Dante leads Vierva up the grand staircase, his long strides eating up the distance to the second floor. She follows slowly behind him, her small steps echoing softly in the vast space. As they reach the top of the stairs, Dante turns to the left and leads her down a long, well-lit hallway lined with more artwork and ornate decor.
He stops in front of a large, heavy door made of the same dark wood as the entrance. With a soft click, he opens it, revealing a spacious and luxuriously appointed bedroom. The room features a four-poster bed with a plush, silken comforter and an abundance of pillows in various shades of gray and blue. A large, plush armchair sits in the corner by a marble fireplace, and a writing desk with an elegant chair tucked underneath stands against one wall. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a stunning view of the surrounding mountains and forest.
Dante steps aside and gestures for Vierva to enter. "This will be your room," he says, his voice low and quiet. He watches intently as she takes a tentative step inside, her eyes widening as she takes in the opulent surroundings.
She's impressed, he notes with a flicker of satisfaction. Good. Let her get used to the idea of living in luxury.
He follows her inside, closing the door softly behind them. The sound of it clicking shut seems to startle Vierva, and she takes a small step back, her arms still wrapped protectively around herself.
Still nervous, Dante observes, a hint of amusement in his voice. I'll have to do something about that.
He walks over to the window, staring out at the breathtaking view for a moment before turning back to Vierva. "I want you to be comfortable here," he says, his pale blue eyes locked on hers. "If there's anything you need, anything at all, you must tell me."
And I will provide it, he leaves unsaid, a dark promise hanging in the air between them. As long as you give yourself to me completely.
Dante's gaze sharpens at Vierva's question, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studies her face. He can see the nervousness in her eyes, the way her fingers twist together anxiously in front of her. It's clear that she's unsure of his intentions, and he understands why. In her experience, being bought by a man usually means one thing - a life of servitude and abuse.
She thinks I want to use her like the others did, he realizes, a flicker of anger passing through his mind at the thought of what she's been through. She thinks I'm no different than the monsters who hurt her.
He takes a step closer to her, his tall frame looming over her smaller one. He reaches out and gently takes her chin in his hand, tilting her face up to look at him. His touch is surprisingly gentle, his thumb brushing lightly over her soft skin.
"Because I saw something in you that I couldn't let go," he says softly, his voice low and quiet. "A strength, a resilience, that I admire. I didn't buy you to break you, Vierva. I bought you to help you become the person you were always meant to be."
To mold you, to shape you, to make you mine, he leaves unsaid, his eyes darkening with a possessive intensity. But I need you to want it, to choose it, of your own free will.