food and water to keep us
alive? I don't know why you think I am such a monster, but it is
completely unjustified."
Jade blinked, surprised at the sound of pain
in his voice. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Griff. I really
didn't."
"You are a selfish, self-centered, spoiled,
inconsiderate child. Just when I think that you have some redeeming
attributes to your character, you pull this bullshit. I promise you
that once we are out of this situation, you will never lay eyes on
me again." Griffon's voice was bitter with anger.
Jade was confused." I don't understand. I
mean, where did that come from?"
"Anyone who thinks so little of me to be so
inconsiderate is not a person I want to know. Go back to your
corner."
"Aren't you going to, well, you know ..."
Jade hesitated.
"Spank you? Hell, no. I only spank someone I
care about and who cares about what I think of them. You don't care
about anyone, not even yourself. As far as I am concerned, you are
another man trying to survive. Feel free to do your own damn thing
for now on. I don't care anymore."
Jade flushed, his words cutting deep into her
heart."For crying out loud, Griff. You are acting like I committed
a heinous crime. I wandered off and found a place to take a hot
bath. I got a little lost. Seriously, it's not that big of a
deal."
"That is where you and I differ. Disobeying
me is a big deal. Putting yourself in danger is a big deal. And
mostly," his eyes bore into her, "your inability to see how your
actions hurt yourself and me is a big deal. I will finishing making
your bow and some arrows, and you are on your own."
Jade stared at him in disbelief. "What do you
mean?"
"I mean that after this monsoon passes, you
will go out and build your own shelter and find your own food. You
will be alone and responsible for yourself. I've taught you enough
to survive without my help."
"But I have no tools ..." Jade stuttered, not
knowing how to respond.
"You have a brain. Start with that."
The fire crackled beneath them as an angry
gust of wind rattled the platform. Jade huddled in the corner,
covering herself with her makeshift blanket as tears filled her
eyes once again. She jumped as a deafening crack of thunder
penetrated the sound of pouring rain, and she could smell something
burning.
"Lightning just hit the scuba tank," Griffon
muttered. "Just think, it could have been one of us."
Jade did not want to consider that
possibility. In fact, her stomach turned at the thought of Griffon
being harmed. She was beginning to like him, too, despite their
personality differences. He was smart, funny, a hard worker and
mysterious. Plus, he had a rugged handsomeness that appealed to
her, even with the scraggly growth of beard that he shaved off with
his dive knife every few days, and unruly, wavy brown hair that
would never be calmed by brushing. What she did not care for was
his anger. Wisely, the young women knew she had to find a way to
soothe his temper.
"I wouldn't like that," Jade said softly.
"For either of us."
"Why not? It would rid you of my bothersome
presence and annoying habit of being overprotective," he said,
bitterly.
"I never said your presence was bothersome.
Griff, please don't abandon me. I can't take care of myself. You
showed me that. I … I need you. Please, give me another
chance."
"It is always nice to know you are someone's
tool," he said sharply.
"It isn't just that. I've grown, well, used
to having you around. I have actually started to enjoy our time
together, like when you are teaching me things. Except for the man
who taught me how to shoot a bow, no one had ever taken the time to
teach me anything special."
"You need to be taught a lesson on how to
treat others with consideration and respect. That's exactly what
you need. Your daddy did not do you any favors in spoiling
you."
"I'm recognizing that," Jade agreed quietly.
She took advantage of his silence. "Yes, I need you. But I also
want you. I mean, we have kind of become friends, haven't we?
alive? I don't know why you think I am such a monster, but it is
completely unjustified."
Jade blinked, surprised at the sound of pain
in his voice. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Griff. I really
didn't."
"You are a selfish, self-centered, spoiled,
inconsiderate child. Just when I think that you have some redeeming
attributes to your character, you pull this bullshit. I promise you
that once we are out of this situation, you will never lay eyes on
me again." Griffon's voice was bitter with anger.
Jade was confused." I don't understand. I
mean, where did that come from?"
"Anyone who thinks so little of me to be so
inconsiderate is not a person I want to know. Go back to your
corner."
"Aren't you going to, well, you know ..."
Jade hesitated.
"Spank you? Hell, no. I only spank someone I
care about and who cares about what I think of them. You don't care
about anyone, not even yourself. As far as I am concerned, you are
another man trying to survive. Feel free to do your own damn thing
for now on. I don't care anymore."
Jade flushed, his words cutting deep into her
heart."For crying out loud, Griff. You are acting like I committed
a heinous crime. I wandered off and found a place to take a hot
bath. I got a little lost. Seriously, it's not that big of a
deal."
"That is where you and I differ. Disobeying
me is a big deal. Putting yourself in danger is a big deal. And
mostly," his eyes bore into her, "your inability to see how your
actions hurt yourself and me is a big deal. I will finishing making
your bow and some arrows, and you are on your own."
Jade stared at him in disbelief. "What do you
mean?"
"I mean that after this monsoon passes, you
will go out and build your own shelter and find your own food. You
will be alone and responsible for yourself. I've taught you enough
to survive without my help."
"But I have no tools ..." Jade stuttered, not
knowing how to respond.
"You have a brain. Start with that."
The fire crackled beneath them as an angry
gust of wind rattled the platform. Jade huddled in the corner,
covering herself with her makeshift blanket as tears filled her
eyes once again. She jumped as a deafening crack of thunder
penetrated the sound of pouring rain, and she could smell something
burning.
"Lightning just hit the scuba tank," Griffon
muttered. "Just think, it could have been one of us."
Jade did not want to consider that
possibility. In fact, her stomach turned at the thought of Griffon
being harmed. She was beginning to like him, too, despite their
personality differences. He was smart, funny, a hard worker and
mysterious. Plus, he had a rugged handsomeness that appealed to
her, even with the scraggly growth of beard that he shaved off with
his dive knife every few days, and unruly, wavy brown hair that
would never be calmed by brushing. What she did not care for was
his anger. Wisely, the young women knew she had to find a way to
soothe his temper.
"I wouldn't like that," Jade said softly.
"For either of us."
"Why not? It would rid you of my bothersome
presence and annoying habit of being overprotective," he said,
bitterly.
"I never said your presence was bothersome.
Griff, please don't abandon me. I can't take care of myself. You
showed me that. I … I need you. Please, give me another
chance."
"It is always nice to know you are someone's
tool," he said sharply.
"It isn't just that. I've grown, well, used
to having you around. I have actually started to enjoy our time
together, like when you are teaching me things. Except for the man
who taught me how to shoot a bow, no one had ever taken the time to
teach me anything special."
"You need to be taught a lesson on how to
treat others with consideration and respect. That's exactly what
you need. Your daddy did not do you any favors in spoiling
you."
"I'm recognizing that," Jade agreed quietly.
She took advantage of his silence. "Yes, I need you. But I also
want you. I mean, we have kind of become friends, haven't we?
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