. Thoughts were so jumbled I didn’t know if I could even trust myself.
    What he said earlier played back in my mind making my lips move without permission. “How do we know each other?”
    His hard glare made me want to fade into the air, evaporate into particles and then be carried away through the vents to freedom. What was freedom for me? What if my world was worse outside? No, I couldn’t believe that. There was something inside me, granted it was deeply buried under the fear and clogged thoughts but there was something that told me I wasn’t alone. I had something…someone.
    The scraping of the chair and heavy presence in front of me commanded my attention. An iron-fisted grip tightened on my arms. “Why would you think we knew each other?” he barked at me, the small spray of spit from his angry question misting my cheek.
    “You know my name and said I look different but the same,” I squeaked as he shook me. My head thumped angrily against the abuse.
    He stilled, his eyes studying my face before he answered. “I don’t buy stock picked from a cattle farm, Star.” He looked down at himself then back to me with a quirked brow. Yes, he was beautiful and shouldn’t have trouble finding any woman to cater to any type of need he craved. “I chose with reason.”
    I was surprised at how forthcoming he was being and decided to push for more. “So we do know each other?” My eyes rebelled against what I wanted them to do, making me want to poke them out with a rusty spoon when they focused on his lips as I waited for his reply. They were full, the bottom one slightly fuller than the top, pink and smooth unlike the chapped, peeling sore lips of my own.
    The side of his mouth lifted into a smirk. I wanted to cry that he knew what I was thinking. “I know you! But you have no idea who I am.”
    My body deflated. If we didn’t know each other then there were no binds that tied us to make him more human towards me. I was just a captive to a man clearly deranged.
    A chill blew gently against my exposed skin. Goosebumps scattered over my still sore flesh, making a tingle shoot through my body. I jerked from the intensity of it.
    A throaty chuckle resonated from his chest and I glanced at him in shock.
    His head tilted like a cat’s does when it’s curious about an object. Dipping his hand into the pocket of his slacks, he pulled a small tin out and flicked the lid with his thumb. The smell of cherries lifted from the tin, teasing my nose. The pad of his thumb skimmed over the surface before he reached towards me and swiped it across my bottom lip. It was warm and soothing, a silky smooth layer of moistness coating my parched lips.
    I gasped involuntarily from his gentle touch, my eyes holding his, trying to decipher his play. Was it wrong that my whole being ached from such a tender caress? I wanted to sob and be held onto and told that everything would be okay.
    My mind raced with all the instability. I didn’t have time to react when a warm palm slid up my cheek, cupping me behind the ear and bringing me forwards to crush me against the full lips I had been admiring not moments before. My body tilted into his and for a split second I allowed myself to enjoy the connection before reality morphed back in.
    His scent invaded me. His warm comfort turned to the fire of the underworld, trying to corrupt me. His taste exploded on my tongue, mint and wine swirling in the wet massage as his tongue danced and explored every inch of my mouth.
    Images reminded me of Maria’s mouth wrapped around his cock. My teeth clamped down as anger and confusion drowned me in what was real. This wasn’t comfort, this man had kidnapped me.
    A metallic tinge hit my lips as a hand gripped my braids in one fist, dragging forcefully downwards. My head snapped backwards. My mouth opened, releasing the