Page 114 of Consumed By You

“You do wonders for my ego.”

“I believe in giving credit where it’s due.” I kiss the sharp curve between his wide pecs, my mouth tickling against the dark groomed patch of hair.

The silence grows after that, and for a moment, I think he fell asleep.

He lets out a soft sigh. “What made you change your mind?”

I ponder the best explanation before I decide on just telling him straightforwardly. “You showed up to make sure I wasn’t alone on my birthday. You readPride and Prejudice. I’m on your guest list.”

He traces the canvas of my back, knowing without looking where my scars are.

“The list is pretty endless. I should have realized sooner.”

“What you are asking for is not something out of this world. If I were a gentleman, I would have said the words by now. But I don’t want to lie to you.”

“Have you always felt this way?” I ask, curling tighter to him.

“I don’t know. I’m beginning to think my parents really did a number on me, honestly.”

I realize this conversation is about to deepen considerably. “Your parents?”

“Yeah.”

I shiver as his finger trails over a sensitive part just below my neck.

“My mother…well she had a straying eye, you could say. It destroyed my father at first, but he got over it. Decided to turn into an asshole instead of a fool.”

“Did he leave her?”

“No. He decided to wait until we were older.”

I hug him tighter. “Well, he thought of you guys. That’s nice at least.”

“It wasn’t. They hated each other and didn’t hide it. When my brother died, they didn’t even stand next to each other at the funeral. My father once told me, right before I left for New York, ‘you can count the people you trust on only one hand and none of those fingers are women.’That’sthe advice he gave me before I left home.” He scoffs. “That’s why I’ve always thought it was better to be alone.”

I feel a small spasm in my heart. It’s never better alone. I wish there was a way I could show him that.

His fingers are on my chin, demanding my eyes. I can barely see him in the darkness.

“I don’t believe that anymore,” he confesses.

“You don’t?”

“No. Isn’t that obvious? I’ve been following you around like a fucking puppy dog lately.”

“You have, haven’t you?” I giggle. “Well, you need to grovel a little after what happened when I was your assistant.”

“Ah, that was it all along, wasn’t it? You were punishing me?” He laughs, kissing my head, and we both relax.

“I’m happy I’m here.”

“Me too, Darce,” he murmurs. “Me too.”

CHAPTER

TWENTY-ONE

When I awake, the bedroom is bright and quiet. My aching arms are wrapped around the pillow, indicating I’ve been in deep comatose. I turn over and look to the spot next to me, finding a small paper in Benjamin’s place.