52. Uncertainty

Oh gods, did that just happen?

Did she.....did she seriously growl at him?

Danika stood there, her mind literally reeling in shock, unable to comprehend what'd happened. The last thing she'd been expecting. Shane was merely explaining the reasons for not allowing them to fall back into bed together. Seeming to care enough to allow her the chance to recover from their last foray into passion. She should've been thankful, even grateful.

Rather than the relief she should've felt at the thought of them not having sex again, she'd been angry at the rejection. Danika hadn't been able to fight against the growl that built inside of her chest, nor the snarl of her teeth. Clearly shocked by what'd happened, as if she was some kind of animal. What the hell was wrong with her? Why had she growled at him like that? And why did the thought of him turning down the chance of having sex with her succeed in pissing her off?

"Maybe later," his voice finally spoke.

Instantly brought out of her thoughts at hearing his statement, Danika glanced up between slitted eyelids. Almost afraid of the expression. Had he heard it? Judging from the way his head snapped back and his eyes widened, it was too much to think he'd been oblivious. Watching as he continued to scrutinize her face, as if looking for something, it was safe to assume he'd heard the growl. Shane was curious as to what compelled her to growl at him like some freaking beast from the woods. He seemed just as keen to find out the truth.

"Um yeah," she mumbled.

He reached for her. "Are you okay, Danika?"

Growing insecure underneath the penetrating stare of this man, she ducked her head to keep from meeting his gaze. Danika had no desire to bear witness to the disgust she'd see there, at the thought of the strangeness in her actions. "I'm fine."

"Danika," he tried again.

Hissing as his hands touched the area of her bicep, the touch of his heated flesh sending sparks of electricity on her skin. Eyes rolling in the back of her head, she fought the urge to control herself, hard to do at the energy coursing through her. She bit down on her lip, ignoring the pain of a sharpened point. "I said I'm fine Shane."

Understanding she wasn't going to tell him anything more than that, his hand slowly fell away from her arm. Jerking his head in ascent to his own thoughts, Shane backed away and went to the bedroom door. "I have some business that needs to see my attention. Why don't you try to get some sleep?"

She frowned. "You want me to stay in here?"

"In a hurry?" he quipped.

Danika fidgeted uncertainly beneath his intense gaze. "No, it's not that. I just figured you'd want me to go back to my own bedroom quarters."

He looked ready to say something, when suddenly his deep-set eyes suddenly grew cloudy, a faraway look in them. For several moments he didn't move or speak, then the fog cleared, Shane's face was as unreadable as ever. "I'll come check on you later, behave while I'm gone."

Then before she had the chance to give him assurances Shane yanked open the door and stepped out in the hall. Danika wasn't oblivious to the unmistakable sound of a lock clicking into place, then the punch of a system. It seemed that even inside of his bedroom she'd be placed under lock and key, being his personal prisoner. Danika wasn't even surprised by this knowledge, not really having expected for things to change between them. No matter what'd happened between them she was still his captured surrogate, unwilling to let her get away from him.

Listening to the retreating footsteps as Shane stalked down the hall, she moved towards the couch along the wall. Sitting down on the edge of the cushion, a hand still clutching the folds of the sheet, her mind spun crazily. What the fuck? What the hell was wrong with her? That's all Danika could think to summon the strength to ask herself as she sat alone in the bedroom. Her mind became plagued by all the uncertainties that cropped up on her, disturbed by her own actions.

How did this keep happening to her? Did she have such little self-control? After what had happened between them following him walking out of the bathroom, she was thinking a big whopping yes. She had no self-control when it came to him. Even while Danika knew how dangerous the man was and understood escaping him was the only salvation for her, it didn't change things. Because the second the man came to be in the same area as her she reverted into a wanton slut that couldn't deny him. Like he had some kind of power over her, unable to tell him no.

Truthfully, the thought of telling him no or escaping his clutches didn't even factor into the equation. From the moment Shane grew close it was almost like someone else took control over her, doing things she'd never imagined. It was the side of her who'd stripped out of her clothes and openly challenged him to take her the first time. It was the same part of her that'd openly taunted him during the storm as if bating him to take her outdoors. He hadn't disappointed.

Never again, she promised herself. Danika became determined to find some way to stop what was happening, to find a way to keep from falling into bed. She had to summon up the strength to tell him no, confident he wouldn't actually try to rape her. Yes, she'd tell him no next time. Else at the rate they were going, she was going to find herself pregnant by the bastard in no time at all. In the last twenty-four hours, they'd had sex close to a dozen different times, each time risking the chance of pregnancy. At the level of intimacy between them, Danika wouldn't doubt she'd end up with his child before she managed to devise a way out. Because no matter the condition she was in it wouldn't change the outcome, she'd still be escaping him.

