He had no choice. Damn! It would serve him right if she chose to ignore him. "Jade!" he shouted, hoping his voice would carry to the campsite and waken her. "Jade! I need your help!"
Several minutes later, he turned his head to the sound of running. Relief washed through him.
"Griff! What happened?"
"I need you to help me. I jammed a log the size of a hockey stick into my foot. I've cleaned it, but it's in bad shape."
"A log the size of a hockey stick? Really?" she placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head."Is this how you are going to manipulate me into talking to you? It won't work, because I am still pissed and really hurt by what you said to me."
"I know you are. No, this isn't an attempt of coercion. Have a look."
"Wow. This is gnarly!" Jade exclaimed. "Okay, you have my temporary sympathy. What can I do?"
"Do you remember those big, leafy plants I showed you? The ones with the spike that looks like a pipe cleaner?"
"Yeah, we had some for salads."
"Those are called broadleaf plantains. Go grab a big handful and pour some hot water on them. Use a stone to crush them up. Also bring some of the larger leaves and a vine. Damn, this hurts!"
"I'll be right back."
"Be careful!" he shouted after her.
"I'll be okay. The moon is bright enough to see by. Maybe if you had been watching where you were going, you would not have hurt yourself," she added.
"Be nice, before I get cranky," Griffon wagged his finger in her direction.
Griffon winced as Jade carefully packed the poultice into the wound, holding his leg painfully still as she scraped another sliver of wood out with her fingernail. She wrapped his foot in a leaf, tied it closed and then stood to help him to his feet.
"Smarts, huh?" she asked as he hopped next to her, "Lean on me before you fall."
Griffon gritted his teeth as he complied. His mind raced with things to say, but now was not the time. Jade helped him to their campsite and eased him in front of the fire pit. She added wood to the embers and stoked it until the flames sparked happily, placed a shell of water to the edge to heat, and then brought him a coconut shell with warm milk.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, with genuine concern.
"Like crap," he responded, sullenly." This needs to be stitched up."
Even in the moonlight, he could see her grow pale. "I can find that kava root and make you some tea. Didn't you say it is a painkiller?"
"Yes, but the kava is not going to make me feel any better. Jade, I truly am sorry I hurt you. I did not know how else to get you to understand that I can't make you happy."
"Let's not talk about that right now. I'm going to make you some of that kava and then see about getting this thing closed. I'll be right back."
Griffon watched her leave. She had surprised him in how she stepped up to the plate and assumed a role of caregiver. He had not believed Jade to be capable of such nurturing after living a life where she was waited on hand and foot; but, then again, they were in a situation where being responsible meant survival. He rubbed the side of his leg and tried to wiggle his toes. Relieved to see that the tendon in his foot was undamaged, Griffon pulled himself up and hopped on one foot to the shelter, where he elevated his throbbing limb.
Time ticked by as the sun began to rise, and still no sign of Jade. When she finally emerged from the brush, Griffon stood, supporting himself on the shelter beams. "Where have you been? I've been worried sick."
"I picked some kava and noni leaves and also grabbed a couple of fallen coconuts. I thought you might like them warmed up. It's a bit nippy," Jade commented. "What time is it?"
"Six in the morning," Griffin answered, glancing at his dive watch. "You need to get some sleep."
"I'll sleep later, after I know you're comfortable. Sit down and get that foot up. Here, let me help." She eased his leg on top of a small bamboo log. "I'll prepare the kava for you. How much?"
"It depends on if you plan to poison me or not," Griffon said, suspiciously.
"Why would I poison you? You made it clear that I needed your testimony because my word could not stand on its own."
"You know I said that because your reputation in the past has been, well, promiscuous."
"I have been with three men in my life, Griffon. Each one was someone I thought I loved. And each one of them betrayed me. I told you that my reputation," she said bitterly, "comes from the social networks, who see me as a party girl. But that is all I did. I am not a whore."
"I never said you were," Griffon said, softly.
"You might as well have. I saw the way you looked at me when I offered myself to you. It was pure disgust."
"No, it was not. It was pure lust, dammit! That's why I gave you the T-shirt! I want you! I want something that is untouchable for me, and I had to hide it to keep from taking it. Yeah, I'm an ass. But I am an honorable ass."
"I still love you."
"Yes, I know," Griffon said, sadly.
"Mark my words, Mr. Badger …" Jade handed him a coconut filled with warm milk and crushed kava root. "one day, you will love me back. Now drink this, so you will go to sleep and leave me alone. I just need the sun to be a little higher so I can see clearly."
Griffon was grateful of his semi-drugged state as he felt the suture needle piercing the skin on the underside of his foot. Jade was mumbling about sewing buttons and talking herself through the procedure. She tied the line off snugly and cut it with his knife, then proceeded to wrap it in another poultice.
"Good thing I had the sun to see what I was doing. It's not very pretty, but the gap is closed. I'm warning you," she grumbled, "you better not let this get infected,"
"You're a good girl," Griffon said dreamily, the kava taking over his mind. He reached to stroke her face. "It's my fault, you know. I gave her everything she ever wanted, except a reason to live."
"What are you talking about? You are so stoned!" Jade said incredulously.
