Margot's POV The spell broke with a snap . One moment , I was suspended in some kind of fever dream - left and then suddenly , just like that , he was gone from me . - my body betraying every shred of logic I had Coban stepped back with a sharp breath of amusement , the warmth of his body vanishing from in front of me like someone had thrown a bucket of cold water across my chest . I blinked rapidly , trying to catch up , trying to breathe . His laugh cut through the tension in the room , cruel and effortless , like he hadn't just had his mouth pressed to my neck like he owned it . " Look at you , " he smirked , eyes raking down my face like he could see right through me flushed cheeks , parted lips , and still - tingling skin . " You loved that , didn't you ? " The burn hit my face before his words had even finished leaving his mouth . - right through my Embarrassment bloomed hot across my cheeks as I scrambled to take a step back , putting more space between us . Shame wrapped tight around my ribcage like a vice . God had I looked that pathetic ? That affected ? So desperate ?! - * I- I stammered , but nothing else came . Because he was right . Not completely , not really , but ... right enough to humiliate me . Coban chuckled again , shaking his head as though I were some kind of inside joke that he was enjoying all on his own . " You're such a little virgin , " he drawled , like the word itself was a joke . " It's fucking hilarious . " My stomach dropped . He had me figured out and branded a virgin from the second he met me . Of course he knew . I might as well have had it tattooed on my forehead the way I'd frozen under his touch , the way my whole body had lit up like Christmas at the first brush of his mouth , - I dropped my gaze to the floor , the sting in my eyes returning stronger now not from intimacy this time , but from humiliation . I hated the way that word made me feel . Like I was lesser . Like I was some fragile , untouched thing to be toyed around with . 1/4 3:22 pm PDD . Chapter 45 - Kind But then he added , in a quieter hum , " My own little virgin . " And that - that sent a new wave of emotion through me . 1 The possessiveness in his voice shouldn't have made my stomach flip . But it did . And I hated it . Hated myself for the pathetic reaction . I stood there in silence , still staring down at the floor , trying to find a way to disappear into the tile . I didn't know if my shame struck something up in him maybe guilt ? Doubtful . Or maybe just something - - less sharp but before I could think too much on it , he stepped back in . His fingers , rough and warm , slipping beneath my chin . - I flinched instinctively , not expecting the softness . But he didn't grab or yank me he just lifted my head up . Gentle . Steady . He tilted my head up until my eyes met his again . And there it was seemed . - that damn look that could make any girl melt on the spot . Another power of his , it He studied me for a long moment . His brow creased slightly like he was trying to read a language he didn't fully understand . Like he was looking through me again , deeper this time , to see what else he could uncover . But then he sighed . Heavy . Dismissive . " You hungry ? " he asked abruptly , like it hadn't just been my virginity we were dissecting a second ago . He let me go again , moving to kick off his slides . I blinked . " Sort of , " I muttered , grateful for the sudden shift in him - giving me the exit route from that emotional rollercoaster he'd strapped me into without asking since we stepped in here . It was a lie , though , I was actually starving . Not just food - starved , but emotionally drained , mentally shot . I hadn't eaten since breakfast , that now felt like a lifetime ago now . Coban gave me a curt nod . " Dinner is soon anyway , " he said . " We'll go up after the laundry's done . " Laundry . Right . That felt like a thousand years ago too . Time was impossible to track in this place ! 2/4 3:23 pm P Chapter 45- Kind I nodded , suddenly liking the idea of normalcy . Of routine . Of something that didn't involve my neck and his mouth . I moved toward the bed , unsure if I should sit or stand or ... just evaporate . My body still hadn't caught up with my brain , and both were just trying to act like everything was absolutely fine after what had happened earlier . I would love to see Cara again soon , for a private offload , like the one we had in the gym yesterday morning those two gone and distracted during their workout . - Maybe tomorrow ? I hoped ... But then his voice pulled me back from the thought . " In the meantime , why don't you start that book you were looking at earlier . " He suggested . I blinked back at him , turning slowly to find him gesturing lazily toward the small shelf beside the bed - the one with the battered , well - worn novels stacked crookedly in size order . I stared at it , dumbfounded . How had he even remembered that I had been looking at one of them during his meltdown ?! " Really ? " I asked , almost too hopeful . He shrugged , already moving across the room to fish something from a drawer next . " I've got someone coming here soon to see me . A guy . It's a meeting - sort of nothing that concerns you , " he said with a flick of his hand . " So if a book keeps you quiet and out of the way , then ... yeah , whatever . " - There was something in his voice - something that sounded like indifference but didn't feel like it . Not entirely . Like he wanted me quiet , sure , but maybe also ... comfortable ? I didn't press the thought . Instead , I turned and moved quickly toward the shelf , scanning the spines for the one that had caught my eye earlier a romance novel with a twist the blurb of it barely giving any of the contents away , which was exactly what I liked . I spotted it , the navy cover , before I pulled it free , hugging it to my chest like a prize , before curling up onto the desk chair - shifting around to get comfy but of course , finding it near impossible . This was the first time I actually felt as though we were learning to co - exist . Learning to actually share the space as equals ? I felt like a person . 3/4 3:23 pm P DD Chapter 45 - Kind Just a girl with a book . Still caged . Still watched . Still very , very confused ... But maybe just maybe not completely broken down by him yet . - - As I flipped to the first page , I let myself believe , just for a second , that this was a peace offering . That Coban wasn't just keeping me quiet , but giving me something small . Something human . And in a place like this ... even something that small felt massive to me . It was almost ... kind ? Chapter Comments 6 Write Comments SHARE 4/4 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!