matters into your own hands?”
“I imagine you would thank me for handling my own shit, so you don’t have to.”
“Don’t be a smartass. These men are here to protect you, which they clearly
failed to do when they allowed you to sneak away from them. If you don’t allow
them to do their job, you jeopardize yourself. Have you not learned that yet?”
“I can take care of my damn self. I don’t need them.”
“If that were true, you wouldn’t be here with me now. This isn’t up for debate.
When we get back to the estate tomorrow, Clive and Owen will resume their
positions, and you will do as you’re told. I imagine Camaro will provide an easy
distraction from your life as my prisoner.”
My jaw clenched at his comment, the acid of his tone burning my skin. I wanted
to continue arguing, but it was exhausting with him when I was always on the
losing end.
Exhaling the last of my argument, the sound of cracking boomed aloud followed
by the bright spray of exploding color in the sky. Fireworks blasted off in the
distance, shooting all sorts of colors and designs into the air. It was only eight p.m.,
so I wasn’t sure why they were going off, but I didn’t care. I allowed myself to get
lost in the moment, taking comfort in Darren’s warmth behind me as I watched the
sky. With the mountains in the background, and the white snow glistening over the
top, it was the most beautiful display I had ever seen.
When it was over some half hour later, and my eyes were still mesmerized by
magic, Darren tilted my head back and planted a firm kiss on my lips. It made me
melt as I kissed him back, not because he wanted me to, but because I wanted to. I
decided I would take advantage of him when I could. I didn’t have to enjoy the
words that came out of his mouth, but I could certainly appreciate the skill of the
tongue that created them.
“Come on,” Darren said, breaking the kiss. “I have another surprise for you.”
44
LIGHTS
I t took about a twenty-minute drive to get to the drop-off site just outside of Eagle
River. I knew of a clear trail that would take us to a primal spot for optimal
viewing. The sky was perfect, and the weather wasn’t even as chilly as I had
predicted. Jaden was going to fucking love this.
Stepping out of the car, Jaden followed me around to the trunk of the Range
Rover. When I opened it, her eyes lit up in total confusion.
“What’s all that for?” she asked, gesturing at the contents of the trunk.
That was when the truck that had been following a mile behind us pulled up with
the trailer carrying the Arctic Cat XF 9000.
“It’s for that,” I said, nodding over at the truck as it pulled up. I thought her
eyes were going to bulge out of her head.
I switched out my coat for the heavy-duty parka in the trunk, my eyes never
leaving Jaden as she watched my men unload the snowmobile and fire it up. Her
excitement was palpable, and I was hoping for that exact reaction from her.
“Come on, you need to get changed,” I urged her as I slipped into a pair of black
snow pants. She couldn’t contain her smile as she eagerly grabbed the hot pink
snow pants and slipped them on without a single grudge in the world. She might
complain about how bright the color was, but what she didn’t know was that color
was meant to help me keep an easier eye on her. It was much harder to disappear
when you looked like a walking highlighter.
When we were both fully dressed, I led her smirking ass over to the idling snow
machine.
After her little inspection of the Arctic Cat, her eyes found mine, and a
challenging smile formed on her lips.
“So where’s yours?” she asked, that confident and cocky attitude of hers that
made my cock hard rising up again. Her arms crossed over her chest as she jutted
her hip out, waiting for my reply.
I returned her smile in earnest and tossed her the helmet sitting on the seat,
which she caught easily.
“Yeah, right,” I said, lifting my leg over the seat and sitting down. Like I’d let
her have enough control with her own snowmobile. I don’t think so. “Come on,” I
prompted, patting the seat behind me for her to take. I turned around and put my
own helmet on as I felt Jaden’s weight settle behind me.
“Ready?” I