"She never had anything to reach for," he bemoaned. "I thought I could buy her love and her loyalty. I found her in bed with an old college buddy. Next to Tasha, he was my best friend."
"That wasn't much of a friend, if you ask me. Griffon, you need to sleep. This kava is getting to you. Lie down," Jade gently admonished.
"I don't want to hurt you by taking away your freedom, like I did to my ex. I didn't love her. Not really," he yawned, his eye lids drooping. "I can function in life without a real relationship. I don't need anyone."
"Why are you telling me this? Are you trying to hurt me even deeper than you did?"
"I don't want to hurt you. I want to take care of you and protect you. I love you. I just can't tell you because then you won't ever learn to be independent and find yourself. I can't ever tell you how I feel until you do. It has to be a secret, so shhh …."
Jade rolled her eyes. "You're high, Griff. I can't believe anything you are saying right now. You probably won't even remember any of it by the time you wake up."
"Yes, I will. I will remember being with the most beautiful woman, in the most beautiful place, on the planet."
"I won't count on it. Go to sleep," Jade said, removing his hand from her arm.
"You are stunning. A precious jewel …"
"Actually, jade is just an ornamental rock."
"The Chinese believe that jade stand for beauty, grace and purity," Griffon mused. "The wise in that culture see jade as virtue. Did you know that Confucius said there are like nine virtues to jade? Others say there are more."
"Unbelievable. Go to sleep," Jade ordered.
Nothing could quiet Griffon's addled prose. "Yep. I wish I memorized it because it describes you perfectly."
"You talk too much when you're stoned. No more kava root for you."
"Lie down next to me. I want to hold you," Griffon murmured, as the drug-induced slumber took hold.
"I really should bottle this stuff," Jade muttered, as he placed his head in her lap and wrapped his arms
around her lower body. Tentatively, she began to stroke his unruly hair. "You are so much nicer to be around when you are like this. Too bad it will wear off and you will return to being an asshole."
"Not an asshole …" he mumbled.
Jade listened to his heavy breathing and sighed. "No, not an asshole. Just a really scared little boy in a grown man's body. I'm glad there is that side to you. It makes it harder for me to hate you."
CHAPTER 8
Jade was roasting the wings of a stingray over open flames when Griffon finally awoke.
"How long have I been sleeping?" he asked groggily, swinging his legs over the edge of the shelter.
"The entire day. How's your foot?"
"It hurts like a mother, although," he rubbed the back of his neck, "nothing like my head."
Jade brought him some water. "Drink this; you're parched. I changed the dressings. So far, the wound looks okay. Just a little irritated, but then, my sewing sucks."
"You did great, Jade. I'm really proud of you. Thank you," Griffon said, gratefully.
"You have done more than that for me," Jade shrugged. "Let me get you some food."
"I said some things to you that were very hurtful," Griffon said, quietly. "I'm sorry. I only wanted to protect you from a life filled with regret. You are too young to be caught in the trap I was."
"Please don't talk about this. It's done, and I need to move on," Jade said, stiffly.
"Ignoring it is not going to make your feelings go away," he said, softly. "I do care about you …"
"I know exactly how you feel about me. You were very verbal once the kava took over. By the way, you might want to lay off the stuff. It is pretty potent."
"What did I say?"
"Just accept that it was more than I wanted to hear. I'm going down to check the fish traps and grab some more of those sea grapes. Do you need anything?"
"Yes." he grabbed her wrist. "Your forgiveness."
"Why do you need my forgiveness? You are very capable of functioning in life without a real relationship."
"Did I tell you that?"
"Oh yeah, plus lots more, but at least you were nice about it. Kava not only helps you sleep, but it is a temporary cure for being an asshole. I'll be back soon," she said, removing his hand from her wrist.
"I owe you a spanking, you know," he said, lifting his eyebrow.
"Pardon me? You don't owe me anything! I didn't do anything to deserve being spanked this time."
"You slapped me across the face." He offered a crooked grin.
"You deserved that slap, Mister. Why are you laughing at me?"
"I just love to see you get bent out of shape so easily. You're beautiful when you're angry."
"Then I am going to win Miss Universe because I am really getting annoyed with you. How could you even think I would allow you to spank me again after all you said?"
"Because, Jade," he leaned into her, "it is part of you now. You will never go back to the vanilla way of thinking. You need discipline to make you feel whole. You also need pain—physical pain—to make you feel alive."
"That's ridiculous," she stuttered, backing away.
"When this mess is over, promise me that you will find a man who can fulfill these needs. A true dominant, who can take you to the very edge of reality and bring out the best in you. You have something to offer the world. Please promise me that you will find someone who can help you reach your potential."
"I thought I found that someone, Griffon. The problem was," she turned towards the path, "he was too caught up in the past to see what he could have in the present. I'll be back."
Jade ran to the beach, tears flowing down her face, and fell onto the sand as she sobbed. Her weeping was interrupted several minutes later by the sound of a boat motor. She lifted her head, momentarily stunned, and then jumped to her feet. She waved her arms and began to scream, "Help! Help!!!!!"
The boat turned in her direction and her sadness changed to joy as the driver waved at her. They were saved!
