Surrender 01 - Surrender

to hear your story,” he said as he picked up her hand and brought it to his lips.
    “Why do you keep pursuing me? I’m not a match for you. I will never be obedient. I will never do the things you ask of me. And why are you so human one minute, and then a complete jerk the next? Do you realize that if you turned off the jerk buttons in your brain, you would actually make an excellent boyfriend?” she asked.
    Instantly, shutters came down over his eyes and he took on the cold expression for which he was well-known. How hot and cold the man could run, she reflected. One moment he was a white knight, rushing in to rescue the frightened maiden, and then the next, he was every superhero’s worst villain.
    After getting to know his parents a little more, she really couldn’t understand him. He’d been raised in a loving home; so what if his wife had betrayed him and wounded his pride? Normal people got over such things.
    “I’m your ride home. I’ll be back in two hours,” he said in a clipped tone and left.
    Ari rolled her eyes and silently wished him good riddance. Still, she resigned herself to the fact that he’d be taking her home — Rafe was determined, and she saw no way out of it.
    Once she was out of the hospital, her life would return to normal and she could go back to being just plain old boring Ari. She liked her uninteresting self. With her new friends, she allowed her adventurous side to appear a little more often, but her everyday life was humdrum — and she was happy with that.
    Sure, she didn’t have love and excitement, but the offset to that was she didn’t have pain and heartbreak, either. Being with Rafe would be one huge roller coaster of emotion, and most of the time she’d be coming down, not going up. She didn’t need that in her life.

    *****

    Rafe spoke to the doctor before heading back to Ari’s room. She was good to go. And he was ready for the hospital visits to end. He had desires that needed to be taken care of, and playing a game of cards with her wasn’t doing it.
    Rafe made plans for the next chapter in their adventure. Today had been a good day, for he’d acquired what he needed to seal the deal with Ari. All it would take was the perfect moment for him to lay his cards on the table. Every good gambler knew finesse was half the game. “I see you got the clothes. How are you feeling?”
    “I’m fine, Mr. Palazzo. Thank you for your kindness,” she grumbled, not thrilled with having to use one more item he’d given her.
    “Ari, do we have to go through this again? I’ve heard you say Rafe , so I know you’re capable of doing it. Every time from here on out that you call me Mr. Palazzo, I’ll remind you why I’m the one in charge. Do you understand? When you answer me, say my first name.”
    He was smiling, but he could see by her expression that she knew he wasn’t bluffing. He hoped she defied him because he was more than ready to teach her a few new games. He’d thought about satisfying his needs with another woman, but somehow the idea just didn’t appeal. It was a problem he knew he’d be able to solve once he broke his little Arianna.
    “Your time is running out,” he warned as the muscles in his jaw twitched.
    “Yes. I understand…Rafe,” she said through clenched teeth.
    The sound of his name on her lips caused his pulse to skip. She was a spitfire, a true gem that he would worship…for a short amount of time.
    “I have to admit that I’m a bit disappointed, Ari, but I’m not too worried. You can’t help but defy me. I look forward to the next time,” he said with a wicked smile.
    She glared at him with murder in her eyes. He had no doubt that she desired him, but she also despised him. That was good. She needed to remember who he was and what he wanted.
    Women had an agenda. Some admitted it, others didn’t, but they all wanted something — no, a long list of things — from a man, whether it was riches, fame, security, whatever. Men were simple creatures who wanted only one thing from their women: that they fill their needs, satisfy them. Why should he be ashamed of his one-track mind? It was natural; love wasn’t.
    He wasn’t a bad guy — not at all. He was actually being kind to women by letting them know up front how he felt and what he expected. A small voice in his head called him a fool, but he quickly pushed his conscience down, and he escorted Ari from the room. He had a couple of stops on the way to her apartment. If he