Yeah sure you will, her conscious spoke up.

Danika glared heatedly at the thought of her own inner being immediately discounting the thought of what'd come. That side of her tried to convince her the chance of getting away from Shane was pointless at this juncture. She remained blissfully blind to the truth, determined when the time came she'd get far away from the man. Because no matter how much she yearned for him, for his nearness, she knew he was the danger she needed protection from.

Close to three hours later Danika lay stretched out on the couch, changed into the clothes that'd been brought in. Clearly, Shane had thought ahead to having her remain in his room for the day, as clothes were waiting. Her gaze was trained on the television mounted on the wall, watching whatever show had caught her eye. Though she'd have preferred to read a book to occupy her mind, he didn't have much in the way of reading material.

She made a mental note to talk to him about that the next time Shane was around and in a decent mood. Having come to see that when he was actually in a calm state of mind he was open to suggestions from her. Maybe if Danika caught him at the right time and carefully chose her words, he'd get her something to read. Something beyond the book of Birds of the Wilderness and history biography on the importance of the wilderness. Clearly his taste veered to nonfiction.

Only to have her attention diverted from the television screen when she heard the jingle of keys from the other side. A frown marred her features as she listened to the noise, wondering who stood out in the hallway. Her eyes mirrored her surprise when she watched the door come open a moment later, to see Shane come back into the room.

"You seem surprised?" he stated.

"I am," Danika found herself admitting the truth to him, having long since stopped feeling the need to hide things. "Judging from what you said and behaved earlier, I figured you wouldn't be returning until tonight." He never came back to the room so early. At least he hadn't yesterday. The man was gone barely before the sun rose and hadn't come back upstairs until he retrieved her for dinner.

Her thoughts of what could've compelled the changes in his routine today vanished at the sight of the tray he carried into the room. Of course. No wonder he'd felt the need to come back upstairs so early in the day, to bring her some food. Yesterday Danika made it clear she'd prefer him to deliver her meals to her, to avoid a repeat of what'd happened with the girls. So rather than doing whatever it was that'd sent him out of the room earlier, he'd come to bring her lunch.

Lumbering off the couch at the realization of why he'd been compelled to return, she headed towards the table. Only for her eyes to widen further as she noticed the second plate of food sitting on the tray. Danika frowned, "I know you don't know a lot about me, but not even I can eat two settings."

"The seconds for me," he told her.

"Really?" Danika gasped in shock, not having thought the man would feel the need to share the meal with her. Shane didn't seem thrilled to do much of anything in her presence, aside from the foray into lovemaking.

A hand motioned for her to sit down at the table, Shane pulled out the opposite chair and lowered down into it. He lifted the cover of the plate he'd brought for himself to eat, the scents were absolutely mouth-watering. "Eat your food, Danika. You didn't have breakfast today. I figured we could have lunch today and then afterwards the two of us can go outside for a little while. I thought you might like getting out of the castle for a bit."

She broke out in a smile. "I'd like that."

Which was why following the both of them polishing off the remainder of their food, Shane guided them out of the room. The two of them walked side by side as he ushered her down the hall and to the lower levels of the manor. Ignoring the withering stares awarded from the people around her, there was almost a skip to her step. A couple of minutes later Danika stepped foot out the back entrance of the estate, overwhelmed at the sensation.

Relieved at feeling the cool breeze brush across her face, it was a sense of freedom she hadn't felt since meeting this man. Even though she was still confined on the estate, it lifted her spirits at the thought of being outside. Danika had always been an outdoor person, having never liked being locked away inside a house. Or any place for that matter. Waiting until Shane came to stand at her side again, she happily jaunted off into the distance, basking in the sweet relief.

It didn't last for long.

All of ten minutes had passed, barely reaching the edge of the yard, when suddenly the man grew completely still. That same strange cloudy expression came to his eyes, that made her think there was something wrong. Shane grimaced, an almost pained look to his face. "We have to go back."

She went still. "Please no, just a few more minutes."

Shane sighed wearily as he stared down at her. "I'm sorry Danika, this wasn't the plan. I wanted you to have a little time outside, but something's come up that I have to deal with. We'll try again later."

Saddened at the thought their time together outside had come to an end, though she tried to assure her it was the need to scout the area. Slowly submitting to defeat Danika allowed him to lead her back inside of the estate, dejected at their plans being curtailed. She was already looking towards later.