"I was going to make your favorite breakfast," Devon says. She should turn around and look at him. But suddenly, she can't move at all. She knows he's approaching her. He sounds amused. "But if you're not hungry, we can do something else."
That's not right. That doesn't make any sense. How could he know her favorite breakfast? She's certain it didn't come up the night before. Okay, Jasmine, you're focusing on the wrong thing. Just a figure of speech or something. Doesn't matter.
He's at her back, close enough that she can feel him. He pulls her shoes out of her hand, her purse off her shoulder.
She should stop him.
Why doesn't she stop him?
There's a tugging at her stomach, and then the belt comes off. He pulls at the dress's neckline. "Take this off, Jasmine."
No, of course she's not going to take it off. She might not be able to stop him from taking her shoes and purse, but she definitely won't--
The fabric slips off her arms and torso, and then the dress falls, bunching around her feet.
She didn't even think about it. It was like her arms were moving independent from her conscious mind.
"Turn around."
Her cheeks burn as she turns her topless form to him. She folds her arms, trying to cover up her chest, but he gently takes her hands and stretches them in front of her, revealing her breasts in all their glory.
He smiles at them. He smiles at her. She wishes she didn't feel that ping in her groin at the thought of his approval. He's topless, wearing only a pair of jeans, and he looks, as always, infuriatingly attractive.
"I wonder if you've even noticed," he muses, "that you haven't said a word since you woke up."
Her eyes widen. Her hands are still in his. He's right. She's had plenty of thoughts, sure. Plenty of conversations in her own head. But not a single word spoken aloud.
"Or that the panties you're wearing aren't the ones you were wearing at the party."
She looks down, but she doesn't need to. She can feel the fabric against her skin, and knows now it's completely different from the white floral-patterned cotton briefs she wore to the party. The ones she's wearing now are black, a thong with a lace waistband.
"Why'd you put them on, Jasmine?" he asks.
"They were..." Her voice almost sounds foreign in her ear, like it's been ages since she's used it. "They were on the chair."
His reaction isn't at all what she expected. He leans over and kisses her cheek, so tenderly. "Yes, they were," he whispers.
She lets out a soft moan as he cups her breast, squeezing it firmly. The back of her head rests against the door.
"My poor girl," he says. He weaves his fingers through her scalp. The way he says, "My."
My poor girl.
It's so subtle, but she can feel the possessiveness of it. It's not just an affectionate epithet. She moans again. "Did you try to take off the cuffs?"
"Yes."
He puts his hand around one of the ones on her wrist, squeezing the leather against her skin. "But you couldn't, could you?"
"No." She whimpers, half from the pleasure of his touch, half from the confusion.
"Let's hear it, Jasmine. Tell me what you remember. Tell me what you think is happening." He pulls back, just enough for his face to meet hers, placing two fingers under her chin.
She inhales. "We were at the party, no, in your dad's office. With your friends. And I let you...you made me..." She remembers how hard it was for her to think then, and now her hand goes to her forehead. Tears form at her eyes.
"It's alright," he says softly. "What did I do to you, Jasmine?"
"You hypnotized me," she says, her voice so small.
"And why was that so hard for you to say?"
"Because...because it wasn't real. Hypnotism isn't real. Brainwashing isn't real. But I can't get the cuffs off. I couldn't unlock the door. You did something to me, and there's a room--"
He waits a beat. "Go on."
"There's a room. Downstairs."
"What's it for?"
"I don't know."
"Did you go into it?" Devon asks.
She shakes her head.
"But you know it's important."
She nods.
"Show me," he orders.
She turns and heads down the stairs, Devon following close behind her. Her dress, her purse, her shoes, and her belt all stay on the landing. She can't explain why, but she has the distinct feeling that she'll never see any of them again. She walks past his bedroom and goes to the door that gives her the strange feeling, which intensifies when she stands before it.
He twists the handle and pushes the door open.
There's barely any furniture in the room; it's definitely not being used as an office or a guest room.