Struggle for Liberty by Marline (the giving tree read aloud .TXT) 📕

reading. To my great surprise, it was an historical fiction novel. I never would have expected that from him. Since historical fiction was my favorite genre, I immediately started reading the back. Before long, I was sitting comfortably on the couch, with my back against the side and my knees pulled up, reading the book.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I nearly fell off the couch when I heard Jason’s voice. I had been so engrossed in the book that I hadn’t heard him come into the living room. I had just regained my balance when I looked up at Jason and almost fell of the couch again. He was only wearing boxers, and his sandy brown hair was still wet from the shower. His body was gorgeous, with muscles in all the right places and I couldn’t look away.
“Well?” Jason asked and I realized that I still hadn’t answered his question. I quickly looked down and blushed.
I can’t believe I just nearly drooled over the guy who was making my life miserable. “I was reading.” I said, trying to put more confidence into my voice than I was feeling. Jason walked over to me and grabbed the book out of my hands.
“Do not touch anything

of mine unless you are given permission.” He said sternly. I frowned and before I knew what I was doing, made a lunge for the book. The part I had been reading was intense and I was desperate to know what would happen next. Jason held the book just out of my reach.
“No, I want to read!” I whined.
“No. Now get me coffee.” Jason said as he walked towards the bedroom. Seconds later he came out wearing a shirt and without the book. I was still standing in the same spot he left me.
“What’s taking so long?” He asked raising his eyebrows.
“Jerk.” I muttered under my breath, as I walked towards the kitchen. At that point, Jason’s phone rang.
As I made coffee I listened in on the conversation, though, of course, I could only hear one side of it.
“Hey man, what’s up?”
“Yeah? How are you managing?”
“Really? You’ve tried all the usual ones and they don’t work?”
“Well, find her weak spot and then use that against her. And if that doesn’t work, try rewarding her. That usually gets a reaction out of them.”
“Yeah I’m fine. She’s a handful but I can manage. Besides,” He said, looking up at me, “She’s terrified of losing her virginity so I can use that against her.”
I wanted to get the cup of coffee that was now ready and pour it over his head when I realized that he was giving one of his colleagues advice. How dare he say that about me? And how dare he suggest to find her weak spot and use it against her? The buffoon. When Jason put his phone away I walked over to him and slammed his coffee down on the table. Half of it spilled over but I didn’t care. Then, I turned around and marched to the bedroom, too furious to say a word to him. I slammed the door and relished in the sound. I then started a frantic search for the book that had to be here somewhere. Moments later I heard the door open. I wasn’t even bothered to turn around because I knew who it was and so continued searching.
“Liberty.” Jason growled and the tone of his voice scared me.
“What?” I said furiously as I turned around to face him.
“Apologize and then clean up the mess you made.” I just stared at him, not able to say a word. I don’t recall ever being this angry in my life. There was nothing I could do though, except for what he told me to do. But I was too stubborn to accept my fate and instead crossed my arms over my chest.
“Make me.”
“All right.” Jason said and I caught a glimpse of a smirk on his face before he walked over to me and slammed his lips against mine. I gasped and he took this opportunity to put his tongue in my mouth. Then I felt his hands at the top of my shirt and heard a ripping sound. My eyes widened in shock and I pushed Jason away with all the strength I could muster. I looked at my shirt and saw that it was torn right down the middle, exposing my black-laced bra. Before I could say anything though, Jason’s lips were on mine again. Then he put his hands on my waist and slowly slid them up. I shivered from his touch because his hands were cold against my skin.
“I’m sorry,” I tried saying but it came out all mumbled because Jason’s tongue was still in my mouth. I pushed him away and his lips left mine just long enough for me to be able to repeat myself.
“I’m sorry.”
“Really?” Jason asked with his face inches away from mine. I couldn’t answer because I was lost in his deep blue eyes. Jason wasn’t satisfied with the fact that I didn’t respond immediately because he pressed his lips to mine again.
“Yes,” I gasped but it came out more like a moan.
“Say it again.” Jason said between kisses. How was I supposed to tell him that I was sorry if he would not stop kissing me? I put both hands on his face and pushed him away slightly.
“I’m sorry.” I said slowly. “Now will you please stop kissing me?”
“You need all the practice you can get.” Jason smirked.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I said, getting angry all over again.
“Nothing. Now go clean up the mess you made.”
“Not before you tell me what you meant.” Oh why did I have to be so stubborn?
“I’ll tell you once you graduate. Now go clean.”
“Sure you will.” I muttered under my breath as I walked to the cupboard and took out a clean shirt. I turned my back towards Jason and quickly took off the shirt he had ripped in half and then put on my new one. Then I cleaned the table and went straight to the bedroom to try getting some sleep.

