Page 25 of Beg Me Angel

“What are you doing?” I asked, moving closer to the fire and holding my hands out to wave the heat into my fabric cocoon.

“Well. . .” Pausing, his elbow lifted high, slamming down with a loud smack. “You need breakfast, right?”

Staring into the ashes glowing beneath the wild inferno, I fanned my fingers wider. “I suppose breakfast would be good.”

Twisting around, he held out a small bowl filled with a medley of chopped berries and vegetables. “Then we have work to do.”

“Do you want me to help you cook? I can make a few things, pancakes, waffles, eggs—”

Cutting me off, he flipped the food inside the bowl. “No, not cook, you're going to help me catch.”

I felt my face lose all elasticity as it fell flat.“What?”

A smug grin amused his lips as he inched his way closer. “Does it look like there's a supermarket in my backyard? If we want to eat, we need to go out and get it.” His eyes looked darker today, more stale and cold.

Why does he look so different?

There was something about him that had changed, something that sent shivers up my spine and prickled my skin with electric sparks.

Holding up my palms, I stepped back. “Wait, I'm not understanding this. You fed me last night, you gave me soup, but now you're saying we need to go out and catch breakfast?”

Shaking his head, his eyes fixed on the bowl. “It's not hard to follow, it's a basic need to eat.” Taking another step in, his face lifted back to mine. “The soup was something I had, but it doesn't mean every meal is that easy.”

“But I see carrots in that bowl, cranberries too. You can't tell me that you never go into town?”

“I'm not saying I never have to go, but I try like hell not to.” Picking up a red, round berry from inside, he held it between two fingers. “This is a purple chokeberry.” Dropping it back in, he pulled out a chunk of white mass. “This is a wild carrot.” Popping it into his mouth, I watched his jaw work to break it down. “There's a lot you gotta learn if you're going to stay here. Today's lesson. . . Nothing comes free.”

What the fuck is he talking about?

I couldn't understand what the hell he was doing. He had claimed I needed rest, that I needed to get healthier and stronger before I could do anything else.

How was foraging in the wilderness and catching prey a restful activity?

And staying here. . .No.

I wasn't staying for any longer than I needed to. I wanted to go home, I wanted to be back in my room with its forced hot air and thick, cozy comforter. I was already feeling a little better after getting up and moving around, I had no doubt that tomorrow would be even better.

“I don't plan on being here long, I have a life to get back to. And I thought you said I wasn't strong enough yet do anything?” Wrapping the blanket tighter around my shoulders, I clamped the two ends together in front of my chest. “How does this help me get better?”

Pax joggled his head on his neck, eyes rolling around in his skull. “I changed my mind. You were a lot stronger yesterday than I thought you'd be, so the rules have changed.”

Chuckling under my breath, I smiled playfully. “You can't do that.”

A devious grin filled his face as his lips arched high and his eyes lowered to half mast. “Yes, I can, and I did.” Taking a big step in, his toes pressed mine.

He was so close I could smell him, and that fucking scent did things to my body that should be illegal. My chest squeezed down on my heart, forcing it into a secession of rapid beats, my muscles tensed up and shivered beneath the surface, cooling my skin but sending fire into my core.

Pax looked down on me, his eyes slowly devouring me as I stood still, unable to back up, unable to turn and run; he had me cornered.

Did he plan this? Did he want to trap me against the wall so I couldn't get away?

Straightening my shoulders, I peeled them off the wood, trying to look confident and in control. But I wasn't even close. My brain had turned into a fumbling mess of rolling wheels, all of them trying to go in opposite directions.

Biting his lower lip, his eyes twinkled in delight. “You've got a lot to learn, Angel.”

Cocking my jaw to the side, I lifted my chin higher. “If you want to show me something, take me to where you found me, help me find my friend so I can go home.”

A sinister laugh rolled over my cheeks as he leaned in and whispered in my ear. “Baby steps, Vera, baby steps. First you need to pay back what I gave you.” Dropping the bowl into my hands, he started in the direction of his room. “Get dressed, we have work to do.”

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