Chapter Twenty-Three
Oooh, that’s going to leave a mark!”
Jewell spewed out water as she pulled herself back up on the wakeboard. She then sent a glare straight to Tyler, who was so busy laughing as he looked back at her that she hoped he choked on his own tongue.
“Don’t worry about me. I’m just fine,” she snapped, determined to master this ridiculous sport.
“I wasn’t worried,” Tyler assured her as he waited until she was holding the rope in her hands and her feet were firmly planted back on the wakeboard. He held up his hand and Blake put the boat back into full throttle as she struggled to get up on her feet.
They were at the lake, and had been there for the past three hours. She hadn’t spoken a single word to Blake since they’d left his apartment, and she’d be more than pleased to continue not speaking to him for the next four nights, not after what an absolute ass he’d been to her that morning.
He was the one who had asked her why she was doing this job, and then he’d treated her horribly when she’d spoken the truth. Let him think she was a liar. The alternative was having him know about Justin and telling the whole story to Ms. Beaumont. That wasn’t an option. She couldn’t believe she’d had such a weak moment as to open up to him.
What had he done in the past few days to prove to her that she could trust him? Absolutely nothing. She’d been a fool, but it wouldn’t happen again. At least she didn’t have to be alone with him right now — and maybe he’d even planned this outing because he, too, didn’t want to be alone with her. Anyway, she actually enjoyed Tyler’s company. Granted, she wasn’t as happy being around Byron. He was just as stern and bitter as Blake, so they weren’t the best people to hang out with on a hot, sunny day on the lake.
Before she could move on to another thought, she felt herself go under again. Water immediately flooded into her open mouth and panicked her for a moment.
When she came back up, coughing out water and taking in much-needed oxygen, she decided she was finished with this so-called sport. Weren’t sports supposed to be fun? Taking her feet out of the boots on the wakeboard, she waited for the fancy black boat to circle back around to her, and then swam toward it.
“Are you giving up already, gorgeous?” Tyler asked as he held out a hand to help her up.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to walk in the morning. I’m done,” she almost gasped, irritated that she was so out of breath, she collapsed onto one of the benches in the back of the boat.
“You aren’t giving yourself enough credit. You got up and lasted a while,” Tyler told her, beaming a proud smile her way and actually bringing a glow to her cheeks.
Blake approached the two of them. “Would you quit flirting with my girl?” he said gruffly.
“Oh, come on, Blake. I like Jewell. She’s a real trouper,” Tyler told him. Winking at his brother, he sat down at Jewell’s feet, lifted them into his lap, and began to knead the tender flesh on the soles and around the arches. She moaned appreciatively.
“Get your hands off her,” Blake growled, and he pushed his brother away.
Jewell wanted to protest the interruption of her foot rub, but with the thunderclouds obvious in Blake’s eyes, she decided she was much better off remaining silent.
“You’re such a stick in the mud,” Tyler said with a gigantic grin. “All right, Byron, looks like Blake’s out for driving. You’re at the helm now. Give her hell.” He grabbed his board and jumped into the water.
Blake still didn’t say anything directly to Jewell as they raced around the lake, but he also didn’t move away, making Jewell shift involuntarily while he sat there beside her, his hand on her leg, obviously staking his claim in front of his brothers.
She didn’t see why he would even bother. He’d made it clear that he had no particular fondness for her, and certainly no respect.
“Are you going to continue to give me the silent treatment the rest of the day?” he finally asked, startling her.
“I’m just minding my own business, Blake.” She knew that if she didn’t reply, he could and would continue to push her.
“I don’t like it, Jewell, so stop.”
“Well then, what should we talk about? We are civilized people, after all,” she remarked with more than just a hint of sarcasm dripping from her tongue.
He leaned in close, his eyes narrowed into slits. “I won’t tolerate you speaking to me this way, especially in front of my brothers.”
“I’m surprised you don’t just tell them that I’m your personal prostitute, and that our time is almost over, that they can have a turn next if they wait until Monday.” Where was this cattiness coming from? Jewell hadn’t a clue, but she suspected she’d come to regret it. And when he leaned toward her, rage burning in his eyes, she knew she would. And soon.
“They already know,” he said, making her humiliation complete before he continued speaking. “Is that what you want, Jewell? Do you want to be bedded by all three of us? Right now? Want me to find a nice quiet little alcove? Or wait, you like the public stuff, don’t you? Why don’t I just find a place where all the boats are tied together and you can make your rounds? Don’t worry, doll — I know you expect to be paid extra for taking on multiple partners. Not a problem.”
The sneer on his face made her want to slap him. Oh how she would love to wipe away his arrogance, if only for a single second.
“I’m not the whore you make me into,” she found herself saying, her throat tight.
“Then quit making comments that make you seem like one,” he fired back. “You’re your own saleswoman, you know.”
“Why don’t we just go back to not speaking? You are so much more pleasant that way.”
Before she could say anything else, he pulled her up and straddled her over his lap. “Don’t even think for one minute that because I allow you to speak your mind, I give a damn about your opinion,” he said before crushing his mouth punishingly against hers.
When the boat stopped, Tyler climbed back on board and gave a catcall. Blake immediately pulled away, and she could still see the rage he’d been directing at her flashing in his silver depths.
She had to fight the urge to cry, but there was no way she was doing that again. She’d shed enough tears in the last six months to last her a lifetime, and Blake Knight was certainly not worth wasting any of her precious emotions on.
He released her and stood. “I’m done. Let’s go back in,” he said to Byron, who was now captain of the boat.
Everyone fell silent. The boat turned, and Jewell was relieved when they came closer to the docks. The sooner this horrible day ended, the better off she would be. Then she’d be tied to Blake for only three more nights.
Tyler gave her a questioning look, but even he said nothing. And now they were at the docks, and Blake was leading her up the ramp and straight to his car.
Their night seemed destined to be less than pleasant. When he sent her to her room and didn’t even try to bring her to his bed or join her in hers, she was relieved, or she thought she was. As she gazed at the clock next to her bed and sleep didn’t easily find her, she felt nothing but despair. She told herself it was because she was counting the endless hours until her release from this nightmare, and freedom from Blake Knight was still so far away.