“Hmm,” was all he said, looking out the window again. “You know what I think?” he asked after a while, glancing back at me. “I think you need to have a little fun.”
I scowled at him.Funwas the last thing I wanted.
He ignored me and sprang to his feet. Grayson was out the door and back within two minutes. He pulled the duvet off me. “C’mon, get up.”
I clung to the blanket in protest, but he was stronger. He ripped it from my fingers. I sat up, getting ready to fling all kinds of curse words at him, but he threw something in my face, chuckling.
“You’ll need that. We leave in ten minutes.” He shut the door behind him.
The material he threw at me was a simple black bathing suit.
I startled as the door swung open again. “And don’t make me come get you,” Grayson warned and ducked out again.
I bristled.Of course. I had no free will in this place. I remembered what happened the last time Grayson gave me an order, and I didn’t comply. Still shuddering, I got off the bed. Would he do that again?
When I was done, making sure it took meelevenminutes, I made my way downstairs. Grayson was waiting by the door, backpack in hand.
“Where are we going?” I asked, not at all in the mood for any of it.
“You’ll see,” was all Grayson said while holding the door open for me.
“You kids have fun!” Gemma sang from the couch, holding a little pink mouse. I hadn’t seen her there. I avoided looking at Hunter, who was sitting next to her, staring daggers at me. With a mocking wave at Gemma, I walked out the door.
So much for helping me hide from Grayson.
We walked in uncomfortable silence through the forest. Well, it was uncomfortable forme. I couldn’t tell if Grayson felt the same way. He had that stupid expressionless mask back in place. I stomped miserably through the underbrush behind him.
“So, are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” he glanced over his shoulder at me. I had to look away quickly before I fixated on the perfect curve of his jaw from this angle.
“You mean other than being kidnapped and kept against my will?” I was feeling snarky.
It was a while before Grayson stopped, shifting from foot to foot. “You will go home, Ava. I promise.” He didn’t meet my gaze but pushed around a pebble with his boot, his hands deep in his pockets. “Just give me a little more time, please? To come up with a plan.”
“You laughed at Mr. Greene for trusting you,” I reminded him.
He peered up at me, a smirk on his face, like the memory amused him. “I told him Icouldmake him a hero. Never said Iwould. The devil’s in the details, darling. Besides, this is a promise I’m making, Ava. I never break a promise.”
I nodded, not able to find my voice. It made me feel a little better.
We walked on in silence. I continued following behind Grayson, until the sound of rushing water filled the air. It became louder and louder. I knew we were headed for a waterfall, but nothing could prepare me for the beauty of it as it appeared through the trees.
“Rainbow Falls,” Grayson announced, smiling at my awe-struck face.
It was one of the most beautiful sceneries I had ever seen. The mist created by the falling water reflected rainbow upon rainbow. I counted eleven of them arching over the clear, sparkling blue pool at the bottom of the falls. The most beautiful yellow and purple flowers grew on the cliffs of the waterfall between the dark green moss and foliage that covered the stones. It seemed like the cold of winter hadn’t dared to touch this piece of magnificent earth yet.
“I knew you’d like it.” Grayson was watching my reaction, delighted. He walked ahead to a patch of grass near the pool and laid out a blanket and two towels. It was a battle to keep my eyes off him as he removed his shirt and cargo pants, standing in only his swim trunks. He had a few scars and one on his chiselled abdomen that looked suspiciously like a bullet wound. He was so breathtakingly perfect.
“Isn’t it too cold to swim?” My voice was a bit too raspy for my liking. There was no need to let him know just how much the sight of him turned me on.
“Don’t tell me you’re scared of a little cold water, Princess.”
“Yes. Yes, I am,” I declared as I walked over to the blanket. I wasn’t really. I was a surfer. Cold water was a daily given. I just wasn’t in the mood for swimming. For doing anything, really.
“Don’t worry, the adrenaline would have kicked in by then. You won’t even feel it.” He had that wicked grin that either scared me or excited me. This time it scared me.
“What does adrenaline have to do with it?”
“Oh, didn’t I tell you? We’re jumping from there.” He pointed towards the top of the waterfall. It was a three-story drop.
