She couldn't move her hands. Wiggling them, she could tell she was handcuffed to something, hearing the metal clanking against…wood, maybe? Her wrists chafed uncomfortably.

As she became less disoriented, panic set in. Where was she?! Why was she tied up?!

Moving her legs, which were free, around, she could tell she was on a bed. Even more distressing, all she had on was a pair of cotton underwear and a strapless bra.

Now she was really scared, struggling to break out of the handcuffs, trying to twist free in any way possible.

She heard a noise and froze. It was a door opening to her right. The room flooded with light, and she could see the outline of a tall man.

Instantly, she felt calm.

It was only Aiden.

He gave her a half smile and asked, "Are you having second thoughts about this? You don't have to if you don't want to."

"I think I do have to." It was her own voice, sounding strange to her ears.

He got closer to the bed and sat down next to her. She realized he was fully clothed in a very smart-looking tuxedo.

Why do I have to be so exposed while he's wearing as many articles of clothing as he possibly can? she thought angrily.

Interrupting her thoughts, he kissed her gently on the lips, then started travelling down her neck and collarbone. Instantly, she was jelly, completely at his mercy in every possible way.

Part of her was scared, part of her was so turned on she couldn't think.

What would he do with all this power over her?

She trusted him completely; that wasn't why she trembling partially out of fear. She was afraid because she had never been so open or revealed before. No one makes her feel this out of control.

"Are you ready for me?" he murmured into her ear, making her eyes flutter closed.

She nodded with great effort, unable to concentrate on coordinating her muscles when he was making her feel this way.

Slowly, he reached behind her and unfastened her bra, throwing it to the side. Moving at a torturous pace, he blew onto her breasts, making her shiver. His hand ghosted over one, and she arched forward to try to get some contact, but he was already gone.

He smiled sadly at this, for some unknown reason. She was confused.

"You don't want this," he said, actually quite serious.

"What?" she exclaimed, struggling to see his face. "Yes, yes, I do!"

"I'm not going to make you do something you don't want to do, Emily."

"But I do want you to do it! Do it, please!"

He gazed at her, dejectedly, for a long time, then stretched his long body all the way up hers, nuzzling her neck when he reached it.

"I can't do this anymore, Emily. Do you know how painful it is?" he whispered into her ear, his voice shaky with sadness. She moaned at the sensation. He ghosted his lips all the way down her body, to her soaked underwear. "To be so close? But not to be able to be with you?"

His hot breath so near where she wanted it most sent hot jolts running through her body. She was shaking, and he'd hardly even touched her yet.

"But I want to be with you!" she yelled.

The scene changed.

Now, she was handcuffed to a wall, wearing a gorgeous evening gown. A metallic taste on her lips indicated blood. Where was she now?

Gunfire.

Aiden ran onto the scene, firing a gun out into the hallway. Turning and seeing her, he smiled a bit.

"Don't worry, I can free you," he assured, running toward her with a key. Working quickly, he undid the handcuffs. He hissed slightly at the sore red marks on her wrists. "My poor baby."

Gently, he kissed both.

"You've been locked up for a long time, haven't you?"

The scene changed again.

This time, she felt a large hand in hers.

They were walking on the beach, the noise of the waves calming her. The atmosphere was serene, the day sunny and clear. Birds were calling lightly in the distance. She looked at his face, squinting slightly, and drank in every detail she could. His bluish-green eyes, made brighter by the laugh in his voice, a few freckles she could see spotting his face, the crinkles in his forehead when he smiled.

She wiped a piece of hair out of her face and behind her ear.

He was talking, but she couldn't quite make out the words, although she could tell he was talking exuberantly and passionately by his expressions and hand gestures.

All she could do was stare, and he gave her a strange, bemused look when he noticed. He pulled her in close to him, and kissed her hair.

"Emily," she heard him say.

Suddenly, he was gone.

Alone on the beach, she looked around her, confused. Where had he gone?

"Aiden?" she yelled. "Aiden!"

And then, she was falling.

...

I woke with a jolt.

Moonlight filtered through Aiden's window, and I was momentarily very disoriented. Then, I realized it had all been a dream.

My hands scrubbed my eyes, seemingly trying to erase what I'd seen. Some part of me understood, though, that, that dream would never be forgotten, that it would change everything.

Looking at Aiden, sleeping peacefully, hooked up to a million machines, I knew what I had to do.