Survival

by J Marie

  He reached down, picked me up, and swung me over his shoulder like the rag doll I was. I was nothing but dead weight as my arms and legs hung lifelessly down his body. He kept a firm hand on the back of my legs to keep me secure as he walked back to the house. Before I knew it, he settled me back onto my bed, took off my shoes, and actually tucked me in.

  But then his hand went to my jaw, taking my entire face in his palm and gripping it tight. He lowered his mouth to my ear and whispered menacingly.

  “Don’t you ever fucking run from me or this house again. And I especially don’t ever want to see you fling yourself over the balcony of those stairs ever again. You’re not going anywhere, Jaden, so accept it already. You try that shit again, and I promise you, your next punishment will be far worse than you could ever imagine.” With that, he got up and headed for the door. “Oh, and Jaden.” I turned my eyes to acknowledge him. “Don’t you dare be late for breakfast tomorrow.” He then shut my door quietly, and all the strength I had used to stay awake dissolved as I fell back into darkness.

  Chapter Eight

  Game On

  I felt the morning sunshine on my face as I rolled over in the blankets, the soreness in my limbs from last night’s electrocution essentially diminished. I slowly raised my still heavy lids to notice the clock on the nightstand beside my bed. It read 8:28 a.m.

  Quicker than I ever had before, I shot out of bed and ran to the bathroom. I had thirty minutes to get my ass ready or shit would hit the fan. I showered my body quickly, washing my hair as fast as I could before brushing my teeth. I toweled myself off and braided my wet hair over my shoulder, not having nearly enough time to dry and style it. I threw on some quick mascara and eyeliner and raced to the closet to put on the first thing I touched. It happened to be a frilly light pink sundress. I immediately regretted the choice, but I would have to gripe about that later. After changing into a matching pink bra and thong, I slipped on a pair of nude flats and ran out the door, adrenaline pumping through my veins. Looked like I wouldn’t be needing coffee this morning.

  I stopped at the spiral staircase and attempted to regain my composure before slowly and gracefully descending the stairs. I noticed the two guards standing outside the house beside the door as I came into the foyer. They wore dark sunglasses and the same military get-up as the other guards I had seen before. No sneaking out the front door anymore.

  As I entered the dining room, the grandfather clock I had not noticed in the foyer chimed, almost practically announcing my entrance. I found Darren sitting at the head of the table as he had yesterday, dressed in another impeccable three-piece suit. His light blue dress shirt brought out the color of his eyes perfectly; the gold and blue tie and matching vest was a nice complement to his hair and skin tone.

  What the fuck? Why did I care? Sure, he was beautiful, but I still fucking hated him.

  “Morning, princess. Sleep well?” he asked me, his eyes taking me in and making me extremely uncomfortable already.

  I immediately scowled at that.

  Princess? Bitch, please.

  I sauntered over to my assigned seat and sat down.

  “I slept fine, thank you,” I replied bitterly. But my mood improved a fraction as I noticed a small cut on his lip from where my elbow made contact last night. Fucking good.

  “Good. Then you should have no trouble explaining to me why the fuck your hair is still wet,” he practically growled.

  I felt my stomach backflip and land in a puddled mess, but I wouldn’t let it show.

  I shrugged. “I accidentally overslept. I must have been that comfortable.”

  Fuck him. If he was going to pull me, then I was going to push him right back.

  Slowly, like that of a predator, Darren rose from his chair and leaned over the table toward me. His eyes blazed with an intensity that I didn’t want to challenge, but I knew I couldn’t back down. I felt my body tense as he stared me down.

  “Do you think this is a game, Jaden?” he asked me seriously.

  What an excellent question …

  I leaned back in my chair, relaxed as fuck, as I answered his dumb-ass question.

  “Of course, this is a game,” I shot back. “It’s always been a game, and it always will be a game until someone finally breaks. And I don’t plan on losing.”

