Chapter 9 Captive

I was happy. Truly happy. My apartment no longer felt gloomy. I smiled regularly, optimistic about life. This sense of well-being, however, was immediately shattered when he suddenly asked for a serious discussion. I panicked, terrified he might want to end what we had.

"I like you, Natasha."

I said nothing when he confessed. I knew I had a crush on him, but I'd kept it hidden, afraid of ruining our friendship. We'd been hanging out for the past month, and now that he felt the same way, my mind went completely blank.

"But! It's okay if you don't like me. I don't want to ruin our-"

"I like you too, Nathan."

"W-What?" His eyes widened in shock. I nodded and gave him a warm, tender smile.

"Yes."

He rushed to me and embraced me firmly. Soon after, we went out again, but this time, it was as more than just friends. I was nervous, unsure how the day would go. Yet, every time I looked into his strong eyes-those captivating eyes that could make any woman's knees weak, including mine-I felt a surge of confidence. I felt like I could do anything without feeling ashamed.

"Nathan..."

We were in his room. His parents weren't home, and it was just the two of us. When he looked my way, his jaw dropped, and his eyes roamed over my body. I saw his Adam's apple bob.

"Are you sure?" he asked, taking a step closer. I remained silent, simply looking at the floor. I felt him gently touch my chin and lift my face so he could look into my eyes.

"Don't be scared. I'll be gentle."

I smiled; the uneasiness had vanished. He leaned in, and that's when the magic began. His kisses sent electricity through my entire system. I could feel our souls igniting. I gasped, breathing intensely as he slowly guided me onto the bed. I wrapped my legs around his torso, feeling the heat rising in my stomach. This was my first time, and I was still a little nervous.

He caressed my hair, pushing strands from my face to meet my gaze. He offered a slow, sexy smile. I wanted to bite his lips, but I held back.

"Are you ready?"

I bit my bottom lip, contemplating. We were here now; I couldn't back out. I knew he was as excited as I was, but I worried about getting pregnant. He must have read my mind because he leaned down, bit my lip softly, and I groaned at how incredibly hot that was.

"Don't worry, it hurts at first, but the pain will fade."

He gently spread my legs apart, making me catch my breath. I felt the cool air on my skin. I swallowed quietly, bringing my gaze to his lower body. I couldn't help but curse silently at how large he was. Could that thing fit?

He stroked himself gently, letting out a low grunt, seemingly enjoying the sensation. When he was satisfied, he rubbed it against my entrance. I closed my eyes tightly as he began to slide in steadily. When he was completely inside, the pain truly began.

"Shhh..." he thrust slightly, nibbling my nipple. I didn't know where to focus my attention: on the painful discomfort in my core from his size, or on the pleasure of him playing with my breast. Regardless, both were driving me wild.

"Look at me, Natasha."

He choked out the words. I slowly opened my eyes to meet his. His lips were parted, and his face was flushed. Though I couldn't see myself, I knew I looked a mess beneath him.

"I'm losing control. I'm sorry..."

Before I could reply, he released my breast, held both of my legs, and rested them on his shoulders. He went deeper and faster, making my insides flip. I groaned like a madwoman, nearly shouting for him to slow down, but he didn't listen. He thrust a few more times before withdrawing, stroking himself quickly up and down my belly before he exploded.

"Fuck..." he cursed sexily before collapsing onto me. We were both breathing intensely, as if we'd run a marathon. I felt him kiss my shoulder.

"I love you."

My heart quickened when he said those words. He actually said it. It was the first time I'd ever heard it from someone. I bit my lip as tears began to well up from the blend of overwhelming emotions. He froze when he saw me crying.

"H-Hey, what's wrong? Did I hurt you?" His deep baritone voice was laced with concern as he held my hand and kissed the back of it.

I shook my head, smiling through my tears.

"Words cannot truly express how genuinely happy I am, Nathan. Since you came into my life, there hasn't been a single day that made me upset. Deciding to give this a chance was the best decision I've ever made, because if not, I might still be alone, hoping for someone to save me from my misery."

