I spent the rest of the day in my room. I couldn't bring myself to face anyone else because my mind was a jungle. I could not think, I could not breathe, and my every thought revolved around Darius' words. He loved me. The more I said it, the more unbelievable it sounded but he had said it and there was not an ounce of insincerity in
his gaze.
Serena and Amy tried to talk to me when they realized I hadn't left my room but I couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to see anyone until I had gotten my emotions under wraps. They left food outside my door and I was going to ignore it until they threatened to tell Darius then I waited until they left before taking it.
The sun set without me stepping out of my room and I could tell that they were all worried because even Jared came to knock on my door but I didn't respond to him. They finally gave up sometime around eight and I decided it was a good time to go to bed but no matter how much I tossed and turned, I couldn't fall asleep. It took me almost half an hour to realize what was wrong and when I did, I muttered a curse under my breath.
My bed smelled like Darius but it was lacking his presence and I knew that I had two options: continue to toss and turn or find Darius. My pride won out for the next hour and a half but by the time the clock struck ten and I was nowhere close to falling asleep, I dragged my feet out of bed.
I heard Darius go into his room a few minutes before so I walked over to his door. I stood there for a long time debating my next course of action but after a moment's hesitation, I lifted my hand and knocked. There was silence and I thought he wasn't going to respond. I was prepared to turn around and make my way back to my room when his door creaked open.
"Is something wrong?" he asked but I shook my head. "You're at my door at ten p.m. Forgive me if I don't exactly believe you."
"I can't sleep," his brows furrowed at first but awareness settled and he leaned against the door frame with a small smirk. "You've made my entire room smell like you. Can I have a shirt or something?"
"You are such a prideful little shit."
Before I could say anything about his insult, he grabbed me by my upper arm and pulled me into the room. He dragged me over to the bed and tossed me onto it unceremoniously. I wanted to protest but he held up a hand to stop me and I was too exhausted to do so.
"All you had to do was ask if you could sleep with me but you had to change up the script," he muttered under his breath as he settled underneath the covers next to me. "It wouldn't kill you to ask for things once in a while, did you know that?"
"Of course I do, don't be a bitch," I mumbled as he pulled me closer. The heat from his body had me sighing and burrowing closer.
I felt rather than saw him roll his eyes at me as he ran his hands down my arm in a comforting manner. He was stroking me to sleep and the sleep that had evaded me for so long came so easily. I could feel myself drifting off but there was something I needed to ask first.
"Did you mean it?" I didn't need to specify. We were both aware of what I was asking. He sighed in response. "Are you always this skeptical of things? Why is it so hard for you to believe?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "I'm scared that it is all going to be a lie."
My drowsiness was making me a lot more honest than I normally would be and I knew
I would regret it later but I didn't seem to care right now.
Darius was soft as he lifted me so I was practically lying on top of him. He was shirtless so I felt every ripped edge of his body. His hand trailed down my back in a calm but sensual manner. His lips pressed a soft kiss to the center of my head.
"I've never lied to you, Leindra, and I never will." I opened my mouth to speak but he cut me off. "Sleep, Leindra, we can talk about it tomorrow."
His words were like a spell, weighing down my eyelids and drifting me off to sleep.
For the first time, I woke up with Darius still asleep beneath me. One of his hands had found its way underneath my shorts and was cupping my bare ass while the other cupped the back of my neck keeping me pressed against him. I peered up at him and found myself smiling softly at how peaceful he looked when he was asleep.
He didn't look like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders but his brows were still scrunched up. I lifted a hand to smooth it out without thinking and the moment my finger came in contact with his face, his breathing changed. I knew it was too late to pretend like I didn't know what I was doing.
His eyes opened and there was mirth dancing in them. "Good morning."
I felt like a deer caught in headlights and I did the first thing I knew how to- I ran. I pushed off his body and rushed over to the door but just as I was about to pull it open, Darius rushed over to my side and forced it shut. I refused to turn back to look at him but I could hear his ragged breathing.
"I'm not letting you run from me this morning," he grabbed my upper arm and turned me to face him. "Yesterday, you said that you didn't want it to be a lie, what did you mean?"
"It doesn't matter."
"It does to me. What could have happened to make you convinced that I am lying? What is it that has scarred you so badly that you cannot see that I love you? I have shown you and I have told you but for some reason, you choose to believe that voice in your head that tells you otherwise."
"I had a boyfriend in the city," I couldn't believe I was telling him the story. I hadn't spoken about it since it happened. "I loved him and he loved me or so he said until I walked in on him sleeping with my roommate. She kicked me out of the house and I was stranded for a few days. He told me that he only used me to get her jealous so they could get together. It was terrible."
If you're loving the book, nel5s.com is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "I'm not him," he leaned forward and cupped my cheek. "If I had my way, I would find that man and make sure he dies for what he did to you but Leindra, I am not him. I will never be him. If I didn't want you, I would say it. I am not a child who needs to play games with you in order to get what I want. You are what I want."
"I want to believe that."
"Then believe it, trust me, take that leap and allow me to love you the way you deserve," tears pricked the corner of my eyes because I didn't know how to. Darius sighed and took a step back. "Why don't we start over? My name is Darius and I think you're the most beautiful woman I have ever met."
I laughed. "We can't start over after we've had sex. We are doing it backward." "Whoever said we had to do it their way?" he asked with a small smile. "Come on, I'm waiting for your introduction, pretty girl."
"I'm Leindra Turner," I couldn't stop myself from smiling from ear to ear as I spoke. "Well Leindra, I think you are amazing and I don't believe in love at first sight but it looks like you're it for me."
"You're going to have to convince me on that one."
"How about a date then? I'll pick you up by seven."
"That's a bit forward but I'll be there."
He smiled and leaned forward until his lips were brushing mine. "I know we just met
but I really want to kiss you. Will you let me?"
I had barely nodded because his lips claimed mine.
I left his room feeling a lot lighter than when I walked in. I was practically skipping when I bumped into Ian later in the day. He raised a brow and I tried to walk past him but he refused to let me. He held me immobile and ran his eyes down my body as if he was trying to uncover me.
"Is there something I should know because I just heard Darius whistling five minutes ago and now you're skipping? Please tell me you decided to put the man out of his misery. I cannot go back to another day of him moping around because you didn't give him a chance."
"I don't know, Ian, we're starting over."
He raised a brow.
"I don't think that's how it works but you do you. Just keep doing whatever it is that makes him pleasant to be around," I shook my head and made my way down the stairs but Ian called out to me making me turn to him. "You wouldn't happen to know why Darius requested a handful of guards for this evening, would you?"
I shook my head although a small smile was playing on my lips. "You may have to ask him about that one."
He hummed and was about to walk away when Amy appeared at the top of the staircase. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw me but her eyes moved to Ian's and I saw something flash in them. It resembled raw heat and I saw Ian mirror her expression. Understanding dawned on me immediately and the corner of my lips quirked up.
She tried to ignore him as she walked past him but I saw their hands brush each other.
I knew it was no accident and I hoped that whatever was going on between them had
been handled. Ian disappeared around the corner leaving me with Amy.
"I've been looking for you," she began. "I need your help with something."
"Does that something have anything to do with Ian, maybe?"
Her cheeks heated. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You're not a very good liar, Amy. I saw you two. Don't you want to talk about it?"
"I will if you talk about Darius."
I thought about it for a moment before nodding. "Deal. We can do that while you get me ready for my date."