Page 12 of Rescuing Rebel
The corner of his mouth ticks up with amusement. I’m not fooling anyone, but that’s the point, right? I’m blatantly inviting him to my room and bed for hot and heavy sex.
“Check with the front office if you need to reach Guardian headquarters.” He shakes his head. “And get that ankle checked out if it really isbotheringyou.” With that, he pivots sharply and strides away.
He disappears around the corner, leaving me equal parts furious and fascinated. Ethan’s discipline is clearly rock-solid.
Seduction and manipulation have failed.
So far.
But…
It’s only a matter of finding the right leverage. Once I discover his weakness, I’ll exploit it to get what I need. A mind that strong will surely be a goldmine of intel. I just have to keep chiseling away to uncover the cracks.
Until then, I love a good challenge. Ethan will tell me what I need to know, in bed or out.
FIVE
Rebel
If I haveto tie-dye one more shirt, glaze one more crappy mug, or finger-paint another piece of abstract art showing myfeelings, I’m going to kill myself. Frustrated, I storm out of the art therapy session, an asinine waste of time, and ignore the staff calling out to me, wondering if“I’mokay.”
Bloody handprints litter my abandoned canvas. It’s a riot of righteous anger and rebellion. Right now, all I want is to feel the warm ocean breeze on my face and taste the salt of the sea.
I need fresh air and space to think.
I head for the coastal trail, where the breeze coming off the ocean whispers through my hair. Down below, the crashing surf booms with the fury of Mother Nature. Its beauty leaves me groping for words I can’t seem to find, and its rhythm grounds me, connecting me to the timeless pulse of the earth.
This isn’t my first foray to the cliffs since arriving at The Facility. It’s the only place that soothes my restless spirit. I’m spinning my wheels and wasting time. I need to get back to what matters, but this place offers an opportunity I can’t pass up.
Frustration bubbles up within me, tangling with a myriad of emotions making my chest tighten. I let out a deep breath, tasting the salty tang of the sea and allow myself to gaze out at the endless blue expanse of the ocean.
Seventy feet below me, the waves pummel the rocky shore. Water against stone. Soft against hard. It’s a never-ending battle and delivers a powerful message.
Weakness can prevail against great strength. All it takes is perseverance. The raw fury of nature is right there beneath my feet, mimicking how I feel.
A cool breeze carries fine sprays of ocean mist up the cliffs where it grazes my skin and reminds me of the vastness of the world and my place within it.
Talk about feeling small and insignificant.
I squint against the glare of the sun reflecting off the water, taking in the endlessness of the blue horizon. It stretches out before me, vast and infinite. Below me, the rocky beach nestles against the cliffs, constantly shaped and reshaped by the tireless waves.
That’s how I feel—constantly reshaped and molded by the forces around me. The sight is both beautiful and haunting, a reminder of how fleeting time can be.
And how much of it I’ve wasted.
The ocean breeze whips through my hair as I contemplate my next move and stare out at the endless blue expanse. I gather the fiery-red strands into my fist and yank my hair over my shoulder. With my thoughts turning to Ethan, I plait my hair and wonder how best to attack both the problem he presents and the opportunity he offers.
He’s proven more disciplined than anticipated. Resistant to my charms. I need to isolate him if I’m going to ratchet up the seduction and extract intel.
Lost in thought, I don’t hear him approach until he calls out. “There you are. I heard you stormed out of group and wanted to check on you. Is something wrong?”
I turn, surprise flickering through me. I didn’t expect to see him out here, but perhaps fate is on my side.
Perfect timing.
Schooling my features, I arrange my lips into a pleased and somewhat flirtatious smile.
“Fancy running into you here.” I keep my voice light and playful.