"Oh, my God. Thank you! Thank you!!" she wept, flinging herself into the strange man's arms. "We've been stuck here for almost a month!"
"Is Griffon here? Is he okay?" the man asked.
"He is up at our camp. He's going to need help getting down. I'm Jade. Jade Brockton."
"The heiress to Brockton Industries? Girl, everyone thinks you are dead!"
***
Jade sat in the hospital bed, pulling at the neck of the cotton gown. She looked up as Griffon limped into her room, supported by crutches. He was accompanied by an older man and the boat driver.
"Daddy!" Jade squealed, flinging her arms around her father's neck. "I missed you so much!"
"I thought you were dead," the man said, as he held her tightly. "We heard nothing from you for weeks and then an anonymous tip to the tabloid said that you had taken off alone in a boat and never returned. It sent us on a wild witch hunt, in the direction opposite from where you were."
"It was Simon. He did this. Please, don't cry, Daddy. I'm fine. I am better than fine."
"You have one hell of a daughter, Mr. Brockton. You should be proud of how she handled herself in this situation," Griffon said. "I couldn't have done it without her."
"I have nothing to say to you, Badger. Just because Jade got saddled with you in an unfortunate circumstance does not mean that what you did to my business is forgotten."
"I never indicated that it was. I was simply attempting to be pleasant."
"Daddy, please! Now is not the time to fight. How is your foot?" Jade asked, still clinging to her father's waist.
"Good. X-rays showed there was nothing left inside the wound, thanks to you. They didn't have to debride or restitch it, so that made me happy."
"Are you aware that your daughter sutured Mr. Badger's foot?" the other man asked.
"This is Jon Levner, one of my board members," Griffon said. "He is the one who found us and brought us back to the mainland."
"My daughter knows nothing about first aid. In fact, she becomes squeamish at the sight of blood."
"I do not. I sewed him up myself, after trying to poison him with kava tea," Jade said moodily.
Griffon shook his head. "You have a wonderful little lady here, Brockton. Please take care of her, and don't let her be anything less than she is capable of. Jade, thank you."
"Wait! Are you going somewhere?"
"I have to get back to the states. I have a company to run. That is why the boat showed up early. A contract came in that needed my approval and they could not reach me by radio. They had a three-day clause that, if I did not respond, they were to come find me."
"Thank you for everything, Griffon. I will never forget what you did for me." Jade extended her hand to capture his.
"Be good to yourself." Griffon kissed her cheek. "I initiated a search for Simon. Once he is caught, he will go to trial. My attorneys will contact you about the details regarding our communication. Good-bye."
Jade watched the man as he exited her room, not aware of her tears. Her father patted her shoulder, and his eyes narrowed as he watched Griffon depart.
"You've been through a terrible experience, baby. Let's get you home and bring some comfort back into your life."
Jade nodded, numbly. She did not want comfort. She wanted Griffon.
***
"Is there anything else we can get you, Jade?" Mr. Brockton asked, as the butler pulled the chair out for her at the big dining-room table.
Jade shook her head, gazing over the tremendous array of dishes. "Daddy? It is just the two of us. Why do we have to have all this? Most of it is going to go to waste."
"You have been without anything decent for a month. You have lost weight, and I am concerned for your health."
"I lost ten pounds that I did not need, and am more toned physically than I have ever been in my life. As for decent food, Griffon taught me how to eat like a queen. I can fish, gather all different kinds of fruit and vegetables, cook over a fire that I h
ad to keep going, make a shelter than can withstand a storm, hunt… Daddy, I learned how to survive without all this stuff."
"I know, baby. I'm so sorry …."
"No! Don't you get it? I liked it. I know you don't care for Griffon because of your business dealings with him, but he really helped me discover myself. I had something important to do with my life every single day, and it felt good." She pushed away from the table and stood. "I want to go back to school."
"Sit down and eat, honey. You don't need to go to school. You will never have to work …."
"School can provide me with something your money can't. An education. I loved to learn all these new things, and I want to learn more. I am going to start applying to colleges and do this thing. For me."
"Jade, darling, you are still traumatized by the isolation. You need to calm down."
"The only trauma I am experiencing right now is this gastric upset from being forced to eat crap. Belkes!" Jade shouted to the butler.
"Yes, Miss Jade?"
"For now on I am going to do the grocery shopping. I am also going to make my own meals. Daddy, you are going to eat what I cook and you are going to learn how to like it."
"What has gotten into you, child? Do you need to lie down for a while? Belkes, help Jade to her room …."
"I am not going to my room. I am going to take a jog and then start applying for college. I am going to become someone that I can be proud of."
Jade grumbled as she began to trot down the street. Her shoes hurt her feet, as did the hard concrete she was running on. She stopped to remove her sneakers and continued her jog on the grass next to the walkway. It still did not feel 'right'. Nothing felt right anymore. Especially since Griffon was not there beside her. Frustrated, she returned to the luxurious mansion that she had called home since she was a child. She stood outside, looking on the glorious white columns that framed a marbled entryway. This place was no longer home. It was a prison. Jade finally understood what Griffon had shared with her about the joy of a simple life.
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