Page 24 of Stand: Part One

I eyed him carefully, my stomach clenching nervously at his sudden change in routine. After our minute revelation yesterday, I wasn’t quite ready to immerse myself back into his full attentions just yet. But I couldn’t let him believe there was anything wrong. I had to continue proving my false innocence.

I revealed a small smile. “And just what are we supposed to do in bed all day?”

He knew damn well he couldn’t fuck me yet, so what the hell did he have planned?

He lifted a brow, a look of pure innocence flashing across his eyes. “How about a movie marathon?”

I paused, drawing back in surprise at his suggestion. “What movie series?”

He shrugged. “I’ll let you decide. Just don’t pick something I’ll consider to be a form of torture. Otherwise, I’ll have to find other ways to entertain myself,” he said, his fingertips sliding up my exposed thigh.

I pursed my lips at his warning, watching as he stepped away from the bed to head into the closet. After helping me with my morning routine, Darren emerged from the bathroom freshly showered and shaved, smelling absolutely divine.

As much as he didn’t want to see me in any clothes, wearing only his t-shirt was apparently a suitable compromise to ensure breakfast could be served without drama or bloodshed.

So when the knock came on our bedroom door, I made sure the sheets covered my entire lower body before Darren answered it with just a towel still around his waist.

Clive and Owen rolled the cart inside with a large tray on top of it, stopping at the front of the bed while Darren headed back into the bathroom.

“Aw, thanks, Betty Crocker, but aren’t you two supposed to be wearing frilly kitchen aprons or something?” I snarked as I watched them set up my bed tray and fill a plate for me.

Neither one of them said anything as Clive placed my tray over my lap and set my plate down with a glass of orange juice. I slumped in slight disappointment. They wouldn’t chide with me when Darren was nearby. It didn’t mean they wouldn’t pay me back when he was out of earshot.

“Jaden, you shouldn’t tease your bodyguards,” Darren scolded me as he walked out of the bathroom.

“If they can take a bullet for me, then they can certainly take a joke as well,” I retorted.

Owen snorted while Clive shook his head as he tried to hide his smirk.

“Besides, I still owe them for the bunny slipper prank they pulled.”

Darren’s brows furrowed. “What bunny slipper prank?”

I folded my arms as I stared Clive and Owen down as they tried to hide their smirks. “These two jokesters thought it would be funny to have me complete that last training exercise in a pair of obnoxious fuzzy white bunny slippers.”

Darren’s eyes shot over to my two bodyguards, but neither of them met his gaze.

“Is that what those were? Bunny slippers?” he questioned, his tone lighter than expected.

“Mm-hmm,” I replied. “I think a little payback is warranted.”

“Hey, you wore those slippers like a champ,” Owen chimed in, pointing at me. “Despite how ridiculous you looked, we were pretty impressed with how well you did in them.”

I scowled at him. “They were incredibly difficult to sneak around in.”

Clive folded his arms in front of his chest and stared down at me. “No one forced you to wear them, Jaden,” he reminded me. “Anyone else would have gone barefoot, but not you. You accepted the challenge and dominated your opposition in literal bunny slippers.” He then started to chuckle. “It was probably the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’d like to see you guys do your job in bunny slippers. We’ll see who’s laughing then.”

Darren’s eyes suddenly darkened as his mouth lifted into a sneer. “Maybe you will,” he said to me. I smiled back with devious hopefulness.

Darren then dismissed my bodyguards and fixed himself a plate, sitting beside me on the bed. I’d been given a generous portion of scrambled eggs, bacon, a stack of pancakes, and a small bowl of fruit. I wanted to roll my eyes at the ridiculous amount of food that Clive had piled onto my plate.

“So what are we watching?” Darren asked as he sipped his coffee.

I thought for a minute about what he might find enjoyable to watch that also happened to have sequels. And then an interesting one struck.

“How about The Matrix?” I suggested.