Jo's Point of View...
“I thought you said that there wasn’t anyone that could take care of you, Jo. Who are you running from?” Felix asked.
"My father, I'm running from him. Can you pass me my bag, please? I need to make sure that my phone is turned off. If it is on, he can track my location here. I'm almost certain it is turned off, but I need to check for peace of mind," I asked, my voice shaking.
Felix quickly got up, picked up my bag that had been placed in the corner of his room, and handed it to me. I rummaged through until my trembling hands grasped the device, and I let out a breath to see that it was turned off. I breathed a sigh of relief and put the phone back safely into my bag.
"Why are you running from your father?" Felix asked, his jaw tight and brow furrowed.
When I hesitated to answer, Felix's expression shifted to one of concern. He sat down at the edge of the bed and gently placed my trembling hands in his. My racing heart skipped a beat, and I gulped at this man's effect on me. Felix was gorgeous, compassionate, and gentle, but something more drew me to him. I chewed on my bottom lip before choosing my words carefully to answer him.
I took another deep breath, summoning the courage to share a sliver of the truth with him. It was the best I could do. I'd learned the hard way not to open myself up entirely to others for my sake and theirs.
"I haven't told anyone this before, but for some reason, I trust you and feel you should know. My father is a dangerous man, one you don't cross. I was somewhere I wasn't supposed to be today, and he will be furious once he knows. I don't want to put you and your family at risk. Please, as soon as the doctor clears me, I need to leave," I replied, my voice betraying a hint of nervousness.
Felix growled. Taken aback by the unexpected sound, I raised my eyebrows in surprise. I had never encountered such a visceral reaction before. f**k, the man just growled. What the hell?
Seeing my reaction, Felix's gaze softened, and his tone became gentler, reflecting his remorse for scaring me.
"Jo, you are safe here. I know you are not telling me everything, and I trust you have your reasons for that. But if you are going to leave to return to a situation that is putting you at risk, I'm not letting you go," Felix said.
"Were you one of the Armstrong Corporation development site protestors today?" he asked.
I nodded and remained silent, not offering any further information, and looked away in an attempt to deflect the intensity of the conversation. I pursed my lips as I looked down and said a silent prayer, hoping he would not attempt to pry further. I could hear him sigh, stand up, and move to the door.
"If you are up to it, I'd like you to accompany me to the kitchen to get you something to eat and drink," Felix gently inquired.
The unmistakable rumbling of my hungry stomach answered his question before I could respond. My eyes widened, and a sheepish smile tugged at the corners of my lips. I blushed, feeling embarrassed. What a great impression to make, I groaned internally.
Felix chuckled as he grinned at me.
"I'll take that as a yes," the gorgeous man smiled as he extended a hand to help me out of the massive bed.
My legs were shaky and unsteady as I attempted to stand alone. I started to fall forward, and with a tender expression, Felix gently scooped me into his arms, cradling me with a strength that made me feel safe and at ease. To my surprise, I allowed myself to nestle securely in his arms. Felix smelled of amber and musk, and the feel of his muscular arms carrying me stirred something in me. His dark brown hair, the color of espresso, fell into his piercing blue eyes, and I resisted the urge to gently brush the loose strands away.
"Try not to squirm there, Jo; I promise I won't drop you," Felix said in a low, husky voice.
That did it. f**k. My panties were soaked. I was mortified at the effect this man was having on me. Felix looked down at me and smirked as though he could tell the impact he was having on me. I blushed furiously, and he chuckled.
"You're cute when you blush, Jo," Felix smiled and kissed my head.
The simple gesture felt intimate and aroused me even further. Thankfully, Felix didn't acknowledge this and just held me close as he navigated his sprawling family estate carrying me. He descended a grand staircase and continued walking as the house seemed to stretch endlessly, each hallway leading to a different wing or room. It was like a never-ending maze!
Finally, we reached the kitchen. It was spacious and well-lit, with stainless steel appliances and a large, marble-topped island to prepare food. Felix sat me on one of the chairs in front of a long, polished wooden table that could easily accommodate many people.
"Do you have any food allergies, sensitivities, or aversions?" Felix asked.
"No, I can eat anything," I smiled. "Thank you for asking."
Felix stood momentarily examining the fridge's contents and then removed a large pitcher of water, cheese, grapes, and Greek yogurt. He walked over to one of the cupboards and took out granola, mixed nuts, and a honey container. After washing his hands at the kitchen sink, Felix removed a cutting board from one of the drawers, cut up some of the cheese, and placed it on a plate with a handful of nuts. He also washed some of the grapes and put them on the plate. Then, Felix opened a different cupboard to get a small bowl and filled it with Greek yogurt, honey, and granola. After setting the plate and bowl in front of me with a spoon for the yogurt, he retrieved two glasses from another cupboard and filled them with water. Felix placed the glasses on the table and sat down on the chair beside me.
"This looks amazing, thank you!" I gushed and began to eat. I was famished, not having eaten anything since the protein bar I'd quickly eaten while deep in the woods.
Felix smiled at me and sipped his water.
An older version of Felix entered the kitchen and joined us at the table. He had the same rugged good looks as Felix and a kind smile.
"Who is this beautiful young lady?" the older man asked Felix.
"Dad, this is Jo. She's the girl I found who had injured herself in the woods just outside of the Armstrong Corporation development site. Our family doctor left just before she woke up, and I've invited Jo to stay with us until she's well enough to return home," Felix said.
"Jo, this is my father, Silas Stone," Felix introduced me to the older gentleman.
They shared a meaningful gaze, and it looked like they were conversing with their eyes. Weird. But then again, what did I have to compare it to? I didn't exactly have a close relationship with my adoptive father.
"Jo, you can stay as long as you'd like. You look familiar. Have we met before?" Mr. Stone asked.
"Not that I'm aware of, sir. I haven't had the pleasure of meeting too many people," I answered truthfully.
"And why is that, my dear?" Mr. Stone gently inquired.
"You could say I had a very strict upbringing that limited my contact with people," I grimaced.
"Do you attend school?" Felix's dad asked.
"I do. I'm studying environmental science," I answered. "I have a fascination with nature and caring for it. My father wants me to become an environmental consultant."
"How are you feeling, Dad?" Felix asked. "Jacob said you were asking for me earlier in the evening."
"I'm okay. I'm no more tired and in pain than usual. I was worried because you'd been gone longer than anticipated. I wanted to ensure you were okay with all the excitement near the Armstrong Corporation development site and protest today. I understand that the security team was called in to remove the protestors," Mr. Stone replied, looking at me with a curious expression.
"Jo, I know you don't have any extra clothing with you, so I will ask the staff to obtain some for you to wear tomorrow. Do you mind staying here with my father while I speak with them and have one of the guest rooms prepared for you?" Felix asked.
"You aren't going to let me try and return home tonight, are you?" I frowned.
"Nope," Felix said smugly and left the room.
"I do appreciate your hospitality, but I don't want to take advantage," I quickly explained to Mr. Stone. I felt disrespectful and didn't want to seem ungrateful for their family's generosity.
"You are a sweetheart, Jo. I can see why my son is taken with you," Mr. Stone laughed.
Aksara