Page 108 of Survival

“Morning,” Ireplied, eyeing him carefully as he turned back to hiswork.

I could feel anintense energy coming off him, and it made me a little nervous.After a short minute, I just sat back in my chair, sipped my tea,and stared out at the ocean. I was sure Pascal would have ourbreakfast out soon anyway. And eventually, hedid.

David brought outa single silver tray and placed it down in front of me. Nothing forDarren but his coffee. David lifted the tray revealing scrambledeggs, fruit, and a small cup of vanilla yogurt. I pushed my eggsaround with my fork, suddenly not really hungry. Darren might notrealize it, but he greatly affected my appetite like nobody’sbusiness.

I sipped on myteainsteadand continuedto stare at the water until I heard Darren clear histhroat.

“Eat yourbreakfast, Jaden,” he said without even looking up from hiswork.

I furrowed mybrows at him. I had a smart-ass comment on the tip of my tongue,but he had just granted my request to go outside today while he wasgone and I didn’t want to fuck that up.

I stabbed someeggs with my fork and took a bite, trying to eat slowly so as notto upset my stomach. When half my eggs and fruit were gone, I satback and slowly picked at my food until I thought Darren might besatisfied enough to at least address me. But after a few shortminutes, he took a final sip of his coffee, grabbed his things, andput them in a nearby manila folder before standing from hischair.

“I will see youlater,” he said, as he buttoned his jacket.

I looked at himconfused. Didn’t we have something to discuss thismorning?

“What about therules?” I asked him.

“What rules?” helooked at me as if he had no idea what I was talkingabout.

My eyes almostwidened in panic. What if he forgot? Would he take back hisword?

“You said I couldgo outside today while you’re gone,” I repliedcarefully.

He squinted hiseyes for a second as if he were trying to remember and then hiseyes finally lit up.

“Oh yes, that’sright. I did say that,” he said casually.

I breathed a sighof relief … until he gave me that intense warning lookagain.

“You are to remainwithin the sights of the guards at all times. No going beyond thetrees and no swimming beyond those buoys.” He pointed out to thewater where five large orange buoys were floating about a hundredfeet away from shore. “Your perimeter has been extended to myproperty line, but that does not mean you are to try and discoverit. Stay within the limits I have given you, and eventually, youwill be able to go beyond them.”

“Okay,” I saidsoftly, my eyes staring right into his.

“Come here,” hesaid, holding his arms out.

I slowly stood andwent to him. When I closed the distance, Darren wrapped his armsaround me and pulled me against his chest in a tight embrace. Heheld me for a while, his nose in my hair as he took several slow,deep breaths as if he were breathing me in. I rested my cheek onhis chest and listened to hisheartbeat. It wasstrong, steady, and oddly calming to me as I focused on thetempo.

Moments like theseconfused me the most. For someone so strong and so cruel, I lovedthat he could be gentle with me and could just hold me like this.Moments like these told me I meant something to him. That I wasmore than just a tight fuck toy for him. And moments like theseleft me hungry for more.

After a shortminute, Darren pushed me away from him by my shoulders and lookedme straight in the eye.

“You will listento the guards and obey the rules. If they tellyoutorefrain from doingsomething, you don’t fight or argue. You do what they say, whenthey say it because,believeit or not, it’s for your own protection, Jaden. They’re nothere to just watch over you. They are here to protect you. Let themdo their job.”

“Okay.” I nodded.He turned his head and gave me a warning look. “Yes, Darren,” Icorrected myself.

He relaxedslightly.

“I know how muchyou wanted this, and now, I’m trusting you not to make me regretit. Do not disappoint me, Jaden, because if you do, this will nothappen again for a very long time.”

Darren’s face wasintense withwarning,andI didn’t want to think about being shunned back into my roombecause I fucked this up with my stubbornness. I needed to behavelong enough for him to trust me.

“I’m not going todisappoint you, Darren,” I replied, sounding as serious as Ipossibly could. “I promise.”

“Good,” he said.He then leaned down, took my face in his hands, and kissed mesoftly on the mouth. His lips were gentle as they caressed mine,his tongue sliding in and claiming everything it touched. By thetime he was done, I was breathless and disorientated, but I shookit off as he looked down at me and smiled. “I’ll see you atdinner,” he said, then kissed my forehead and walked back into thehouse, leaving me on the patio.

I sat back in mychair with a huff of relief and looked out to the ocean. So manynew possibilities before me and I couldn’t wait toexplore.