Page 55 of Spark

“I wouldn’t do that,” he said, gripping me tighter.

“I doubt you want me on your lap for the entire flight. You won’t be able to feel your legs,” I murmured as a yawn escaped my lips. Why was I suddenly so tired?

Darren smirked. “You’re not even remotely heavy, Jaden. But you are about to become dead weight.”

My eyes snapped to his, and then I felt myself slink against him. “What did you do?”

“Drugged your shot,” he said plainly as he pulled his phone out. “It’s a long flight. It’s better you sleep through it.”

Now, I was pissed, but I was too tired to berate him about it.

“Stop… drugging… my… shit…” I forced myself to say before the drug took over and it was lights out.

* * *

Jaden slumped against my chest, her soft rhythmic breathing confirming she was asleep as she should be. Her short legs dangled over my knees above the floor, her arms limp in her lap while her head rested against my shoulder. She was so perfect, so incredibly adorable, yet so infuriating. And maybe that was why I liked her, why I was obsessed with her. Her unpredictability was fascinating, and I couldn’t wait to see the change in her once we returned home.

Things would be different for her because everything would be even more controlled than it already was. She’d brought it on herself, but I had a feeling she was prepared to live with that. She could stay mad at me for Holly all she wanted, but in the end, she had to see the logic in my ways. She would learn to respect my decisions even if she didn’t like or agree with them. She would learn her place and adapt to the world around her. Whether she wanted to or not.

Before returning for her, I made sure everything was in place for her arrival. Her new bodyguards were on standby and had been specially trained to handle her with the utmost care. Firm, but gentle. If Jaden got out of hand, she was to be tranquilized immediately to prevent further injury, and when she woke up, I would deal with her.

She was not to sulk in her room all day. I wanted her mind and body active at all times. There would be no opportunity for her to sink back into that depression. And she would be watched twenty-four-seven. Her bodyguards would watch her until her bedtime; two more men would wait outside her bedroom door when she wasn’t sleeping in my room, and I’d have my men standing outside the house patrolling her windows. Any chemicals, substances, or tools that could be used or devised into a weapon were removed from her room and bathroom. No more makeshift Molotov cocktails.

So long as Jaden behaved, she could go outside as often as she wanted for however long she wanted. She had to remain within the sights of her bodyguards at all times and listen to every command without complaint or else there would be consequences. No skipping meals and she was to exercise every day, though I doubted that would be an issue.

She had a long way to go to earn my trust back, and even then, I wasn’t sure if I ever really could. I still had to show her that life with me could be good, but she had to learn and accept her place first. That was always the hardest part with her, making her listen. I needed to come up with a way to get her to become just as obsessed with me as I was with her—one total mind fuck. I had an idea, one that I knew would work, but I wanted to exhaust all other options before I finally pushed her that far.

Curling a lock of her red hair around my finger, I rubbed my thumb over the soft strands, and I couldn’t help but notice the corner of my mouth starting to ache. I was smiling like a fool. She did that to me when she was quiet and subservient. But I loved the fight in her… I loved it a little too much. I wanted that fire of hers to burn me while I fucked her into oblivion. I wanted to feel her nails drawing blood from my back while she screamed my name in ecstasy. I wanted her to hate fuck me until I couldn’t feel my dick anymore. And when the lines between love and hate finally began to blur for her, all she would feel for me was passion. Beautiful. Obsessive. Passion.

That was enough for me.

I hoped.

20

Chains

* * *

When I finally woke up, I was sitting back in my seat with my seat belt strapped tightly around my middle. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I yawned and stretched, finding Darren sitting in his seat across from me with his focus on his laptop. Curling into myself, I pulled my knees up to my chest, my long dress covering my legs entirely, and gathered enough courage to look out the window. My stomach churned as my eyes lingered on the land below us, the clouds surrounding the plane, and the sun bright as fuck in the distance. After a few short seconds, I’d seen enough and closed the window. That was when I felt the pressure on my bladder increase.

Twisting my legs together, I tried to hold it for as long as I could, but I had no idea how much longer we’d be flying, and I didn’t want to piss myself in the middle of our landing. Taking a deep breath, I finally found the courage to speak.

“Darren?” I said, looking at him.

“What,” he said, never taking his eyes from his laptop.

“I need to use the restroom.” Darren clenched his jaw while his eyes narrowed on the screen. He must not have liked what he read.

“Toward the back, first door on the right.”

Unbuckling my seat belt, I stood on wobbly legs and made my way to the back of the plane. I found the door, stepping inside the tiny bathroom, and quickly closed it.

Alone at last.

After relieving myself, I washed my hands in the sink before catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Surprisingly, I looked good. My skin was smooth, a nice number of freckles spread over my face and arms, my hair glossy, long, and wavy while it cascaded around my shoulders and down my back. I looked healthy, but I also looked sad, broken… defeated. I was stuck on a plane bound for the same place I’d escaped from. I was going back, and I was fucking terrified.

I didn’t know what kind of world I would return to, and I had no clue how much more strict Darren was going to be with me. Fuck, I’d probably have to have his permission to breathe. I could feel the tears coming, the anxiety starting to shake my body with panic. I was so scared of him. And I was so tired of being scared all the time.