chapter four
Olivia
When I wake up, I snuggle deeper against the warm body before my eyes snap open as reality comes crashing back in on me. I push back sharply, but a band of steel around my waist tightens and holds me against the chest I was just nuzzling.
“It's amazing how quickly your demeanor switches when you go from a subconscious state to a conscious one.” Ajax’s deep voice rumbles dryly.
I smile up at him acidly. “I suppose you could always drug me again if what you want is a comatose woman.”
Ajax frowns.
I smile smugly when I realize I've gotten the best of this round. My smile quickly fades when he growls, “What I mean is when you're sleeping, you curl up against me like a sweet little kitten, and then as soon as you wake up and remember you’re not supposed to like me, your claws come back out.”
“I always liked you,” I deny. “You know that. I went against my father's wishes to speak to you.”
He raises a knowing eyebrow at me, and I bite my tongue. Dammit. I just proved the point he's been trying to make all along. Which is I want him, but I'm not brave enough to stand up to my parents.
It doesn't matter how attracted I am to him or how much I still love talking to him, though. He's changed the game now. He kidnapped me. I can't be the same way I was.
Right?
He kidnapped me, and I'm supposed to be upset about that.
“You kidnapped me,” I speak aloud to both of us, but I think I’m speaking to myself more than anyone, reaffirming the rules of our situation.
“I made the decision you were too afraid to make yourself,” he corrects.
We stare at each other—more like I glare at him, and he stares back at me stubbornly.
“I need to pee,” I finally say flatly.
He reluctantly releases me, but he gets out of bed with me. I look back over my shoulder when I pick up on the fact that he's following me to the bathroom.
I turn around and cross my arms. “I've got this.” I scowl at him.
His lip twitches. “I know you do, honey. I’m just gently reminding you that I'll be right outside the door, so don't try anything.” He looks at me pointedly like it’s inevitable I’m going to try to escape from the bathroom.
I don't dignify his statement with a response. Instead, I flounce into the bathroom and slam the door in his face. I take care of business, fuming the whole while. I hate feeling like a prisoner. Why did Ajax have to go and ruin everything? I was happy with our flirting. And yes, I used to wonder what it would be like if we could be more, but that was outside the realm of possibility.
My heart clenches when I think of my mother and father. They're going to be so worried. Yes, they're overly protective. They always have been. They've always done their best to shelter me—probably too much. They're both teachers. I’m their only child, and they know what can happen to kids. They've seen it all before in the public school system.
It’s ironic that my parents chose to teach in the public school system, yet they insisted I went to a private one. Maybe it's because of everything they saw go down in public schools where they teach. I don't know, but they've always done the best they can to take care of me and give me the best they can. While I might not always agree with them on everything, I do respect them, and I know that they want the best for me.
I'm eighteen now, so technically, I can go anywhere I want and do anything I please, but I can't bear the thought of disappointing them. So, I know that on some level Ajax is right. If I took my parents out of the equation, I'd have gone out with him in a heartbeat.
But I can still see my father's scowl of disapproval. All he had to hear was the word “felon,” and that was enough for him to condemn Ajax. Granted, I don't even know what he was in prison for, and he has just kidnapped me, so maybe my dad was onto something there.
Still, something inside me rails against the knowledge that Ajax has been to prison. It tells me that Ajax isn’t a danger to me. It wants to give him the benefit of the doubt, even as my mind tells me I cannot give in and be okay with this.
After I take care of business and freshen up, I open the door and find Ajax leaning against the wall. He cuts those brown eyes at me, and I immediately make my demand. “I want to talk to my parents.”
He studies me for a long moment before he shocks the hell out of me by nodding. “Okay.”
“Okay?” I repeat skeptically.
“Yeah,” he tells me with a pointed look. “I know you just want to reassure them that you're safe so that they don't worry about you.”
“Aren't you afraid I'm going to tell them I've been kidnapped?”