Surrender 01 - Surrender

began to reach out to her. She turned back in the direction of the restaurant, grumbling underneath her breath about pompous men who needed to learn self-control.
    A smirk appeared on his lips as he pretended not to listen. She could have no idea how much self-control he was actually using around her. He’d been planning to take her to her new apartment tonight, ravish her, and initiate her into his world.
    If Rafe knew one thing, though, it was that plans changed. He didn’t often have to adapt, but he could make exceptions once in a while. And it seemed that if he wanted to pursue this matter with Ari, he’d have to do that now. He could live with that.
    When he finally got her into his car, she refused to speak to him. She didn’t give him directions, and he didn’t bother to ask for them. They both knew he was well aware of where she lived.
    They traveled in silence, and upon reaching their destination , he slowed his car to park in the dark parking lot. Ari jumped out, but Rafe was right on her heels. He wouldn’t have her walk to the door by herself. He watched her fumble with her keys and struggle to open the door. It took her a few tries, but eventually she managed to get inside. Once he heard the sound of the lock sliding into place, he left. It was going to be a long, painful night.
    A mixture of irritation and excitement coursed through him as he drove home. Ari was unlike any woman he’d ever pursued, and he decided right then that she wasn’t escaping him. He’d be forever haunted if he let go at this point. The two of them might have some explosions together — scratch that — the two of them would have explosions together.

Chapter Six

    Ari waited for Rafe to drive off and then quickly walked down to her car. She needed to go to the hospital and see her mother. She was grateful the facility was only a few miles from her apartment, because her knees were shaking and her heart was pounding and she had no business being behind the wheel of a car. When she reached the hospital’s parking garage, a shudder passed through her.
    “You did the right thing. Having one amazing dinner with the guy doesn’t oblige you to sell your body to him. Yes, he makes you think that sex might not be such a bad thing, and the paycheck he’s offering is phenomenal, but that doesn’t make any of it OK. Yes, you did the right thing. Just focus on that and remember that you’re not for sale. You’re certainly not willing to do the kind of stuff he likes to do,” Ari lectured herself while resting her head against the steering wheel.
    When she finished her pep talk, she stepped from the car and walked through the shadowy garage to the elevator, grateful there were no protesters at this entrance. Some of them had been downright frightening. N ever before had the thought of being alone at night bothered her , but Rafe’s warnings had stirred up a sense of unease that made her even more irritated with the man.
    The door opened and she stepped inside, pushing Rafe from her mind as she tried to silently rehearse what she was going to say to her mother. She hadn’t given up just yet. She’d simply have to try that much harder to work something out. There was no way she was letting go of her mom without a fight. There had to be programs available to help her take care of her mom . The hospital administrators had spoken of something of the sort. But, heck, she’d sleep in her car if that’s what it would take.
    With growing determination in each step, she walked down the long hallway to her mother’s hospital room, then paused outside her door to take a long steadying breath . She couldn’t let her mom know there was anything to be worried about. Her mother had raised Ari right; now it was Ari’s turn to take care of her mom.
    She slowly opened the door, then sighed with relief to see that her mother was sleeping. It gave Ari more time to think before she had to make conversation. She sat in the lounge chair in the corner and waited for her mom to wake. With the lights turned off and the machines beeping rhythmically, Ari fell quickly asleep no closer to getting answers. She didn’t stir when a nurse came in and covered her up.

    *****

    “Ari?”
    Arianna awoke instantly at the fragile sound of her mother’s voice. It was beautiful, something she’d feared she would never hear again. She couldn’t imagine life without her mother being a part of it.
    Ari’s father had walked out on them when she was too