  He lunged forward, but I was already out of my seat. By the time he walked around my chair, which I had deliberately left in front of him, I was already on the other side of the table.

  “Breaking so many rules already …” He shook his head at me, the promise of punishment in his eyes.

  “Yeah, because you’re such a fair player as it is,” I retorted, gripping the edge of the table. This was going to turn ugly real quick.

  “You were nearly late, your hair is still wet, and now, you’re running from me again. Please explain to me why I should be fair right now,” he challenged.

  I squared my shoulders and practically slammed my palms on the table in frustration.

  “Because one, I was not late. I was right on time. Two, my hair may be wet, but at least, I cared enough about your rules to do something with it instead of leaving it down, and three, if I were running, I would be out of the house by now.”

  “And now we can add back talk to your list of offenses.”

  “Offenses?! How about defenses!” I nearly yelled.

  “Enough, Jaden!” he roared, and I felt my insides quiver as my resolve shrank a bit. His voice could terrify and liquefy me all at the same time. “I’m going to give you to the count of five to get your disobedient little ass back over here or you can make your punishment that much worse by making me come and get you.”

  I gaped at him, fear growing in my belly, but my feet felt like they were stuck in cement. I couldn’t move. I didn’t know if it was because my body was physically protesting or if fear paralyzed me, but the promise of that threat had my psyche conflicted as fuck.

  “One …” he began, tilting his head to the side as he watched me. I didn’t move.

  “Two …” I could hear my heart begin to pound as the blood rushed through my veins, anxiety beginning to spike.

  “Three …” My breath felt heavy as I realized I still hadn’t moved a muscle. I couldn’t think clearly. All I knew was—punishment or no punishment—I didn’t want to be anywhere near him.

  “Four …” He emphasized the word, warning me I was one number away from probably getting my ass beat. I felt my knees bend in anticipation, and instantly, I knew I was going to make him chase me again.

  “Five.”

  And just as if a starter pistol had gone off, I ran because as soon as the word left his lips, he leaped across the table faster than I thought a man of his size could accomplish. I didn’t even make it out of the dining room before he caught me by the arm and spun me around.

  I let the momentum benefit me as I brought my fist up and decked him right in the face as I turned. My knuckles pulsed with a sharp pain at the contact, but I didn’t even register it as adrenaline coursed through my veins. And apparently, neither did Darren as he ignored my hit and dragged me back toward the table by my arm and braid.

  He slammed me down on the table, face first so that my feet dangled, and held me there by my neck while he bent down to my ear.

  “What did I tell you about running last night? What did I say would happen?”

  I didn’t say anything, just fought against him as I tried to maneuver and wriggle. Nothing worked.

  “What did I say, Jaden?” he roared down at me, and I flinched at his tone.

  I sighed heavily in defeat. “That you would catch me.”

  “And what did I just do?” he asked vehemently.

  “You caught me,” I admitted, rolling my eyes. As if I needed to say it out loud.

  “That’s right,” he said, jerking my body. “And I will every time. Running is useless, Jaden, and it will only get you in more trouble, so I would advise against it.”

  He then pulled out hi
s phone. Seconds later, I felt the tug of the cuffs. I resisted their pull as best I could, but they connected so fast there was hardly any time to fight them. My wrists and ankles struck together as the cuffs connected, binding my limbs. Darren then wedged his foot between my cuffed ankles and pressed down so that I couldn’t move my legs. And then he lifted the back of my dress to expose my practically bare ass.

  My heart dropped to my stomach as his warm hand grazed over my flesh, gripping it and squeezing. I struggled then, trying to pull away, but he wasn’t letting up and I wasn’t going anywhere.

  “This is what happens when you break my rules, Jaden,” he said and then smacked my ass with his palm. Really fucking hard.

  I jolted forward, my breath leaving my lungs in a harsh gasp as I bit back my cries. And then his hand came down harder than the last time. I cried out as the smack lit my skin on fire, and I found myself trying to pull away from its sting.