He didn't speak, just held me tightly and kissed the side of my head. I closed my eyes, feeling our hearts beat in sync. We remained like that for several minutes, simply basking in each other's presence and connecting our souls.

When the holidays arrived, Nathan texted me, saying he needed to spend time with his family first. He wanted me to come, but I insisted he have quality time with them alone. We hadn't spent a day apart in almost two months, and I felt he deserved this moment with his family.

I occupied myself by marathon-watching movies, reading books, and trying out different hairstyles. Since dating Nathan, I'd become more conscious of my appearance. It wasn't that he pressured me to change-he loved me as I was. I simply wanted to look better for myself, especially since the guy I was dating looked like a god.

I didn't realize it was already night. I checked my phone, hoping for a text, but there was nothing. I figured he must be busy and finally drifted off to sleep. The next morning, I excitedly opened my phone, hoping for a morning message, but again, I received nothing. That was peculiar. He always sent long, sweet texts. Maybe he just wasn't using his phone?

I got up and prepared for school. While walking, I kept checking my phone, but to no avail. I sighed deeply and headed straight for my ethics class.

I couldn't focus; I kept staring at the empty chair in front of me. I was so distracted that when the teacher called my last name, I didn't even register it until it was too late.

When class ended, I tried calling him, but his phone had no signal. I began to worry. I planned to go to his house, but I had my night shift. So, I had no choice but to go to work, my mind flying elsewhere.

"Miss? Miss!"

I nearly jumped when someone snapped their fingers in front of my face. I saw a client with her arms crossed, her eyes wrinkled in irritation, waiting.

"Oh! Erm..." I looked down at her items. "That would be five seventy-five."

She handed me the money. Before leaving, she pointed two fingers at me, giving me a threatening look.

"Next time, pay attention to your job. Your manager might hear about this."

I didn't reply, just watched her exit. Once she was gone, I almost slapped myself in frustration. I needed to get a grip. I knew the reason my brain felt like it had checked out, but I couldn't stop myself from overthinking.

What if he dumped me? What if he just used my body? My mind was torturing me, and my vision blurred. I shook away the forming tears. It had been days since I last saw him. The last time we spoke was when he took my virginity. After that, I hadn't heard a single word from him.

"We're reporting live on a missing boy who has been nowhere to be found for days. The school organization is taking action, as he was last seen at Horizon Valley University."

I looked up at the television, and my heart stopped when I saw who the reporter was talking about. Nathan's face flashed on the news screen with the giant word "MISSING", along with our school's background. Several teachers were being interviewed, and his friends were questioned about when they last saw him.

Oh god. This couldn't be happening. My boyfriend is missing?!

Worry consumed me as the sudden news that Nathan and his parents were missing. I didn't go to school for days. Some reporters found out about me, but I ignored their questions, weeping every night thinking of him. Mrs. Johnson knew what had happened, which is why she prevented reporters from invading my privacy.

I was a mess. I felt the stress, the bags under my eyes, the constant unease. I didn't know what to think or feel anymore. I stared at my phone, hoping for an answer from him, even though I knew his name wouldn't appear. I had been absent from school for an entire week.

"Are you okay, honey? You should try going to school. It might help you unwind a little."

Maybe Mrs. Johnson was right. She sat beside me, gently rubbing my back. I hugged her tightly before forcing myself to do something. This wasn't the life I wanted. I had to keep going, even though my heart was tearing into pieces.

When I stepped onto the school grounds, the weight of my emotions returned. I bit my bottom lip, trying my best not to cry as memories with Nathan flooded my entire being. The thought of him still hurt like an arrow piercing my crushed heart.

I kept my attention on the ground, ignoring the students' whispers. However, something caught my eye when a familiar figure walked past me. I slowly looked up. My heart skipped a beat, and my jaw nearly dropped when I saw who it was.

"N-nathan?"

He was alive!