Chapter 20: Now You’re Mine: Chapter 20

Revenge is a dish best served cold. And naked.

Unless you count a pearl necklace as attire, which I don’t.

After my conversation with Hayden last night, I came to a conclusion. If he feels the need to deny me clothes, then no clothes it is.

I don’t bother retrieving my pajama set from the dryer. Instead, I parade through the house the next day as if nothing is out of the ordinary, ignoring the elegant script on my hip.

“Morning,” I say, waltzing into the kitchen with my hair down.

Hayden pauses with his coffee mug halfway to his mouth. His gaze travels the length of my body in a slow perusal that has my skin pricking. By the time he returns his focus to my face, I feel like I’ve been caressed all over. I fight back a blush.

“What’s for breakfast?” I ask.

“Pussy.”

I make a face at him, even though my insides quiver. Giving him my back—which isn’t the smartest decision when dealing with Hayden—I open the refrigerator and grab the orange juice. After retrieving a cup and pouring myself a glass, I sit across from him at the dining table.

“What’s your plan for today?” I ask.

I watch Hayden over the rim of my glass, trying to gauge his mood. He was definitely strung tight when I walked into the room, but that was expected. Now that he knows what game I’m playing, he’s leaning back in his chair, his posture relaxed. I’m not naïve enough to think he won’t try something to gain the upper hand. I just wish I knew what it was.

He blows out a breath and shakes his head, setting his coffee down. “I have a lot of case files to go through.”

“Oh, okay. I didn’t realize you were still working.”

“I have to work remotely, or I won’t have a job when I get back.”

“Right.”

A twinge of disappointment snakes through me, and I bite my lip. I don’t want to depend on him for anything, but the idea of spending day after day alone in this place makes me shudder.

“Stop biting your lip,” he says.

I obey, not wanting to provoke more than I already have.

“Wait here.”

I watch him get to his feet and leave the room, my forehead wrinkled in confusion. He returns with a large package, complete with a red bow. After setting it on the table, he pushes it toward me, his gaze earnest.

“For you.”

“Another present?” I ask. When he nods, I finger the pearls at my throat. “But you already gave me one.”

“Is there a rule about the number of gifts a man can give?”

I shake my head. “I guess not.”

“Open it, Callie.”

Hesitation rises in me, colliding with excitement. I don’t trust the motivations behind Hayden’s gifts. It’s obvious he’s trying to soothe the rift between us with material things, since he refuses to give in on the main source of contention. If I accept this, does that mean I’m telling him I agree with the way he’s handled everything?

I glance at Hayden, finding his expression even. Except for the sparkle of eagerness in his gaze. It warms my heart a little. With a sigh, I untie the bow and unwrap the box. Nestled inside is a sleek laptop. From the looks of it, top of the line and the latest model.

“What’s this for?” I ask.

“College. You can use it to register and for the classes when they begin. I gave you my word that I’d support you in that. Remember?”

I drop my gaze, tracing the metal case with my index finger. “I do.”

“You don’t like it.” His voice is flat, hard. “Is that the problem?”

“I love it.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

Having this laptop would make my time here easier to get through. By giving me access to school, he’s not only keeping his promise, he’s giving me a way to connect to other people beyond this island. But using this gift feels like an acceptance of my situation.

“This is a very thoughtful gift,” I say slowly, keeping my gaze downcast. “And you’re right, having this laptop would really help me. But… I just… I can’t take it.”

Even though I’m not staring directly at him, I catch the stiffening of his body. He remains quiet, and the tension in the room builds with every passing second. It has me shifting in my seat until I finally dare to glance up at him.

“Why can’t you take it?” he asks, his voice dangerously soft.

I gently gnaw on the inside of my cheek, carefully choosing my words. “Because it makes me feel uncomfortable, given our situation.”

“Our situation? You mean where I provide everything you could ever possibly want or need?”

“Except clothes,” I mutter.

“Mrs. Bennett…”

I nearly wince at the name. And the warning underneath. “For once, can you try to understand where I’m coming from?”

