Page 70 of Payback
Shocked, I stared at him, struggling to process the idea that he thought me capable of that. In Jared’s eyes, I was not just a monster. I was worse than a demon. There probably wasn’t even a word in existence that could properly describe his perception of me.
Chapter 36
-Alison-
Two days went by without Jared commanding me to partake in any demeaning tasks. Apart from a morning blowjob, he was behaving rather strangely. He continued to instruct me to clean his house and prepare meals, yet he refrained from engaging with me physically. I was well aware that this calm wouldn't persist without him having some sort of plan in mind. Yet, he remained unusually quiet, merely observing my every move. This silent version of Jared was challenging to navigate. Each minor motion he made would cause me to twitch, anticipating his advance. However, he maintained his position, simply watching me. It was only on the second day that I realized this was his intention all along. He aimed to unnerve me to the point where I'd react to his slightest movement. Although I resented being stalked in such an overt manner, I was trapped and couldn't escape. It was a well-devised strategy. I wouldn't be able to anticipate when he would truly make his move, keeping me in a constant state of unease.
As the day wore on, I was approaching a breaking point. I flinched every few minutes due to Jared's minor shifts or sounds. Even his faint sighs would prompt me to whip around to observe him, only to be met with his puzzled expression. I needed this to end so I could decipher his plan for me. Otherwise, I would surely lose my sanity. While wiping down the kitchen counter, I finally shifted my focus to him, spinning around slightly.
"Can we get on with it?" I demanded, tossing the cloth into the sink and crossing my arms.
"Huh?"
"You've been stalking me for two days, and except for a brief morning blowjob, you haven't ordered me to dress up or loudly profess my desire for your touch. Could we proceed with your master plan? It's obvious you're building up to something."
Jared merely shrugged, as if he hadn't registered a single word I had spoken. Rising from his seat, he approached me, and I was certain he was about to take action. Perhaps he would place me on the kitchen counter and fuck me, proving that he wouldn't even need to ask for it. Or maybe he would bring in the kitchen supplies again. My heart pounded fiercely as he drew nearer, frustratingly triggering a slight excitement within me. I chided myself that it was merely a physiological response as I gazed at his imposing figure standing directly in front of me. Yet, Jared refrained from touching me. Instead, he opened the refrigerator beside me and retrieved a bottle of water.
"I'm thirsty," he announced, displaying the water bottle.
Teasingly, he trailed the cold bottle down my cheek, causing me to instinctively pull away. A smug grin crept across his lips as he turned away.
"I know what you're up to," I commented.
"Oh?" he asked, leaning against the kitchen island before me, and he opened the water bottle. I eyed it nervously after he took a sip, and he caught my wary gaze. "Afraid I might pour it over you?"
"It's not as though I haven't done something similar to you," I reminded him.
"True, but your offerings were mostly not water. You seemed to prefer something sticky or smelly. So, water would almost be merciful."
"Are you planning to pour something sticky on me, then?" I asked.
"I'd be ruining your little outfit, wouldn't I?" he posed, prompting me to glance down at myself. I was wearing a rather short shirt that revealed my stomach and a small black skirt. It could be something one might find at a themed restaurant, but it wasn't one of the demeaning outfits he'd previously dressed me in. In fact, it covered more than most of the outfits he had chosen for me so far.
"Could you just get on with it?" I implored, feeling exhausted.
Once more, he nonchalantly shrugged, eliciting a sigh from me. Abruptly, he pushed away from the kitchen island and drew nearer. The tension in the room heightened as I braced myself for whatever he might do next. Perhaps he would demand another blowjob or request that I strip down so he wouldn't ruin my outfit as he poured cold water on me. I flinched slightly to the side as he extended his hand to grasp a cabinet handle behind me.
"I'm simply getting a glass," he informed me, that smirk of his returning.
"How amusing," I retorted.
He chuckled, returning to his spot and pouring water into the glass.
"That's quite amusing."
"Do you want me to spiral into paranoia?" I questioned.
"Alison Brown in a mental institution," he mused while sipping his water. "Honestly, it doesn't sound like a bad idea. Perhaps you'll never leave."
"Can't you just torture me instead?"
"Ah, so now you're interested in playing my games."
"I think we're already tangled in one, but I don't enjoy it!" I exclaimed.
"Excellent. That makes it the perfect game to indulge in."
"But this is your chance to humiliate me and make me feel mortified," I reminded him, wishing for the return of the sex-craving Jared over this enigmatic version.
