Page 26 of Savage

“So, listen up, as this is how it’s going to go. When we get to the base, you do as I tell you. You don’t answer back. I’m in charge, always. You get it, Brainiac?”

“Yes sir.” I managed to stop myself saluting by folding my arms across my chest.

My comment caused him to cock an eyebrow. “Don’t try and be cute Wynter, it doesn’t suit you,” he admonished, his tone now deadly serious.

I released an elongated sigh. “Fine. Yes. I will do as I’m told. Well, to a certain extent of course.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“I don’t have the crayons to be able to explain it to you,” I sniped.

“Funny,” he deadpanned, totally unphased by my suggestion that he was thick.

I sniffed. “My point is that being totally at your mercy would be one step too far into crazy town.”

He ignored that and started shuffling in his seat again, pulling his gaze away. Odd as I wouldn’t have put him down as a fidget.

“I have a training session first thing. After that, we’ll go to the mess hall and I’ve lined up a couple of guys you can talk to about your bullshit article. You’re not to use any surnames in anything you write and I need to see it first.”

Furrowing my brow I shot back, “Fine. You can read I take it?” I taunted.

My comment caused a small chuckle to roll off his tongue. “You are on form today,” he retorted with a twist of his lips.

I lowered my arms. “Is that all?”

Jaxon’s expression switched to one of silent assessment before he said. “No. I’ve signed you up for the morning session.” He leaned across the handbrake and gave my knee a reassuring pat. WTF did that mean?

My heart sank. “For the what?” I managed to stop myself from stuttering.

Jaxon leaned back into the soft leather of his seat and turned the key in the ignition. The engine roared to life. “The training session I’m running for the guys this morning. You’ll take part.” For fucks sake, kill me, kill me now!

I eyed the wall of muscle beside me like he was nuts.

“You are joking.” Doom swirled inside my gut at the thought of having to do anything strenuous. I wasn’t into working out and had never been to the gym in my life.

I watched as his shoulders bunched as he put the car into gear. “Not at all. It will allow you to meet the guys. Then when you see them later, they’ll feel more at ease. You never know, they may off-load a little. Consider it a bonding session.”

What a pile of shit! Bonding indeed, he just wanted to make me bleed.

Jaxon steered the car out of the driveway and onto the road, concentrating on driving whilst shooting me the occasional glance.

I attempted to relax and uncurled my arms, dropping my hands in my lap. “What exactly am I doing in this session?”

Jaxon accelerated. “It’s an assault course. Fairly tame, it’s one used for basic training, even you have nothing to worry about.”

“You talk as if you think I’m unfit or something.”

“Well, you’re not exactly the athletic type, despite the get-up.”

Turning and looking out of my window, I silently thought about ways to get my own back and came up with nothing. As usual, Jaxon Savage held all the cards. I needed him, as I needed access to his men.

After a stony silence, I huffed, “I can’t believe you’ve shoe-horned me into training with you. You are so sly.”

Jaxon’s fingers curled tighter around the steering wheel as he groaned out, “It isn’t about that. Don’t you think it will be handy to have some background? See the guys in their natural habitat so to speak. How they live. I could show you my room if you’d like. Give you a taste of what it’s like living at the base.” He delivered this suggestion with a raised eyebrow, mischief dancing in his eyes. I wasn’t amused, Jaxon could stick his innuendo up his arse.

I started to play with a thread of cotton which was protruding from my leggings. “I don’t think I need to see your room Jaxon,” I said in a firm voice. Shooting him a sideways glance, I could see he was smiling.

“Why not? My dad already thinks we’re fucking and so we may as well make him right.”

---