“If you felt about me the way I feel about you, this wouldn’t even be a discussion.” He rests his forearms against the table, his brows lowered. “You belong to me now. Your needs and wants? I take them seriously. When I deny you, it pains me. Don’t you get that? Seeing you upset is the last thing I want.”

I flinch at the sincerity in his words. “Hayden, please.”

“I’m through discussing it. Throw the laptop into the fucking ocean if you want, but you’re not using mine.”

He gets to his feet and walks away, leaving me gaping after him.

I’m not sure how long I sit there in stunned silence, but eventually I stand up and head outside. The sun shines brightly as I make my way to the cabana and there’s a gentle breeze that kisses my bare skin. Well, except my hip, which I’m covering with my hand. I shake my head at myself. Hayden has won again. Instead of hiding my crotch, I’m protecting my tattoo from the sun because I don’t want it to fade.

I curl up on the swing, tuck my legs underneath me, and set the laptop on my thighs. Hayden’s hurt expression swims through my vision as I stare blankly at the screen in front of me, unable to focus.

“It’s not like he hasn’t hurt you,” I mutter.

My justification doesn’t soothe the guilt, but I refuse to go to him. He and I have different views on reality, and I’m not sure he’ll ever see things from my perspective. Right now, there’s nothing I can do about that. However, I can choose to keep my promise to take care of myself and my future.

I sigh and power on the computer. It hums and lights up, displaying a picture. Of me. The black-and-white photo that hangs in Hayden’s bedroom stares back at me.

“Romantic but creepy,” I say to myself. “Pretty much sums up my love life.”

Off to the side of the home screen is a bright yellow sticky note. It contains login information. My login information. I freeze as a sneaky suspicion works its way through my subconscious.

My fingers slightly tremble as I connect to the WiFi network Hayden set up. This laptop is my only source of communication to anyone outside of this island, but I doubt it’ll be that simple. Knowing my stalker, he’ll control what I can see and do.

Yahtzee.

“Of course, the only website I can access is the university’s,” I say with an eye roll. “Well, joke’s on you. Harper is a student at Columbia too.”

I use the information from the sticky note to access the student log in and find that my profile is completely filled out. The only thing that’s missing is my major and the classes I’ll select.

After flopping back on the pillows, I stare at the site, emotions churning in my chest. On one hand, it’s very thoughtful that Hayden took the initiative. On the other, it’s fucking annoying that he won’t let me do things for myself. I’m kind of surprised he didn’t pick my class schedule for me.

If he had, I totally would’ve yeeted this laptop into the ocean.

Choosing to be productive, I sit back up and navigate the website. For over an hour, I go through various course descriptions, as well as the different pathways towards graduation. Before my father’s untimely death, I was a communications major.

Is that still something I want to pursue?

I select a mixture of general education courses that sound interesting, along with some core classes that could go either way. Literature, calculus II, sociology, and psychology. I laugh to myself at this. Maybe if I take that class, it’ll explain why Hayden’s so fucked up.

What does that say about me?

With the registration complete, I go through the student directory and select Harper’s name to start up a chat thread. I don’t expect her to write back, but it’d be really nice to hear from her if she happens to check her inbox.

After closing the laptop, I set it aside and curl up on the mound of pillows. Between the energy I expended on my decision-making and the lethargy brought on by the afternoon heat, I release a yawn. Sleep tugs at me. It isn’t surprising considering it took me a long time to fall asleep last night.

I kept expecting Hayden to seduce me.

With me freshly showered and naked in his bed, it was a rational assumption. However, he surprised me. Yes, he grabbed me and forced my body flush to his, wrapping an arm around my middle so I couldn’t escape, but that was it. Unless I count the sweet kiss that he placed on the crown of my head, which I don’t.

As I start to drift, my thoughts continue circling around Hayden. I want to share my decision to be a sociology major and my new class schedule with him. I want to know what he thinks, as well as express my excitement about getting back into higher education. Yet something holds me back.

I fall asleep before I come up with a reason.