Captive Body (R18+)

6-Sit on my lap!

Alya’s POV

Fire…

My heart was burning like a raging inferno. Would this inferno ever die down, or would it continue to burn? If it were to diminish, how long would it take? The answer was clear: Only in death…

How tragic… A single word, and the harsh reality of my life slapped me across the face. Death… Even that didn't seem so terrible anymore. I long for death now. It was the only way to find release from this torment. The only one who would shed tears at my funeral was Betül Abla. But even she would eventually move on. Just as I had adapted to life without my parents, she would find a way to cope and continue living.

She would want this for me, for my happiness. It would be better if I were dead, than to experience this cruel reality. I had become the other woman. I had been with a man who was engaged, and as if that wasn't enough, I was now carrying his child. My jaw trembled first, then my entire being seemed to shudder. A single, undeniable truth echoed within me: What have you done? This was not how it was supposed to be.

Downstairs, the shouting continued, but their words no longer registered. Every sound seemed distant and muffled. My legs trembled, and I struggled to stay upright. Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision.

Could a single phrase truly cripple all your senses? I whispered to myself, "Pull yourself together," but even that simple command seemed beyond my grasp. As I leaned against the wall for support, my head began to spin and my breath hitched in my chest. Just as I regained a sliver of composure, a voice boomed from below.

"Hale means nothing to me! Don't even try to defend her! And don't forget, the agreement was for appearances only!"

Hale must be his fiancée. An agreement? What did it all mean? The place I had stumbled into was shrouded in secrets. Did Demir truly love her, or was it all a charade? But I was in no state to even contemplate such things. His brother's voice thundered again.

"Demir, are you oblivious to the gravity of this situation? You are bound to marry her! Do you have any idea how swiftly our world will crumble if you don't? Is that what you desire, to see everything destroyed?"

The more secrets unraveled, the more my curiosity burned. I pressed my ear closer to the door, both eager and terrified of what I might hear next. What hurt me the most, was that I was treated like a mere mistress. Then I reminded myself of the reason I was here. I was here to give birth to his child, after which I was meant to disappear from their lives forever.

"Damn it, I know! I'm forced to endure Hale because of my father's absurd rules!"

Was he engaged because of his father? Even if I asked, he wouldn't tell me. That's why I vowed never to bring it up.

"Demir, I know what you're thinking. You didn't bring that girl here just for the baby! Get rid of her immediately, or Father will make sure you regret it!" His brother's words sent a chill down my spine.

What kind of father did Demir have? It was clear that he instilled fear in his own sons. Demir remained silent. I gnawed on my lip, my anxiety growing. What kind of mess had I gotten myself into?

"Brother, stay out of this! Just shut your mouth! That's all I ask. And warn your wife to do the same. Leave the rest to me! You'll see what I do!"

What was he planning? I found a little relief in the fact that he wouldn't threaten his family with secrecy if it involved me. They must be completely unaware of my existence. "Do whatever you want, but don't come crying to me when Father decides to bury you!"

Demir let out a cold laugh. "He wouldn't dare! We both know he can't kill me. He's just trying to punish me. He still resents me for taking over the business after Grandfather passed away and chose me over him. He thinks he can break me this way."

Every member of this family seemed uniquely twisted, especially Demir… He was in a league of his own. I was terrified of him. His threats still rang in my ears as his brother continued.

"Demir, get a grip! Resolve this issue!"

He was referring to me. It was clear he wanted me gone from this house. But Demir would never let me go before the baby was born. And afterward, he would kill me. "Brother, this is my problem! Now go home!" With that, he successfully threw his brother out.

The front door slammed shut and I jumped. With my heart pounding in my chest, I rushed back to bed. I didn't want him to suspect I had overheard their conversation. My heart ached as I lay there, listening to the footsteps echoing in the hallway. Was he coming here?

No, he went into another room. I let out a shaky breath and placed a hand on my stomach. Staying calm in this house was going to be a challenge. If anything were to happen to this baby, Demir would make sure I suffered the consequences. I had to be extremely careful.

Just as my eyelids began to flutter shut, a wave of nausea washed over me. I stumbled out of bed and into the adjoining bathroom. It was exactly as I had pictured it. I barely made it to the toilet before emptying the contents of my stomach. As I retched, the bitter reality of my situation sunk in.

This is how it always happens in movies and books. The girl gets pregnant, and the guy holds her hair back, comforting her. But there would be no one to soothe me, no one to offer comfort. There was one crucial difference between those stories and mine: Love. We had none.

I flushed the toilet and tried to stand, but I became dizzy. I gripped the sink for support and splashed water on my face. I hated being sick. The sour taste lingered in my throat, making me gag. Back in the bedroom, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. My face was ashen. All that vomiting must have taken its toll. I crawled back into bed.

Confined to the house, I resorted to researching the stages of pregnancy. Apparently, morning sickness was common in the first trimester. It also explained my lack of appetite, not that I was ever a big eater.

As I lay there, the door creaked open and I sat up immediately. It was one of the maids. "Demir Bey requests your presence," she said.

I couldn't risk provoking him. I freshened up, tied my hair back, and made my way downstairs. Demir sat at the dining table, his gaze fixed on anything but me. Typical. I took a seat opposite him, my hands trembling slightly. He didn't say a word as I served myself some soup.

As I ate, the warmth spread through me, bringing a moment of relief. Suddenly, he spoke. "Where do you know Şahin from?"

