Chapter 4
River
His eyes focus somewhere behind me, a blank look coming over his face. It cuts deep into my soul to see him switching off, as he prepares himself to violated.
I get up from the floor. I’m tired. This night has been painfully long.
“Let’s just sleep, Jack. It’s been a long night.”
I walk to the bed and throw back the covers.
“Get in bed and sleep,” I command.
I wait for Jack to slip under the covers, before I glance at him. His eyes are focused on the ceiling, but I know that he’s aware of every movement I make.
I switch off the light and then walk around the bed to the other side. I strip out of the ridiculously tight outfit, keeping on the bra and panty set.
I get in next to Jack and then turn my back to him. “Night, Jack,” I whisper.
I can hear him breathing behind me. He’s not moving a muscle, most probably waiting for me to pounce on him. I hate that he’s on guard around me.
Slowly, I turn around until I’m facing him. I’m careful as I move closer to him. I feel for his hand under the covers and just hold it.
“I saw you working in the garden earlier, is that something you like to do?” I whisper so only he can hear me.
“Yes,” he says, his voice clipped with no emotion.
“My favorite flower is a daisy.” I glance up at him, trying to see his reaction in the meager light the moon is offering through the window. “Have you seen a Brown Betty?”
He doesn’t respond. Not that I expected him to.
“The Black-Eyed Susan is the state flower of Maryland. It has thirteen petals. Thirteen is my lucky number.”
My mind races, searching for something else I can tell him. “Do you like water?”
“Yes,” he answers, but this time his tone doesn’t carry a sharp edge. It gives me hope that someday I’ll be able to get through to him.
“Me too,” I say. I can’t wait to go home. “I love how it brings life to everything around it.”
Silence engulfs us again but this time it’s not as tense. I close my eyes, and keeping hold of Jack’s hand, I drift between sleep and consciousness. I’ll never be able to get a good night’s rest in one of these places.
In the early hours of the morning, Jack gets up. I feel guilty for watching him as he walks to the bathroom, but he’s a masterpiece. Seconds later he comes out dressed in his jeans.
He walks to the door and unlocks it, before turning back to me. His eyes are filled with confusion when he asks, “Will that be all you require of me, Mistress Ryland?”
“Yes, Jack,” I sigh heavily as I get out of bed.
I force my body back into the ridiculous outfit from the night before. When I look up, I find Jack’s eyes on me. I can see the questions starting to form on his face. He’s not sure what to make of me.
I walk to where he’s standing and standing on my toes, I press a soft kiss to his cheek. “I’ll see you soon, Jack.”
He frowns at me, and for a moment it looks like he wants to say something, but then he turns and walks away.
I return to the room I share with Adam, wishing we could just pack up and go home.
I find Adam sitting on the bed, his face in his hands.
“Morning,” I say softly, so I don’t give him a fright. He hates it when people sneak up on him. I did it once and I landed flat on my back with an angry Adam towering over me.
He looks up, a world of exhaustion clouding his face.
I crawl onto the bed behind him and pull at his arm until he stretches out next to me.
I place my head on his shoulder. “Want to talk about it?”
He shakes his head. Adam is not a talker.
We both just take comfort in the others presence until there is a knock at our door. Adam gets up and opens the door to a girl. She pushes in a cart, and the smell of coffee makes me get up.
I have some coffee while Adam enjoys the bacon and eggs. I usually have a healthy appetite, but after a night like the one I just had, food is the farthest thing from my mind.
After coffee, I go to shower. When I’m done, I walk over to the window. I stare out over the estate while Adam freshens up. The garden is really pretty. I wonder if it’s all Jack’s work. If he really loves gardening then I’ll make sure that he can continue his hobby back at the sanctuary.