Page 64 of The Alpha King's Curse: Part One

“Nothing. I just didn’t expect you to do that,” she said, nodding at her steaming plate.

“I need to feed you,” Jackson said softly before he looked away and picked his cutlery up. He cleared his throat again, and his tone changed as he said, “I mean, we had a deal. You have to be healthy to carry a healthy child.”

“You say that as if it’s a given. I’ve never actually tried to get pregnant before. What if I can’t.”

“You can.”

Bossy and cocky. She shook her head as she started to eat. The food was gorgeous. It was breakfast time, but someone had taken the trouble to cook her a substantial meal. Steaks, potatoes, vegetables... It tasted like a magician had made it, maybe because she’d been about to starve to death.

She didn’t look at Jackson again until she had eaten everything off her plate. She would have probably licked the plate clean if Jackson hadn’t been sitting with her.

“Would you like some more?”

Jackson was being courteous and a gentleman. For a second, she imagined this was a date, and he was a regular handsome man whisking her off her feet and saving her from her cruel life. But only for a moment. It was funny how a full stomach made everything seem okay, but she couldn’t forget what he was.

She could play this game, though. Perhaps that was all she needed to do- pretend she was all in until he got comfortable and trusted her.

“No, thank you,” she answered with a small smile. “That was possibly the best meal I’ve ever had.”

“I’ll pass your compliments to the chef,” he said as he put his cutlery down and wiped his mouth on a napkin. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yes,” she answered eagerly.

She stood the moment Jackson did but stopped when she saw how he looked at her.

“I know you won’t understand how some things work around here, but I need you not to insult me in public this time,” Jackson said. “Do what I ask without arguing.”

She never insulted him the first time! But she bit her tongue and nodded. Jackson then walked ahead of her out of the bedroom. She was sure she would have to jog to keep up with him, but she was surprised that he waited for her and then walked slower than usual as they walked down the wide hall.

“Something happened today, so everyone is a little on edge. We won’t be out for long,” Jackson said as they descended the stairs.

Something happened? As in, somebody had been killed by the dangerous man with a god complex? Yeah, she imagined everyone would be a little on edge.

No one was in the lobby when they went downstairs, but she couldn’t help looking over her shoulder even though she knew they wouldn’t ambush her again while she was with Jackson. And then, for the first time in what felt like forever, she felt the sun on her face. She closed her eyes and lifted her face to feel the warm rays of the afternoon sun against her skin. The air smelled fresh after the horrendous storm- she took a good lungful and could almost see herself jogging around her block as she would have done at home on a day like this.

“Are you an outdoorsy person?” Jackson asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

“I don’t normally get time to do much outside,” she answered as she opened her eyes and started to walk. “I do like to run when I can, though.”

“I noticed,” Jackson said. “And you’re going the wrong way.”

She’d been hoping to see what she hadn’t been able to see from Jackson’s balcony, but she turned and started following Jackson the opposite way.

The place was stunning; she could admit that. The grounds were well kept but they still blended in with the nature around them. She could imagine a child spending hours exploring and running around. If it weren’t for the psycho residents of this place, she wouldn’t have minded having her child grow up here.

But that was a treacherous thought. She shoved it out of her head and walked quietly beside Jackson. It was funny how they hadn’t met a single person. Were they purposely keeping out of their way?

“Where is everyone?”

“They had their duties. Most are probably at home right now,” Jackson answered until he stopped suddenly.

She looked around but didn’t see anything.

“I have to go. Something important came up. I’ll take you back,” Jackson said.

“We’ve just come outside—”

“Now, Layla,” Jackson said through his teeth.

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