  Fuck, was he seriously spanking me?

  Smack after smack came down on my ass until he’d landed a full-blown ten smacks, and I could feel my skin break out in welts and bruises. Tears had inadvertently fallen down my face, as I could no longer hold them back; the pain Darren brought down on me was too much for my eyes to withhold the moisture. He then roughly gripped my hair and yanked my head back.

  “Should I fuck you right here? Over the table like this? God knows I’ve been dying to get inside you since the last time my dick took that sweet little pussy over the edge. Would you like that, Jaden?”

  I slammed my fists down onto the table to divert his attention to something other than his dick for a split second. I didn’t feel like getting fucked by him ever.

  “No,” I said harshly.

  “Tell me you belong to me and maybe I’ll grant you a little mercy,” he seethed.

  I clenched my fists together, tightening the muscles in my arms as I fought against my urge to tell him to fuck off and die, but it would only cause me further aggravation.

  “Now,” he growled, gripping my hair even tighter.

  “I belong to you,” I replied angrily.

  “You’re goddamn right, you do,” he snarled and smacked my ass hard again, gripping it roughly and causing the pain to flare up even more. I cried out and tried to pull away, but with my feet dangling and his grip on me, there was nowhere for me to go.

  Darren then leaned down and drawled in my ear, “Next time, you’re to count each strike out loud. Otherwise, I might forget what number I’m on and keep going. Understand?”

  Next time? He was already betting on next time. Like I was gonna let that shit happen.

  Another smack cracked against my skin, and I gasped from the sudden jolt of pain.

  “Answer me,” he snarled.

  “Yes,” I yelled through clenched teeth.

  “Good girl.”

  He then finally let me up and practically tossed me back in my chair, my ass immediately blazing with pain at the contact. I tried to relieve the pressure on my skin as best as I could by not letting my ass touch the chair, but it was difficult with my limbs still linked together.

  “Sit,” Darren scowled at me and sat back in his own chair, watching me.

  I gently planted myself down, my lips forming a tight line as I fought against the sharp ache in my flesh. Darren eyed me for a while, his mouth turning into an evil smirk as I glared right back at him, hating him, all the while fighting against the stupid whimpers that threatened to expose the serious pain I was now suffering from thanks to his alpha male antics.

  After a short minute, he finally checked his watch, took a sip of his coffee, and stood.

  “I have to go,” he said, straightening his jacket and tie. “Pascal is making your breakfast. It should be done shortly. As soon as I walk out that door, you will have fifteen minutes to finish eating, and then the perimeter range will shorten to your room. I expect your plate to be completely empty,” he warned, glaring at me.

  I looked away from him. Like I had the stomach for food right now.

  “Jaden,” he said, taking my face in his hands and forcing me to look up at him from my chair. “While I am gone, it is paramount that you remember my rules. There will be no talking to anyone and you are to remain in your room until I return.”

  “And my appointment?” I asked hoarsely, pissed off even more at my new confinement.

  “The ladies will be led to your room by Scott, my head of security. They do not speak English, so don’t even bother trying to communicate with them. I would hate for you to tip them off and force me to commit to an extreme amount of damage control,” he glowered at me knowingly.

  Damage control meaning one thing …

  Darren then kissed my forehead and stared intently into my eyes, making my stomach shrivel. "Behave," he said, his voice low and smooth but still another warning. And then he headed for the door.

  “Wait!” I shouted at him, turning around in my chair, “You can’t leave me like this!” But he only ignored me and walked right out the front door, taking his newspaper with him.

  Bitch.

  Chapter Nine

  Company

  Ten seconds after the front door closed, my cuffs deactivated and my wrists and ankles were finally free. I breathed a small sigh of relief as I listened to the car pull out of the circle drive. I was finally away from him, even though it was just an illusion. I knew Darren could still see me and could probably hear me as well.

