Page 74 of Survival

“Thermal mattress covers?” I said looking up athim.

“That’s not what I asked you.”

“Yes, better, thank you,” I quickly correctedmyself.

“Good, you should always remember to answer my questionsfirst.”

“Okay.” I nodded.

Darren then rolled me over, laid my head onhis chest, and draped my right leg over his while he kept a tightarm around my back. He kissed my forehead and began gently rubbingmy back, but it just felt so wrong. I wanted to belyingwith Jason, not this monster.

For a moment, we just laid there, and I tookthe time to quietly study his body while he busied himself feelingup mine. He was solid, yet soft enough to lay on. Smooth lightlytanned skin covered layers of thick muscle, and for some oddreason, I wanted to trace my fingers along the edges of thosemasculine curves. I hadn’t realized it before, but Darren actuallysported an eight pack rather than the typical six, and it made mejealous as fuck. I had to give it to him – his body was impressive,even with all the obvious battle scars.

As my eyes secretly wandered, I realized Ihad a better view of the eagle tattoo on Darren’s forearm. Thesymbol on the shield hanging from the eagle’s talons contained anintricate design of interlocking obtuse triangles, revealing thebadge of Darren’s life as a criminal leader – the same badge hewore on his right middle finger.

A few short seconds later, Darren's phonewent off with an almost urgency to it.He reached over to thenightstand and grabbed it.

“Yeah?” he said, answering it.

“We’ve got a situation,” I heard the malevoice on the other line say. I pretended to hear nothing as I keptmyself relaxed, but I wondered what the “situation” was.

“Give me five minutes,” Darren repliedandhung up. “Sorry, princess,” he said, scooting out fromunder me. “I’m going to have to postpone our morning plans untillater.”

“Am I allowed to ask where you're going?” Isaid, sitting up and pulling the sheet to my chest.

“I’m not leaving the estate. That’s all youneed to know," he said as he pulled on a pair of darkgraytrack pants and a black tank top.

He walked into the bathroom and came backout two minutes later looking fresh and awake. I wish I could getready that fast. I looked over at the clock and realized it wasonly 8:35 a.m.

“And what about me?” I asked as innocentlyas possible. As far as I knew, I was still bound to his room.

“You can go anywhere you want in the houseexcept for the places you already know are off-limits. What wouldyou like for breakfast?” he asked as he laced up his Adidas.

“Do I have to dress up for it if you're notgoing to be there? I'd kind of like to work outafterward,and it’s not good to sweat withmakeup on.” I gave him little puppy dog eyes hoping he would see myside of things.

“That’s fine,” he said. I released a sigh ofrelief and gave him a slight smile.

“Thank you,” I said. “And I’ll just have abagel with cream cheese.” I was going to need a lot of carbs fortheworkoutI had in mind.

“That's it?” he disapproved, raising aneyebrow at me.

“Yes?” I replied inquisitively.

“No, you need something else to go withthat.”

“I won’t be able to fit anything else,” Iinterjected.

“Jaden,” he warned, turning his headdangerously to the side.

“Fine. How about a small bowl ofraspberries? I like those.”

“Better,” he said, still glaring at me.“I’ll let Pascal know. You can have it on the patio.”

“Okay. How long are you going to be?”

“Why? Do you have somewhere you need to be?”he asked sarcastically.

“Maybe.” I leanedintomy answer for emphasis, and Darren raised an eyebrowat me. “I mean, I do have a pity party scheduled for 10:00 a.m.,you know. I can’t cancel that again.”