Isabella’s POV
Pain. That was the first thing I felt. A deep, dull ache in her wrists, the lingering tightness of the rope pressing into my skin even though it had loosened slightly overnight. I stirred, wincing as the sting flared again.
Where am I?
A shiver ran down my spine. The air was cold, the room dimly lit by the faint morning light slipping through a window I couldn’t quite see. I shifted, feeling the weight of exhaustion pressing down on me, but then—
I froze.
A presence. Heavy. Intense. Watching.
My heart pounded against my ribcage as I turned my head, my breath catching in my throat.
He was there.
Sitting across the room, unmoving, his dark eyes pinned to me as if I might vanish if he blinked. His broad shoulders were tense, his chiseled face unreadable. H
