Surrender 01 - Surrender

seemed wrong.
    “Where are we going?” she finally asked as he turned a corner.
    “To get lunch.”
    “I’m not hungry. I already told you that I ate.”
    “And I already called you a liar. How many arguments have you won with me, Ari? None. You may not be mine to control yet, but that’s just a formality. I plan on having you; therefore, your health is of importance to me. You can either sit here in this cafeteria and eat a decent meal, or I won’t hesitate to throw you over my shoulder, take you to my place, and force food down your throat. Your choice.”
    Ari stopped outside the cafeteria’s doors and stared at him incredulously. The outrageous things he said to her in a normal, everyday tone of voice never ceased to amaze her. She really, really wanted to call his bluff, but by the look in his eyes, she had no doubt he’d follow through on his threat.
    Even though the building was filled with security, Rafe was a major donor to the hospital. She was beginning to doubt that they’d stop him from kidnapping her even if she were screaming her head off. Ari couldn’t take the chance that he’d take her away and that her mother would come back from surgery without her there.
    With a growl of frustration she turned from him and walked into the quiet cafeteria. Thankfully, there weren’t too many people around. She didn’t want to listen to their conversations or squeeze past a line. She was going to have to concentrate fully on trying not to choke on horrible hospital food while her stomach was already heaving at just the thought of cramming anything down her throat.
    “Ah, Ari. I’m a bit disappointed you didn’t choose option two. I like the thought of you thrown over my shoulder with your ass next to my face. I’d have to turn and take a bite out of your luscious curves.”
    A shiver ran down Ari’s spine at the image he was placing in her mind. She wouldn’t have minded having him nibble on her derrière, either. Guilt seized her at having such a thought when her mom was still in surgery. One more reason to hate Rafe.
    She ignored his comment as she moved through the various displays of food. Nothing looked remotely appealing, so she finally just grabbed an item. This didn’t seem to please Rafe because he threw several more items on her tray, then shuttled her along to the cashier.
    She didn’t even attempt to pull money from her purse. She hadn’t asked for the meal, so she wasn’t offering to buy it. Rafe paid the cashier, then led Ari to a table in the back corner of the cafeteria.
    She was less than thrilled to share another private moment with him. There were about ten other people sitting around the room, but they weren’t close enough to be able to hear any conversation.
    After Ari and Rafe had been sitting in silence for several minutes, he suddenly sighed as he gazed from her to her untouched plate.
    “Please eat.” His softer tone startled her.
    She didn’t understand his sudden fascination with her eating. What was the big deal? It didn’t affect him in the least.
    “Why do you care?” she asked, completely baffled.
    “I normally couldn’t care less what you eat or how much sleep you’re getting. You’re a grown woman and should be perfectly capable of making basic health decisions. But when I see that you are literally starving yourself and about to pass out from exhaustion, I feel it’s time to step in. You may not have signed on with me, but believe it or not, Ari, I would be this hard on one of my sisters, too. My father taught me from a young age that when a woman needs to be taken care of, men are always supposed to step up to the plate. I’m calling a truce for the next couple of hours while your mother finishes her surgery. When it’s all over and she’s back on her feet, I’ll throw down the gauntlet again,” he answered with a warm smile and a flirtatious wink.
    Ari could see the truth in his eyes. Her stomach clenched as he let down his ever-present guard and she saw the man behind the mask. She automatically sat back — the power of her attraction to him was so intense in that moment. Talk about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He was the modern version of the nineteenth-century classic.
    Her defenses went up when she realized how easy it would be for her to fall for this kind and caring Rafe. She could put up something of a fight against Rafe the bully, but Rafe the White Knight was too much to handle. She was sorely tempted to run straight into his