Page 118 of Spark

“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

* * *

It 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 called behind me.

“Yeah!” she shouted over the noise of the engine and gripped my sides. The feel of her clinging to my body for leverage brought a smile to my face. I wanted more of it, and I never wanted her to stop.

Shifting the snowmobile into gear, we took off down a path that had been used several times by Scott, not only to prepare this ride so that it was safer for Jaden, but to travel back and forth from hunts when I couldn’t. The machine cut through the snow without an issue, giving Jaden a nice little ride as I took us over hills, between trees, and driving further up the mountain for the best view.

A full moon was out in full force tonight, coating everything in white light and giving the snow an eerie pale glow. We passed a herd of elk and the occasional deer, all of which Jaden pointed out like a little kid at the zoo. It was adorable. She might not have been able to enjoy herself much in the presence of the public eye, but out here, where she was alone with me, she could breathe a little easier. Her excitement behind me was beyond evident, and I was satisfied in knowing I was the cause of that excitement. For a small moment, she was happy.

After about an hour of fun, I pulled us over to the side of the mountain that would grant us the best view and cut the engine. I lifted my helmet, Jaden following suit, and set them on either handlebar while stepping off the snowmobile.

“How was that?” I asked her.

She gave me that look she gives when she doesn’t want to admit the obvious, but eventually, she conceded.

“Okay, that was a lot of fun,” she said. “Thank you.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

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