Given by Ashlynn Monroe Page A

fixes anything. Sex is as much a weapon
as it is anything else. Never forget that. I won’t let you use sex to control
me.” He pushed away from the wall and ran his hand through his hair, turning
from her. Then he looked back, and in the dim light, she could see remorse on
his face. “Don’t say anything to the others, please. I’m sorry if I hurt you.
Just forget it. I’m fine. I’ll take my night when it’s my turn. Don’t worry
about it.”
    “I’m here if you need to talk. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
    He snorted, shrugging. “Smoking and drinking with me won’t
make you less a prisoner or me less an ass for participating in your slavery. I
think you’ve had enough vice for one night. Go to bed.”
    She knew the shock had to be all over her face. He saw her
as a prisoner, worse a slave; was she a sex slave? Less accepting girls had
said similar things about what a Given girl was, but
hearing it from a man—one of her men—it shocked her. She didn’t want to be a
sex slave; she wanted a life, maybe a pseudo family, if that was even possible.
She didn’t like feeling as if he was ordering her around, but she wanted to get
away from the unstable man and the misery he stirred inside of her. Krista
rushed inside, went right to the bookshelf, grabbed the book she wanted, and
hurried back up the stairs.
    She sat down on the small sofa. Tucking her legs beneath
her, she looked at the cover. The image of a man in chains, surrounded by
beautiful women made Krista roll her eyes. She turned the book over and read
the blurb. It talked of Sperm Production Facilities where the men lived that
forced them to donate their sperm three times a day and punishment rooms where
men endured rape for bad behavior. Krista scowled. This was the first book in a
series. She wondered if the rest were as twisted as this one. Still, curiosity
made her want to read. Krista opened the book and began.
    My name is Samuel Johnson, and I haven’t left this prison
since the year I hit puberty. Ripped from my mother’s arms at fourteen, I’ve
learned women only want two things: sex and compliments.

Chapter 4
     
    Krista jumped at the sound of her door opening. The book
fell off the arm of the couch and she sat up, feeling stiff. The leg she’d been
sitting on had gone numb.
    Jared peeked his head into the room
cautiously. “Good morning, or should I say afternoon. I was worried about you.”
    “Sorry, I stayed up late reading.” She motioned him to come
in.
    He wrinkled his nose as he entered. “Why do I smell smoke
and brandy?”
    Krista blushed. “I decided it was time to grow up.”
    He raised his eyebrow. “That stuff is bad for you. If they
come for inspection and smell booze and smoke, you’ll be removed so quickly you
won’t even have time to say goodbye.”
    She grinned at his the-doctor-must-lecture-you-now voice.
“Yes, doctor, I’ll quit immediately.”
    Jared grinned back. “I brought you a muffin and some juice.
Do you drink coffee? I could go make you a cup.”
    “I’ve never been allowed to have coffee, they were pretty
careful about what we were allowed to eat and drink. I’ve heard it’s bitter,
but someday I’d love to try a cup.”
    “I forgot that was on the no-no list.”
    Krista frowned. “What do you mean?”
    Jared looked like he wished he could take back the casual
statement. He blushed and the red stain made his freckles stand out even more
noticeably. “I…don’t be mad, but we have a list of what you can and can’t eat,
as well as a list of things we can and can’t do with you. Steve has the food
list, so I’m sure this muffin and juice are fine. They have specific items they
want you eating, for fertility or something. From my standpoint, it’s
ridiculous. There’s really little or no science to back up the nutritional
benefits of some of the food, but there are a few things on the list that would
be great for you if you do get pregnant.”
    She felt the stranglehold tightening