Chapter 9

Flowers, Candy and Trinkets

The pale blue sky and rushing waves of the sea called to Dawn. The lock on the bedroom doors and window had been removed, so she could move somewhat freely around the compound. She didn't dare imagine that no one watched her every movement. The staff was completely loyal to Nikolas. There were some that glanced at her with sympathetic eyes, but she knew none of them would lift a hand to help her. She didn't blame them for their cowardice. She understood. No one in his right mind would dare go against a prince.

She changed out of the ridiculous filmy white dress and put on orange shorts and a matching top. Everything fit and she wondered about that. Since giving birth to Faith, her clothing size had changed. Her breasts were considerably fuller and her hips were, too. A teary smile came to her as she remembered how much Jason enjoyed the changes. She swallowed down her sadness as another thought came to mind. How did Nikolas know her size? How long had he watched them before he pushed his way inside her home and took her away?

As she pulled her long dark hair into a ponytail, she decided it didn't matter. The end result was the same. Nikolas had her. Jason and Faith were on the other side of the planet. And she might not ever see them again.

A strangled sob lodged in her throat. She slid her feet inside a pair of sandals and ran from the room down to the sea. By the time she reached the shoreline, tears streamed down her face. Her breathing became ragged. She sank to her knees and wept. Her hands balled into fists and pounded the moist sand.

"Damn you, Nikolas!!"

Dawn stayed like that until the tears dried. Then, she stood and looked out toward the sea. She had always loved the water. The crashing waves, the endless beauty of oceans and seas… The air was so fragrant. The sky beautiful and picture perfect. She inhaled a sharp breath. Leave it to Nikolas to keep her captive by something she loved. Bastard.

The air seemed to shift. His scent—sweet and airy—drifted to her. She stiffened, mentally preparing herself for his latest trick or show of power.

"You would never make it," he commented from a few feet behind her. "No ships or boats are allowed within a kilometer of the island. Believe me, Dawn, there is no escape. You are as, you would say, stuck with me."

She muttered an expletive.

Nikolas chuckled. "That's a rather coarse invitation, but I'm willing whenever you are."

"In your dreams," she snapped.

"My thoughts are often filled with you…the two of us creating a child." He moved just behind her. "It was good between us once. It can be again."

"I don't love you," she reminded him.

"I don't care."

Her hands clenched into fists again. Her nails dug into her palms until it was painful. He went to her and took her hands, unfolding them. She flinched, but he held firm.

"You'll draw blood," he warned.

"That's what you want to do," she said. "Are you upset that I'm doing it to myself first?"

He shook his head. "I'm not a sadist."

"You could have fooled me."

Nikolas smirked. "Apparently, I did." His hands went to her waist and pulled her to him. She winced as her breasts touched his chest. He frowned. "What is it?"

Dawn averted her gaze. His fingers dug into her waist just a centimeter shy of painful. She closed her hands over his. Her fingers curved around his and tugged until he loosened his hold. "Let. Go. Of. Me."

"Tell me what's wrong." His gaze dropped to her chest and then he made eye contact with her again. "Your glorious mounds have increased. I never imagined you'd have plastic surgery."

"You know damn well I didn't," she snapped. "I breast fed Faith."

His mouth took on an unpleasant twist. "Mother's milk."

He released her. Dawn's arms crossed protectively over her chest as he gawked at her breasts. "You're a sick bastard!"

"I'm mildly curious," he corrected. "Contemplative actually."

His mildly implacable expression unnerved her. She snapped, "What?!"

"Will you breast feed our child, too?" He brushed past her and left her alone on the beach with her fresh set of tears.

Later when Dawn returned to her prison cell or rather bedroom, she found vases of colorful gerbera daisies on every flat surface in the room. A box of Lady Godiva chocolates and a breast pump with empty bottles lay in the center of her bed.

The note attached to the breast pump read, 'From the Sadist to the Masochist. Enjoy.'