Chapter 14: Now You’re Mine: Chapter 14

The last streaks of sunlight filter into the room, giving it a bronzed glow. One of the rays creeps along my face, warming it slightly and penetrating the darkness of sleep. I scrunch up my face with a yawn and my eyes flutter open, fighting the tendrils of lethargy still clinging to me.

They vanish the second I sense that I’m not alone.

I sit straight up and wait for my stitches to pain me from the swift movement. I immediately forget about my injury the second a pair of light blue eyes meet mine. Even in the dimly lit room, I can make out the concern shining in their depths.

“Hayden,” I breathe. My body tenses, waiting for him to touch me.

He nods, but remains standing at the foot of the bed with his arms folded. This man has never had a problem expressing what he wants. I brush a stand of hair away from my cheek and wait.

“I take it you rested today?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“Good. Did you pack your things? We’re leaving before dawn.”

I hold his stare, my insides quivering. “No.”

“I see.” His mild tone is at odds with the thinning of his mouth. “You’ve made your choice, then.”

“Why are you doing this? Forcing me to go with you is kidnapping, just so you know. I’m pretty sure there are laws forbidding this type of thing.”

He quirks a brow. “You must be feeling better if you’re bold enough to lecture me on the workings of the law. I can narrate this situation in a way that doesn’t make anything I’m doing illegal, but there’s no point. You’re coming with me because whoever sent you that package has an agenda.”

I shake my head in denial. “How can you be so sure someone wants to hurt me?”

“Who can predict or understand the mind of a deranged person?”

I give him a pointed look.

“Be careful, Mrs. Bennett.”

“You really think it has something to do with my father?” I ask, attempting to change the subject. And pointedly ignoring his new name for me.

Hayden nods. “Politicians rarely take and maintain an office without some type of dirt on them.”

“My father was a good man. If you care about me at all, you won’t say negative things about him in front of me.” I drop my gaze and smooth out the comforter, unable to look at Hayden. “I want my memories of him to remain intact, regardless of what your investigation turns up.”

“I understand.” His voice softens, giving me the courage to meet his gaze. “Your father was innocent of the charges brought against him. I know this now, but I should’ve known he was a decent man after meeting you. If that wasn’t true, he would’ve killed the goodness in you instead of nurturing it.”

“Thank you. It means a lot to me to hear you say something nice about my father. God, I miss him so much.”

Hayden stiffens. It’s nearly imperceptible, but I catch it regardless. Narrowing my gaze, I scrutinize him, searching his face for any detail that could explain his change in demeanor.

“I owe you an apology concerning your father,” he says quietly. “I severely misjudged him.”

“It’s okay. You’ve admitted that you changed your opinion of him, and that’s all that matters to me.”

He shoves his hands in his pockets and turns his head toward the sliver of waning sunlight now failing to illuminate the room. “I was so wrong, and I can never make it up to you.”

My forehead scrunches in confusion. Just as I’m about to ask him to explain what he’s talking about, Hayden faces me, his expression stoic once more. The abrupt change in him leaves me speechless. Something’s clearly bothering him, but I have no idea what it could be.

Or if I want to know.

“I’m assuming you haven’t eaten dinner since you were asleep when I walked in here,” he says.

“I haven’t. When did you get home?”

He lifts a shoulder in a half-shrug. “Hours ago.”

“You didn’t watch me the whole time, did you?”

“Yes, I did.” He pauses and then says, “Seeing you asleep in my bed puts me at ease. I’m still fucking terrified at the thought of losing you.”

My heart pounds wildly in my chest at his confession. This isn’t the first time Hayden’s admitted to being scared of losing me, but for some reason this is different. It’s filled with more than fear.

There’s pure agony etched into every word, every syllable.

An eerie silence descends on the room, blanketing us in tension. I break it with a whisper, barely discernible to my own ears. “I don’t know what to say, Hayden.”

He breaks eye contact with me, his jaw tightening as he looks away. “Unless you’re agreeing to cooperate, there’s nothing to be said.”

“That’s not true. Despite my past coming back to haunt me, you and I have issues that need to be resolved. If not…” Now I’m the one who’s turning my head when his gaze snaps in my direction. “Things need to change.”

“They will once this threat is neutralized.”

I exhale my pent-up frustration. “Yeah, okay.”

“Maybe once you’ve eaten, your sour disposition will improve.”

“Unless you’ve decided you’re not going to kidnap me, then I doubt it,” I mutter.

Hayden extends his hand to assist me. “I have rope set aside, should you require it.”

I shove his hand away and slide from the mattress. Before my feet have a chance to fully land on the soft rug, he snakes an arm around my waist and hauls me to him. I slam against his chest in a daze.

“Rejection only makes me want you more,” he says. “Keep fighting me, and I’ll be fucking you on the dining table.”

Hearing the passion in his voice has my body reacting, despite my best efforts. His sensual threat, combined with the intensity of our exchange, stirs something within me I can’t ignore. It’s an emotional connection that we’ve forged, one that transcends the circumstances we’re struggling to navigate.

I inhale deeply in an attempt to steady my breathing. With him holding me this close, it’s impossible. “I’m hungry,” I say, my voice trembling as I fight my need for him.

