"What will be fascinating?" I asked, finally able to breathe again, my chest heaving with relief.

He knelt down, deftly undoing the laces of my worn-out shoes, one by one. As he took them away, my bare feet felt the cool touch of the marble floor.

"You'll need to figure that out yourself," he said, his hands moving swiftly to unbutton my coat. I tugged at my restraints, feeling a surge of frustration at his speed.

His intense, icy gaze remained fixed on me as he peeled back ...