Chapter 5

The next day Jason told me that we would start a second part of our training: the physical part. And though I still had to get him coffee and whatever else he wanted, I now also had to allow him to kiss and hug me and, preferably, I was supposed to take initiative at times too. I had no idea how I was going to get through this part of the training but then again, I’d gotten through the first part already so I would probably survive this.
“Umm, Jason, could I maybe have a hair tie?” I asked him right after dinner. I didn’t like having my hair loose when I had to work and it was getting on my nerves.
“No, I like your hair loose.” He said bluntly.
“Well I don’t. And unless you want hair in your food, you better give me a hair tie.” I threatened.
Jason came up to me and wrapped his arms around me from behind.
“You will not tell me what to do.” He growled in my ear. “But then again, you have a good point.” He said, letting me go and leaning against the counter. “So I’ll get you one but you can only wear it when you cook.”
“What kind of stupid rule is that?” I exclaimed.
“Darling, you have to get used to stupid rules.” Jason said as he got up from his leaning position and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
“Don’t call me that,” I said through clenched teeth while desperately fighting the urge to rub his kiss of my cheek.
“Do you prefer baby?” He asked as he raised one eyebrow and made his way over to the couch.
“Come watch a movie with me.” Jason said and I walked over to him slowly. I was about to sit on the far end of the couch when Jason grabbed me and pulled me towards him. I ended up sitting on his lap. Jason turned on the TV and then made himself comfortable. I was the furthest thing from comfortable, I was sitting up straight, trying to lean as far away from Jason as possible and I was desperately trying to get off his lap.
Jason wrapped his arms around me. “Lean into me.” He ordered and I reluctantly did as I was told. I lay my head against his chest. I didn’t like this lesson in how to pretend to like a guy when really, you couldn’t stand him. I had to admit though, that I was rather comfortable now. I could smell Jason’s cologne and leaning against his rock-hard chest was causing my heart to speed up. I tried keeping my breathing even and concentrate on the movie though it was near impossible because Jason was rubbing circles on my arm. Throughout the movie I felt tiredness taking over and tried desperately to keep my eyes open. I would not fall asleep in Jason’s arms. Halfway through the movie I gave up and let my eyes drift closed.

I woke up the next morning lying in the bed and it took me a few moments to realize what happened last night, Jason must have carried me to bed. I then looked around the room, wondering if Jason was still here and spotted him standing next to the cupboard, wearing nothing but a pair of jeans. He looked gorgeous. The muscles in his back were evident and I wanted to tangle my fingers in his messy brown hair. As if he could feel me looking at him, he turned around. His blue eyes penetrated into mine and caused my heart to speed up. My eyes then drifted down to his perfect six-pack. Jason chuckled and my eyes snapped back to his. I felt a blush climb appear on my cheeks.
“Sleep well?” He asked sweetly and from the tone he used I knew he had seen me checking him out.
“Fine, thank you very much.” I answered haughtily, trying to hide my embarrassment.
“Good, because we have a long day ahead of us. Get dressed, we’re going hiking.”
“Hiking?” I asked him.
“Yes, something wrong with that?” He raised one eyebrow.
“Yes.” I snapped. “We’re in the middle of a jungle. Hiking is not exactly my favorite thing to do.”
“Well it is mine. And since I’m the one who makes decisions, we’re going hiking.” Jason said and finality rang in his voice.
I glared at him and then lay back down in bed, enjoying the last few moments of comfort and cleanliness.

“Can we please stop?” I asked, or more like whined, when we had been walking for at least three hours.
“You know, this would be a lot more pleasant without your constant complaining.” Jason snapped.
“Well I’m sorry if I’m not such a fan of hiking as you are.” I retorted, and then, for some personal satisfaction, I added: “Jerk.”
Jason whipped around and looked at me, with a slightly annoyed expression on his face. “You will have to do whatever your husband, or the man who buys you, wants. So stop complaining and do as you’re told.”
The look on his face annoyed me and stubbornness rose up in me again. I crossed my arms over my chest and