Page 17 of Survival

“Nope,” I replied, but the goosebumps on my armswere seriously contradicting me.

“What did I tell you about lying to me?” he askedme, narrowing those deep blues at me.

“I’m fine,” I retorted back. I didn’t need to givehim an excuse to touch me, although we both knew he didn’t needone.

“Your stubbornness is going to get you in serioustrouble, Jaden.” He sighed,tuggingme to his chest and wrapping his long arms aroundme. My hands remained crossed in front of my chest in an attempt tomaintain some distance, but it was without success. Unfortunately,the warmth radiatingfromhis bodywas enough to silence my pride and just soak it up.

“Don’t worry,” Isaidagainst him. “I’m sure you’ll learn to like it.”

The chuckle that rolled up his throat made me wantto push away from him even more, but I knew that was pointless.

I could feel him looking downatme, watching me instead of the sun, as heshould have been. His large hands ran up and down my back until hisstrong fingers found their way to my shoulders, massaging away thetension in my muscles.

“You’re so tense,” he said softly. “Just relax.”

Having him tell me to relax did not help; it justmade me angrier. But I knew I would cause myself more harm thangood if I continued to keep my shoulders hunched and body rigid. Ijust didn’t want to accept comfort from him. I didn’t want himwiping away the tears he created.

“Ya know,” he said, peering down at me, “thesunlight is turning your hair into the most beautiful shade of redI have ever seen. And I happen to have a thing forredheads.” I could almost hear him smiling.

“Shocker,” I said not giving a shitaboutwhat he thought of my hair color. What guydidn’t have a thing for redheads?

A light chuckle vibrated up his throat, causing hischest to stutter against my cheek.

After a few short minutes, it suddenly dawned on methat this was the first time Darren had ever held me. It was astrange sensation as he was doing it just to keep me warm againstmy own stubborn wishes to freeze. He wasn’t squeezing too tight,but strong enough to hold me up. He was warm and solid as a rock,but comfortable enough to relax into, and soon, I actually foundmyself needing it.

After all the violence and darkness I had beensubjected to, when warmth and comfortwereoffered, my body apparently would never refuse it,even if it was offered by the devil himself.

I could hear Darren’s heart beat in his chest andlaughed in my head as I had wondered if he even hada heartto begin with. Maybe it was mechanical.But nonetheless, it beat with a fierce intensity, pounding awayinside him. And then I wondered how it would feel to stand here andlisten to it slow and beat for the final time. I might grow totolerate his random tenderness, but I would never forget what itwas that got me here in the first place. I would never forget myfamily and the mission that would drive me to eventually escapethis man.

It wasn’t much longer when the sun sank into thedepths of the water, its glowing light swallowed up by the waves ofthe ocean until all that was left were the golden colors painted inthe sky. In the absence of the warm rays of the sun, I could feelthe ocean breeze against my skin, yet I still was not cold.Darren’s body blocked the bulk of the wind and his warmth spreadacross my skin. He wasn’t kidding when he said he was a walkingfurnace.

As the sky turned to night and the stars becamevisible, Darren released me from his embrace and tilted my head upto face him. His gaze was soft and tender as he looked down at meand smiled lightly.

“Now, you can’t tell me that wasn’t the least bitenjoyable,” he said with a small smile.

“No, I suppose I can’t,” I lied bitterly.

Ha! Fuck him!

“See what happens when you behave? I may be amonster to you now, Jaden, but eventually, you will come to see meas something more entirely. Something you can learn to love.”

I kept my poker face in place as he spoke to meabout love. Was he seriously expecting me to fall for him? Na-uh,bitch; it’s the other way around. Hell would freeze over first onceI sent him there. And what the hell did he know of love? Just likehe said, he was a monster, and monsters weren’t capable of love.But fine, let him think that. Let him think he would beat me atthis game; it just made it easier for him to trust me, which wouldbe his ultimate downfall.

“Just remember,” he said, bending down to kiss myforehead. “I always reward good behavior.”

The resolve of my poker face broke into a twistedscowl. And then I wondered if he considered personal space areward.

“Come on.” He smiled, taking my hand again andpulling me back toward the house. “We still have other things todiscuss.”

“Like what?” I asked.

“Like the plans I have for you tomorrow.”

“What plans?”

“I have to return to work in the morning, but I willbe back early.”

“More slaves for you to sell?” I asked snidely.