Chapter 24

Kylo could feel Rey's fear grow by the second. It was intoxicating. At no point during their earlier battle had she displayed even the hint of fear. On an elemental level, she recognized something was about to shift in their relationship. Stepping through this door would change everything.

Kylo was willing to let Rey wait. He wanted her to walk through the door of her own free will. She needed to take this first set down the rabbit hole herself. Besides, he was enjoying the play of emotions as they raced across her face. She had no guile.

Taking a deep breath, Rey tilted her chin up and strode into the room. Kylo was glad she didn't turn to look at him. The smile on his face would have alerted her to the colossal error she had just made.

Rey surveyed the room with an air of feigned indifference. Kylo let her, relishing the sight of her in his chambers. This is where she would stay from now on. Even the brief distance of his room to her cell had become too much for him. He needed her to be closer to him.

She didn't turn to look at him until the door slid closed. By then he had mastered his own emotions and schooled his face into a mask of nonchalance.

"Where are we?"

Kylo paused before answering. Walking to a nearby table, he selected a small piece of fruit and bit into it. It was delicious but Kylo barely registered the flavor, his every sense was homed in on the girl.

"My chambers."

"Why?"

Selecting another piece of fruit, Kylo bit into it and poured himself a glass of water.

"You lost Rey. This is your punishment."

He was being deliberately vague. Letting the tension build up in her and savoring the spike of fear that surged through her at his words. She seemed incapable of forming a coherent thought at the moment. Not pitying her for an instant, Kylo forged on.

"From now on, these will also be your chambers. You will eat here, sleep here and remained confined here unless I say otherwise."

Anger and embarrassment colored Rey's checks. He loved the blush of pink as it spread across her face. Straightening her spine and placing her hands on her hips, Rey met his gaze full on.

"I will not sleep with you."

"You are not worthy to share my bed."

Kylo ignored her snort of derision. She would pay for that later. Right now, he needed her to know her place. Walking into the bedchambers, he waited for her to come to the doorway before continuing. Rey didn't set foot into the room but watched him warily from the doorway.

Kylo gestured to the pallet that had been made up at the foot of his bed.

"This is where you will sleep."

Rey's eyes grew wide and she struggled to contain her anger before responding.

"You have lost your…."

She didn't get a chance to finish. Kylo used the Force to pick Rey up and deposit her on the pallet. He stood over her for a minute, enjoying watching her struggle to break free of his hold. She huffed and grunted before finally letting out a small scream of frustration.

Kneeling so that he was eye level with Rey, he reached out and gripped her chin in a punishing hold. Forcing her to look at him. Holding her gaze for a moment, he waited until she accepted that she could not get away from him. Finally, she quieted.

"I am your master now. This is the only warning that I will give you. You will speak to me with respect or you will be disciplined, harshly."

Rey's lips thinned with anger and her eyes blazed, but she remained silent. Good, he thought. She was learning.

"From now on, you will eat what I tell you, sleep where I tell you and do everything that I command. If you want more freedom you will need to earn it. Now sit on your cot until I say you may leave it."

Rey looked like she wanted to challenge him, but she swallowed down her rebellion. She watched him warily as he got up and moved about the room, collecting a towel and a fresh change of clothing from his closet. Walking into the fresher, he turned the water on in his shower and let the room steam up. He kept the door open. Taking one more glance at Rey, pleased to see that she remained on her cot, he turned his back to her. Kylo stripped off his remaining clothing and entered the shower.

Kylo didn't need to look back at her to know that she watched him. Kylo could practically taste her emotions. Shock and embarrassment radiated from her. Underneath it all, there was curiosity and attraction. The steam had become quite heavy so Kylo doubted she would see enough to satisfy her curiosity. If she was ever brave enough to admit it. Still, it pleased him to feel her eyes on him. To know that despite her outward protestations, she was drawn to him.

Pretending to ignore her, Kylo went about his routine. Washing his hair and body. His back was to her, so he allowed himself a slight smile of satisfaction.

Exiting the shower, he left it running while he finished toweling off and putting on a new pair of cloths. Entering his bedroom, he was pleased to see she had not moved from her pallet. Her cheeks were a blaze of scarlet and she kept her gaze staring fixedly at the ground.

He went back to his closet and selected another set of toiletries and clothing for her before setting it down beside her. She still refused to look up at him.

"You may now use the refresher to clean yourself."

Kylo didn't think she could get any more embarrassed. He delighted in her discomfort.

Picking up the supplies, Rey rose without looking at him. She kept her gaze fixed on the ground. Entering the refresher, she tried to close the door only to find the controls would not respond to her touch.

"You have not earned the right to privacy," he told her.

If looks could kill, he would have dropped dead in an instant. Murderous intent blazed in Rey's eyes, but she kept her mouth shut. In fact, she squeezed her lips together so tightly, they practically disappeared.

Taking small pity on the girl, he picked up a tablet and began scrolling though the list of messages that had accumulated during his training session with Rey. This was as much leeway as he was willing to give her.

"If you refuse to bathe yourself, I will come in there and do it for you. It is your choice, Rey."

Recognizing that this was no idle threat, Rey made quick work of her ablutions in the shower. Kylo kept his eyes on the tablet. He needed to prove to himself that he was strong enough to resist her. That he was the one with the power. Still, he basked in the sounds he heard from the shower and imagined how she must look. Her slim, naked form glistening as the water cascaded down her body. Taking a deep breath, he struggled to maintain his air of indifference.

The water turned off and a few minutes later, Rey entered the bedroom. Her hair a damp tangle around her face.

"Come with me," he commanded.

She followed him slowly out of the bedroom. Clearly warry of what would happen next.

Kylo led the way to the small personal dining room in his chambers and gestured for her to sit. She slid silently into the seat, her eyes tracking his every movement.

"Eat and rest," he commanded. "When I return, we will begin your meditative training."

With that, he walked out of the room. He would not take his meals with her. Not yet. She had not earned the privilege. He had duties to attend to and as much as he would like to remain with Rey, he needed to return to them. Besides, he knew he could only push so far without breaking her. She had obeyed him. It was enough for now.