Read Online Taken (Breaking the Darkness) by Felicia Starr - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Felicia Starr
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remembered from the beach. They seemed to blend in with the colors of the forest behind him. The pie wasn’t the dessert either of us had on our minds.
“No, I want to enjoy this beautiful lunch you brought me. I like the idea of having something to look forward to.”
I turned and climbed over my resting place and then hopped over to the blanket. I didn’t feel like putting my shoes back on just yet. A bit more earth stuck to the bottoms of my feet than I preferred, but I dusted them off and tucked them under me as I made myself comfortable.
After filling my wine glass, Kaden took out a large knife from the basket. Wielding it like an extension of his arm, he carved the bread with ease and sliced up some of the cheeses as I sipped on my drink.
I took in as much of the multicolored ramparts that surrounded me as I could. The trees started to stand out as individual species to me, and I got lost in thoughts of Gram teaching me the names of these trees. A velvet ash and a big tooth maple were happy being friends in this forest. There were many trees that had great things to offer us, a lot more than just maple syrup.
Kaden redirected my attention, handing me a plate and napkin. Just before he took his hand away, he made sure it caressed mine in its withdrawal. He divvied up some of the food. I watched him, not realizing I’d sipped my way through the entire glass of wine, helping amp up my appetite.
“This is a rocking picnic. After my energy’s boosted, I’m looking forward to continuing on this hike to figure out where we are. But not before I get a taste of your pie.”
“I can assure you, you will not forget this pie.” He sucked the purple fruit from his fingertip. His full lips expanded as they slid off his finger. “We are in Boynton Canyon. Do you remember the last time you were here?” he asked in such a subtle way, but it felt strange for him to ask.
“Not exactly. I do recognize some of the trees and it feels familiar. Today will be hard to forget, though.” I still didn’t hesitate answering him.
“Kasha, what is it that you recognize about the trees?”
“Well, Gram always taught me about botany. You’d be surprised at all the uses there are for plants you might otherwise ignore. I must have been somewhere with her that had these trees. We traveled a lot and moved way too often. I have a wealth of knowledge about plants from many regions.”
“Why was your gram so interested in plants? Was she a botanist or a florist?”
I chuckled. “No, she was kind of an herbalist. She believed in holistic remedies. I was never really interested, but much of what she showed me stuck with me. I guess it’s fun knowing about nature. Most people take their surroundings for granted. They have no idea the power Mother Earth has to offer.”
Kaden perked up at something I said. I personally didn’t see what a guy like him would find so interesting. It got me thinking more about where we were. After we ate, I wanted to see what other plants I could identify.
Kaden fed me a bite of candied walnuts I missed on my plate. “Tell me about the power of Mother Earth? That seems a bit hokey.”
“I’ll tell you anything you want to know. After I get some of that sweet pie you’ve promised me.”
I reached over to grab the coffee thermos. Suddenly there was a rustling noise from behind me. I turned to see what it could be. Hopefully not a coyote. Kaden’s gaze drifted in the same direction. When I looked back, everything went grey to black. I still heard the noise but rolled over back in my dreadful prison.
“I THINK YOUR special power might be sleeping.”
The sound of the crisp snap of an apple enticed my eyes open. Ziona was leaning against the wall, crunching on a juicy bite. One of her legs was bent back with her foot pressed up behind her.
“You know, Kasha, anyone could come in here and do ungodly things to you. How do you sleep so much? Every time I come in here, you’re
“No, I want to enjoy this beautiful lunch you brought me. I like the idea of having something to look forward to.”
I turned and climbed over my resting place and then hopped over to the blanket. I didn’t feel like putting my shoes back on just yet. A bit more earth stuck to the bottoms of my feet than I preferred, but I dusted them off and tucked them under me as I made myself comfortable.
After filling my wine glass, Kaden took out a large knife from the basket. Wielding it like an extension of his arm, he carved the bread with ease and sliced up some of the cheeses as I sipped on my drink.
I took in as much of the multicolored ramparts that surrounded me as I could. The trees started to stand out as individual species to me, and I got lost in thoughts of Gram teaching me the names of these trees. A velvet ash and a big tooth maple were happy being friends in this forest. There were many trees that had great things to offer us, a lot more than just maple syrup.
Kaden redirected my attention, handing me a plate and napkin. Just before he took his hand away, he made sure it caressed mine in its withdrawal. He divvied up some of the food. I watched him, not realizing I’d sipped my way through the entire glass of wine, helping amp up my appetite.
“This is a rocking picnic. After my energy’s boosted, I’m looking forward to continuing on this hike to figure out where we are. But not before I get a taste of your pie.”
“I can assure you, you will not forget this pie.” He sucked the purple fruit from his fingertip. His full lips expanded as they slid off his finger. “We are in Boynton Canyon. Do you remember the last time you were here?” he asked in such a subtle way, but it felt strange for him to ask.
“Not exactly. I do recognize some of the trees and it feels familiar. Today will be hard to forget, though.” I still didn’t hesitate answering him.
“Kasha, what is it that you recognize about the trees?”
“Well, Gram always taught me about botany. You’d be surprised at all the uses there are for plants you might otherwise ignore. I must have been somewhere with her that had these trees. We traveled a lot and moved way too often. I have a wealth of knowledge about plants from many regions.”
“Why was your gram so interested in plants? Was she a botanist or a florist?”
I chuckled. “No, she was kind of an herbalist. She believed in holistic remedies. I was never really interested, but much of what she showed me stuck with me. I guess it’s fun knowing about nature. Most people take their surroundings for granted. They have no idea the power Mother Earth has to offer.”
Kaden perked up at something I said. I personally didn’t see what a guy like him would find so interesting. It got me thinking more about where we were. After we ate, I wanted to see what other plants I could identify.
Kaden fed me a bite of candied walnuts I missed on my plate. “Tell me about the power of Mother Earth? That seems a bit hokey.”
“I’ll tell you anything you want to know. After I get some of that sweet pie you’ve promised me.”
I reached over to grab the coffee thermos. Suddenly there was a rustling noise from behind me. I turned to see what it could be. Hopefully not a coyote. Kaden’s gaze drifted in the same direction. When I looked back, everything went grey to black. I still heard the noise but rolled over back in my dreadful prison.
“I THINK YOUR special power might be sleeping.”
The sound of the crisp snap of an apple enticed my eyes open. Ziona was leaning against the wall, crunching on a juicy bite. One of her legs was bent back with her foot pressed up behind her.
“You know, Kasha, anyone could come in here and do ungodly things to you. How do you sleep so much? Every time I come in here, you’re
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