Jarrod stepped into the faint light, his gray eyes glinting with a mix of desire and determination. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Crystal. Your life is in grave danger, and I'm the only one who can protect you."
"So you like to repeat yourself all the time."
It wasn't a question.
"Exceptionally, yes, but I only repeat what sums up the situation."
"The situation?" Crystal pointed out, outraged. She stared at him, shaking her head in bewilderment "I'll tell you the real summary of the situation."
"With hypothetical intent to protect me from a mental patient, you kidnap me, sequester me in your home, and worse, chain me to your bed. Well, I'll tell you what, Jarrod. My dad's not going to let this go. Friend or not, grateful or not, he'll make sure you pay dearly for what you put me through. I've already seen him in action. He's my father, and believe me, every so-called tough guy who's ever messed with him leaves broken. You'll be no exception.
"And neither will you, sweetheart."
"What do you mean?" she inquired, frowning, puzzled.
"That I intended to take the chains off you, but since you've just threatened me, I'm afraid for my safety, so I'm obliged to keep them on you."
"But why did you put them on me in the first place."
"To show you what you risk if you ever try to escape from here or...even just by being naughty. But since you're not even hiding your intentions..."
"You're joking!" she exclaimed, bewildered, "untie me!"
He only shook his head in denial.
She pressed her lips together, then heaved a deep sigh.
Crystal looked up and her gaze met his, and she found herself searching for any sign of deceit. The intensity in his eyes was unnerving, yet she couldn't deny the magnetism that drew her to him. Trapped in this unfamiliar place, with the threat of this mysterious Brad looming over her, Crystal knew she had no choice but to put her faith in the man who had abducted her.
But she certainly wasn't going to admit it to him. It would be the last thing she ever did in this life.
As Jarrod turned for a moment to check the message he'd just received on his cell phone, uttering a vague "excuse me a moment", Crystal found herself torn between fear and a reluctant curiosity. What secrets was her father keeping, and how were they connected to this dangerous criminal? And why did Jarrod seem so determined to protect her, even if it meant holding her captive?
Closing her eyes, Crystal took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to find some semblance of calm in the midst of the chaos that had consumed her life. With Jarrod as her captor and her future uncertain, she knew she was treading a perilous path. But as much as she longed for her freedom, the thought of confronting the threat of Brad, if this threat was true, and deep down she was sure it was, sent a chill down her spine.
In the end, Crystal knew she had no choice but to trust Jarrod, at least for now. Her life was in his hands, and the only way to unravel the mystery and secure her safety was to play along. With a resigned sigh, she settled back against the mattress, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of everything that had happened.
She sighed deeply again.
"Very well, then. I won't tell my father, or almost won't, if you ever take them off me."
As he was slow to reply, Crystal, intrigued, really looked at him and what she saw on his face chilled and burned her at the same time. A sensation she'd never felt in her life.
He stared at her like the wild beast he was, then rose nimbly from his chair and slowly approached the young woman.
"What, what...If you ever try anything..."
She stammered, trying as she might to retract herself, but it was impossible. He did everything he could.
He stopped at the young woman's bedside and gazed at her whole body. It was so strong that the young woman thought she could feel his touch on her skin.
"In the end, it's better that you insulted me the way you did. It gives me the excuse to keep you like this...tied up, so desperately proud and defenseless...It's such a feast for the eyes and my envy, believe me."
He held out his hands and ran his light fingers over her skin, which shivered despite her best efforts.
"So soft, so beautiful...you know it's also very existing to watch you sleep?"
"Unconscious."
He shrugged.
"It's the same thing."
"It's not. And I hope for your sake you didn't do anything to me while I was unconscious."
He couldn't help laughing.
"If I wanted to, I would have. I do whatever I want. But fortunately for you, I'm not interested. I have no attraction for the 'Sleeping Beauty' genre."
She sent him a mocking smile.
"Why don't I feel flattered."
He sat up and leaned over her, both hands resting on either side of her, and whispered softly into her ear.
"Because it wasn't my intention."
The frisonns that inhabited her body intensified.
"I see that lack of interest in the defenseless has faded fast."
He ran a light mouth over her neck.
"You'd like that, wouldn't you."
And he continued to kiss and caress her as gently, as lightly as he could, and finally moved up to her mouth. When Crystal bit her lips to keep from moaning and parting at the approach of his, she gave in just as he straightened, laughed and pulled away.
She was as outraged as ever, then realized she was free. She'd been so immersed in her vicious delirium that she hadn't sensed he'd released her.
She could stand up and move. So she knew exactly what she wanted to do. What she could do.
She looked around for anything she could use : pillows, tissue boxes, cream boxes, flashlight, bedside lamp, jug filled with water, glass, and on and on.
He'd probably expected this, as Jarrod managed to avoid the first projectile, but the bursts soon became too powerful.
He had to come back to her and grab her wrists to stop her grabbing something. They struggled briefly, shouting at each other, before inevitably falling onto the bed. A large, soft bed, perfect for what was to come.
"I'm giving you one last chance. You stop throwing something at me, and I'll leave you alone..."
Crystal clenched her fists so tightly she could feel her nails penetrating the flesh of her palm.
"And if I refuse?"
"You already know the answer."
He lowered his voice even more.
"Because you know what will result from provoking a man like me."
He sniffed his skin.
"But deep down, that's what you want. However, I'm not going to abuse it, if you behave yourself."
Fury, defiance and caution fought it out in a most explosive battle, but Crystal finally opted for the latter. She softened.
"Good choice, for now."
"And as you say, it's only temporary."
He laughed.
"I don't doubt it."
He stood up and helped her do the same and pointed down a large, long corridor.
"Your bathroom's over there. It's got everything you need."
She gave him an incendiary, suspicious look as she headed for the bathroom.
She decided to take a hot shower and brush her skin, as if to rid herself of any smell, any touch, any sensation that this man had ever left on her, although it was useless since her memory was indelebile.
Obviously, there was nothing to wear except bathrobes, although the choice was varied. Crystal opted for the widest and thickest, so there was no doubt about it. At least, she hoped so, because as Jarrod said, he wasn't the only one who...
She didn't look carefully, for there was a pile of fine lingerie, new and of the finest quality. She hesitated, but not for long ; she was a woman.
The, she sighed, straightened her shoulders and left the bathroom.
Jarrod had prepared her a plate of eggs, fruit and dried meat, accompanied by tea, which he had set up at the kitchen table.