  Just then, the scent of eggs filled the air and my mouth instantly began to salivate even as my stomach protested big time. Placing the plate containing a still too large veggie omelet down before me, David returned to the kitchen without a word. He didn’t even look at me. He must have known better, unlike me.

  Not wanting to withstand the sting in my ass any longer, I swiftly stood and paced back and forth in front of the table looking down at the omelet I did not intend to touch. I knew very well that Darren would be pissed if I didn't finish it, but the realization that his control over me didn't require his immediate presence bothered me more than it should.

  My appetite was officially gone, having been taken over by the large knots twisting away inside my stomach, not to mention the pain still stinging my ass, but I knew I would need my strength for later. I somehow managed to finish half the omelet, fumbling with Darren’s stupid large-ass fork while standing, and decided I had made a diligent effort to eat it; that would have to be enough for now. I wasn't sure what to do with my plate, but Darren had left his coffee mug on the table, so I figured someone would take care of it.

  I headed to the foyer and stopped in the middle of it to study my surroundings, but the rays of the sun shining through the window caught my attention. I looked out the window of the front door and envied the freedom of the tiny finches that splashed around in the fountain of the circle drive. I wished I could fly away from here too, but there was no more flight in my survival code; there was only fight now.

  As I leaned against the window, I heard a slight cough far behind me. I turned immediately before the sound finished leaving whoever’s lips they were and found a man, dressed in all black standing just beyond the foyer. He had short black hair, a short trimmed black beard, and was just as tall and muscled as Darren. I had a feeling this was Scott.

  “I’d get upstairs if I were you,” he pointed, his low rough voice scratching in my ears.

  Yeah, he must be Darren's head of security. I scowled at him and sighed heavily as he turned his back to me and walked away. So now, I had another man telling me what to do while Darren was gone? I supposed someone had to be present to enforce his rules until I learned to obey them properly. It had only been ten minutes since he left, and I was still being pushed around.

  I thought about going after the guard, as I was sure he had a gun somewhere on his person. If I eliminated him as a threat, I could make my way to the security room. I was sure there was one on the estate. Maybe then I could tamper with some shit and get this fucking collar off and the fuck ou
t of here, but then I was positive Darren would see, activate my collar, and I'd wake up somewhere in a state much more horrible than I could imagine. I had only one true target, and I hoped that if I severed the head from the body, the rest of the beast would fall.

  Turning to the stairs, I headed for my room and slammed the door behind me. I circled my room, wondering what in the hell I was going to do until 1 p.m., pissed off that I was trapped in this tiny confinement of mine.

  Realizing the only thing I really wanted to do at this moment, I grabbed the Nike shoes that had been tossed carelessly by the side of my bed, noticing the fragments of dirt on the soles and not giving a single shit about it. I rummaged through my drawers, and to my surprise, I found a simple, bright pink t-shirt and found the skorts Darren had mentioned at the bottom of the dresser. They would have to do.

  I walked over to the middle of the floor, changed my clothes, slipped the shoes on, and started stretching to get my body ready. It felt good to finally let my limbs flex as far as they could, which was farther than most people could. I had been able to do the splits since I was six years old. I had taken gymnastics as a kid, and once I had mastered that, I went for something a little more extreme.

  My dad always wanted me to be able to protect myself, and he could only teach me so much. I practiced in several different styles to accommodate my need to learn and fight. Martial arts helped push my body in ways I never thought possible, and my increasing flexibility was extremely fruitful when it came to my kicking ability. I might not be tall or long enough to reach Darren's head, but I could definitely reach his throat.

  Once I was done stretching, I started with some jumping jacks to get my blood flowing. After about a hundred, I dropped to the floor and did several variations of push-ups until I reached a hundred of those as well. As my heart rate increased, my breathing became labored, and I welcomed the sweat that started to bead down the side of my face as I pushed my body in my most favorite of ways.