Page 27 of Stand: Part One

The knowledge that she was always there, stuck like a baby bird in a nest, gave me a sense of relief I didn’t know I needed. She was safe in our bed. She was cared for in our bed. And I would always know exactly where she was, right where she belonged.

But her bones had already healed, and soon, she would need to fly away from the protection of the nest. And while I knew I couldn’t keep her trapped here forever, I intended to clip the growing feathers of her wings for just a little bit longer while I still could.

Jaden could fly when I was damn well ready to allow it. And that time had not come yet.

But while I wouldn’t let her fly, I had no issue with watching her crawl.

When Jaden finally woke, a sleepy moan vibrating from her back to my chest, sinister ideas were already forming in my head.

“Is it morning already?” she mumbled.

I pressed my lips to her temple. “It is,” I confirmed.

“Boo, hiss.”

I smirked. “I don’t know what you’re complaining about. It’s not like you’re going anywhere.”

“No shit,” she whispered in disappointment.

Normally, I’d give her ass a good hard smack for that one, but I didn’t want to disrupt her rehabilitation, so I took one of her nipples between my fingers and twisted. She jolted, a sharp gasp leaving her throat just as I released her.

“I heard that,” I warned, ignoring her huff of irritation as I turned to get out of bed.

Getting a start to her morning routine, I carried Jaden into the bathroom. By the time we emerged, we’d both been freshly showered, clothed, and her breakfast awaited her on the newly made bed.

I carried Jaden back to the bed, placing her in my lap, and proceeded to feed her every bite on her plate, much to her annoyance.

“My arms aren’t broken, you know,” she reminded me between bites, keeping her tone somewhat playful.

I cocked a brow. “And?” I replied, holding another forkful of scrambled eggs to her mouth. She pursed her lips for a second but then opened to wrap her lips around the fork.

“And I think it’s time you should probably stop babying me. I can’t get stronger if you’re constantly doing everything for me,” she stated carefully, maintaining a teasing smile to lessen the blow.

“Ah,” I said, holding up the last bite of her plate to her before placing the tray on the nightstand. “Is that what you think I’m doing? Babying you?”

“What else would you call it?”

“Taking care of what’s mine,” I shot back.

She raised a brow, undeterred. “Would that also involve me getting back on my literal feet anytime soon?”

My eyes narrowed at the question because currently, it would not.

“So eager to escape your confines, aren’t you?” I pressed.

She tilted her head with a glare on her pretty face. “Yes, because I’m clearly living my best life over here.”

“I’m certainly enjoying it. Helplessness has always looked good on you.”

She furrowed her brow, the disdain very obvious on her face. “Okay, now you’re just being an asshole.”

Snatching her throat, I slammed her back into the bed, looming over her as I tried to keep my agitation in check.

“Careful, princess. Being an ungrateful little brat toward your husband is no way to start the day,” I growled down at her.

She glared back up at me, unfazed. “I want to start walking, Darren. My bones have healed. This has gone on long enough.”

“That’s not up to you.”