a known stranger

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

 He finished clearing up, he went up, her room door was slightly ajar, he knocked and stepped in, she was sitting on the armchair he had placed by the side of her bed reading. She looked up warily, he says, “I am going grocery shopping, wanna come?” “I thought I was a prisoner?” she says, looking inquiringly at him. “Well, I am different sort of warden,” he said. “If you come, you get pick out your favourite food, and get to just be outside this room and house,” he continued. “Ok, you’re the warden! Who am I to argue?” she says shrugging her shoulders. She got up and walked towards him. He stood and watched her admiring the graceful way she walked. He turned and led the way, because he knew he would just pull her into his arms and kiss her again until she was senseless.

She watched his back, his shoulders were broad and they tapered down to slip waist and an extremely trim butt. “Oh my God! What am I doing!” She thought to herself. I have never been interested in a man’s butt before! He had stopped suddenly and she bumped right into him. Right smack, she kissed his back. She staggered back, blinking as he turned and looked at her. She was blushing, and she says, “What’s wrong?” “Nothing,” he controlled himself from grinning ear to ear. He knew he couldn’t be mistaken; she was admiring his back and did not realize he had stopped walking until she walked right smack into him and ended up kissing him just below his right shoulder blade. He turned and allowed himself a smile as he continued to walk down the stairs.

He unlocks the door, and she gets into the car. He starts the car and they drive in silence. She looked around her studying the interior trying piece together how he would have carried her and strapped her into the car, she shook her head and concentrated on the road he was using. They drove into town, and she realized that they were about 10km away from civilization, and her place. As she was getting out of the car, he grabbed her arm jerking her back into the car, he tells her, “Don’t try to run or do something to get help, understand?” “Fine!” she said. She wrenched herself free and got out of the car. She waited for him to lock the car and then followed him into the shop. He got a cart. She noted that he was very systematic in shopping, he started from one end with all the big items and worked downwards to the small items.

 She wondered away down the aisle, deep in her own thoughts. She was staring at the variety of cereals on display, yet not really seeing them. She gasped out in surprise when Darien gripped her arm pulling her towards him, “what are you doing?” She looked at him, and said “What have I done? I just wondered away, and was standing here the whole time.” she rubbed her arm looking at him. He relaxed and said, “Come on, let’s go.” She followed him mutely; there was nothing else to say! She was stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea. He paid cash for the groceries and they walked out of the supermarket. She helped him to arrange the stuff into the car and then got in to wait while he returned the trolley. He got into the car and they drove in silence. She kept rubbing her arm, knowing that there will be a mother of all bruises on it, thinking of it she smiled. Darien noticed her gesture and felt bad; he kept forgetting his strength in his anxiety.

He would get some ointment and give it to her, he told himself. They reached his house, he parked the car, and they got out together. She went right to the booth and waited for him. He tells her “Thanks, I’ll get them, and sort them out, why don’t you go inside, and do whatever you want to do,” She looked at him and shrugged, “whatever”, and she went in.