He releases me, but doesn’t step back. Once again, he offers his hand. This time, I take it without hesitation. Provoking him again will instigate a battle I can’t win.

Side by side, we make our way to the kitchen. Thoughts zip through my mind, pinging different worries and insecurities until I’m ready to get drunk to avoid thinking at all. Whenever I run through the possible scenarios concerning this getaway he’s planned, I can’t come up with anything that’d make peace between us.

“What’s the destination for tomorrow?”

Hayden lifts my hand and grazes the inside of my wrist with his lips before answering. “A tropical island far from here.”

I tug on his hold, unable to concentrate while he’s kissing my skin. He releases me with a knowing smile, and I resist the urge to make a face at him.

“Could you be any vaguer?” I ask.

“The less you know, the better. The same goes for your friend. ”

“Fine.”

Telling Harper wouldn’t do me any good. It’s not as if she’s going to rescue me from him. Then there’s the possibility that Hayden’s lying to protect me, per his usual.

“What do you want to eat?” he asks, interrupting my musings.

“It doesn’t matter. Your housekeeper is such a good cook. I haven’t tasted anything that I haven’t loved. I’d like to meet her at some point.”

“In time.”

He walks over to the stainless-steel refrigerator and removes two covered plates. After heating the contents, he sets them on the dining table, one right across from the other.

I take a seat with my mouth watering, ready to devour the entire portion of lasagna. Hayden settles in the other chair. He watches me, unmoving.

A blush rises to my cheeks. I duck my head and reach for my utensils, using my food as a focal point. Even though I’m not looking at him, I can feel his gaze following every one of my movements. I wait for him to eat, but his plate remains untouched, his attention never leaving me.

I shift under his watchful stare, silently reprimanding myself for letting him get to me. “You’re staring.”

“I know.”

I snap my head up. He meets my wide gaze with a soft expression, one that’s rarely shown. It’s almost reverent, as if I’m the most captivating thing he’s ever seen. The intense energy flowing off of him sends a thrill through me. I immediately suppress it.

“You’re so beautiful, Calista.”

Bowing my head once more, I ignore my flustered state and take another bite, savoring the rich flavors. “Can we bring your housekeeper to wherever the fuck you’re taking me?”

Hayden coughs to hide his amusement. “Language, Mrs. Bennett. And no, we won’t take Cecil with us.”

“Well, I tried.”

“You do realize that I don’t want to deny you anything, right?”

I shrug.

“And you know I’d do anything to keep you safe, right?”

“Yes, that’s what worries me,” I say with a nod. “You don’t have healthy boundaries.”

He tilts his head. “Are you saying love should have boundaries?”

“Are you saying you love me?”

“I think it’s inevitable.”

My heart quickens at that, but I roll my eyes to mask it. “You’re such a romantic.”

“Do you love me, Calista?”

I stop breathing until my lungs cry out for relief. During those seconds, Hayden watches me with a hungry expression, as if he’s starving for my affection.

“Right now, I don’t even like you. Stalker, kidnapper, dictator, etc… Should I continue?”

“Details.” He waves a hand in dismissal. “Answer the question.”

“Why does it matter to you?”

“Because I’ve never met anyone like you.” He leans forward, his gaze unwavering. “Calista, you challenge me, intrigue me, but you’re the only person to make me question everything I’ve ever known.”

“And you think that’s love?”

He reclines back in his chair with a thoughtful expression. “I think it’s profound. You’re irreplaceable. I’d be an idiot to think I could have this with another woman, when I’ve never wanted anything more than a quick fuck. Until you.”

I chew on my lower lip as a tiny bit of hope swirls within me. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

He gives me a sad smile that pricks at my heart. “I’ve been told that once or twice in my life.”

“By whom?”

“My mother.”

The simple answer carries a depth and weight that I can’t leave alone. It’s a reminder that beneath the hardened exterior of this man, Hayden is a person with his own history, pain, and complexities.

“I’m sorry I brought it up,” I say quietly.

“It’s fine. Although I think about her constantly, I’ve never spoken about her until now.”

“What changed?”

“You.”

“Don’t try to flatter me,” I say. “For once, tell me the truth.”

All traces of amusement leave his face. “You’re the first person that I ever wanted to share her memory with.”

“Oh.”

He doesn’t wait for me to gather my thoughts and shape them into a coherent sentence. After getting to his feet, he extends his hand. “Come on, it’s time for bed.”

“What if I’m not tired?”

“You will be.”

With a lifted chin, I rest my hand in his and get to my feet. “You’re right. The walk to the guest bedroom is really long.”

“Your sarcasm isn’t necessary,” he says, his lips twitching.

“Neither is your arrogance, but here we are.”

He shakes his head with a sigh. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”

I stop my feet, but my heart continues racing with nerves and curiosity. “Wait.”

“What is it?”

I take a fortifying breath before continuing. “If I admitted to loving you, what would you do?”

He slowly turns to face me. His eyes hold mine, a flicker of surprise lighting up their depths. The silence grows, charged with both anticipation and dread. Within seconds, I’m full of regret.

“Never m—”

“Calista, I don’t know what I’d do because I’ve never been in love. But if you were to admit your feelings for me, I would cherish and protect them until I die.”

“That’s very similar to a marriage vow.”

He gives me a secret smile. “Give it time.”