Where had that come from? I looked up from my bowl. "The woman I considered my sister worked as a caregiver in his house. He became obsessed with having her, but she rejected his advances. Last we heard, he was in prison. When he got out…"

Demir's voice dripped with sarcasm. "You thought you could get your hands on Demir's file and use it to get rid of him, didn't you?"

I had no answer for him. "I told you the truth, but you refused to believe me. What more can I say?" The words were barely out of my mouth when he flung a knife across the table.

I flinched, fear gripping my heart. The next thing I knew, my hand flew to my ear, when I felt a sharp painfrom there. My fingers came away wet. I realized with a shudder that he had grazed my ear with the knife. I turned my head to find the blade embedded in the flower arrangement on the table.

"Don't you ever, and I mean ever, speak to me with that tone again! Or I swear, I'll put that knife through you!" he snarled.

My ear throbbed, and I pressed a napkin to it, trying to stop the bleeding. I remained silent, my body trembling with fear. "Say something!" he roared.

Why was he so cruel? Tears streamed down my face, and I cowered beneath his rage. "O-Okay!" I stammered. He stood abruptly, knocking his chair over in the process. The loud bang made me flinch again. He grabbed me by the chin, forcing me to look at him. His other hand slammed against the table, making me to jump.

"Don't you dare cry! Your crocodile tears won't work on me!"

I couldn't help it. The tears flowed freely, my body trembling uncontrollably. His breath fanned my face, and I hated myself for the way my body reacted to his closeness. Why was I such a pathetic fool? Shouldn't his touch feel like fire, like pain? It wasn't normal, this conflicting mix of fear and a strange, unwanted attraction.

"I said stop crying, Alya! You weren't afraid to moan under me that night when you were trying to get your hands on that file! What happened? What were you thinking? Did you think Demir was stupid enough to fall for your act and let you get away with it? I am darkness. You can never escape me!"

If I wasn't carrying his child, I would have begged him to end my misery right then and there. I wished I could fast-forward the next eight months. "I…"

"You what?" he demanded, his voice laced with fury.

"I was desperate."

He laughed, a humorless sound that sent chills down my spine. "Spare me the lies! I don't believe a word that comes out of your mouth. I see right through you, Alya. You're a liar, and your only saving grace is the child you carry."

I couldn't hold back any longer. "You're en…" I stopped myself just in time. What was I doing? How could I be so reckless? Demir's eyebrows shot up, his eyes narrowing.

"What did you say? Finish that sentence!" he bellowed.

I swallowed hard, my jaw clenching in defiance. But he must have sensed my reluctance to speak because his grip tightened painfully on my chin. He pulled me closer, our faces inches apart.

"Were you eavesdropping on us?"

I shook my head frantically. "No."

"Don't lie to me! Tell me what you were going to say, or I'll find a way to make you talk!"

The back of his hand brushed against my cheek in a gesture that was both threatening and strangely comforting. "Tell me, Alya! You're testing my patience!"

I had no choice. I had to tell him. I looked into his eyes, the green fire that usually burned there was replaced by a cold, steely glint.

"You're engaged, and you're only with her out of obligation," I whispered.

I had a feeling that things were about to get much worse. He nodded slowly, his demeanor changing. The rage seemed to dissipate, leaving behind an unnerving calmness. How was I supposed to survive another eight months under the same roof with this man? He would be the death of me.

His thumb traced circles on my cheek, his touch sending shivers down my spine. "Whether I'm engaged or not is none of your concern! Your purpose in this house is clear! Once you've served your purpose, you'll be out of my life for good!"

"You're right," I murmured, my voice barely a whisper.

He finally released me, but his body still loomed over me, his masculinity a tangible force that I could feel against my stomach, a constant reminder of the night I had conceived his child. I remembered it vividly. It's not every day you forget your first time… and I had engraved every detail of that night in my memory.

"Now, go to your room and wait for me! There will be consequences for your actions!" he commanded. I didn't need to be told twice. I practically ran out of the room and back to the sanctuary of my bedroom. I slammed the door shut and leaned against it, my heart racing. I fought back tears, knowing that there was nothing I could do but wait and pray.

"Oh God, please have mercy on me and soften Demir's heart… or get me out of here!"

I sat on the edge of the bed, dreading his return. Time seemed to stand still as I watched the minutes tick by on the wall clock. I wiped the sweat from my brow, my breath coming in short, shallow gasps. Fear had a way of making you feel like you were having a heart attack.

Finally, I heard Demir's footsteps approaching. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself for the unknown. The door creaked open, and the sound of his footsteps came closer. I flinched, waiting for his touch, but it never came. "Open your eyes," he ordered.

I opened my eyes slowly and found him sitting in the armchair across from me, his legs stretched out in front of him. What was my punishment going to be? "Demir, I'm pregnant!" I blurted out.

He threw his head back and laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. "I'm well aware of that, Alya!"

"Please don't hurt me. I'm scared."

He raised an eyebrow. "You're going to be a lot more scared soon, Alya. But I won't hurt you. You're carrying my child. I just have to endure eight more months of your presence."

What more could he possibly do to me? He had already hurt me, hadn't he? He had cut my ear, but I had a feeling that to him, it was nothing more than a scratch. The thought made my ear throb even more painfully.

"What's my punishment?" I asked, my voice trembling. He might not physically harm me, but that didn't mean I wasn't still terrified of him. He seemed to take pleasure in my fear.

A slow smile spread across his lips. "It's something I think you're going to enjoy immensely," he said, his gaze dropping to my trembling form, as he tapped a finger against his thigh suggestively.

My eyes widened as I realized what he meant. He gestured towards his lap. "Now come here and sit on my lap, with your back to my chest."