Page 21 of Second Chances (Passion and Perseverance #2)

Chapter Eleven

It was his studio.

Beth’s mouth dropped as she walked hesitantly into the room behind Darcy.

There were canvases, drying racks, sketchpads of all sizes lining the walls.

The only furniture in the room was a small drafting table in the corner, a stool sitting in front of an easel in the center of the room, and a small love seat that was covered with a dark sheet.

Beth slowly made her way around the room, exploring what was obviously all Darcy’s work as she went. Still life paintings, sketches, portraits, all haphazardly stored around the room. She saw the sketch that he had done of her that first night in the living room.

So, this is where it had gotten to.

Not just that one, she came across many sketches of her, mostly of her face, ones that he must have drawn from memory.

Her face flushed at the thought, knowing how much he was thinking of her even when she wasn’t right in front of him, seeing how accurately he could depict her features without her there.

Turning to face him, she said, “This is all yours?”

Smooth. Of course it is dummy! She just didn't know how else to get the conversation started.

His response was a swift nod.

“They are beautiful. I didn’t realize…” that you were so talented, that you had time to do all this, that this was what you’ve been hiding behind this door. So many things.

“Come here, Beth,” Darcy instructed her, his eyes locking with hers, pulling her towards him.

She stopped just in front of him, the couch behind her.

“Do you trust me?”

She nodded meekly. His hands came up and reached behind her back, unzipping her dress and lightly tugging it from her shoulders, allowing it to slip softly to the floor .

“Sit,” he instructed, nodding to the couch behind her.

At her questioning gaze, he continued, “Don’t worry, I’m going to tell you what happened, I just want to draw you while I do it.

I’ve been dreaming about doing this for too long.

” His eyes darkened with desire, locking with hers as she backed up and reclined along the couch.

She flushed learning that he had dreamt of drawing her nude. Tingles of anticipation burned through her, knowing that, of all people, he wanted to capture her on paper.

Moving back, he pulled the stool up to the easel and grabbed a fresh sheet of parchment paper to work with. While he was getting himself situated, Beth awkwardly tried to arrange her pose to look as sexy as possible.

Hard to do when you’ve never even thought about being drawn naked before.

“What do you want to know?”

What?! She was shocked that he was letting her guide their conversation.

Pleased, but still shocked. After she was certain that he wasn’t going to try to avoid the conversation, she figured he would sit her down and tell her what he wanted her to know - and only that.

But, here he was, sitting and watching her expectantly, trusting her to take the lead just as she was trusting him.

“What happened tonight?” she asked, wishing she could have been a little more precise but there were a thousand things running through her mind, especially now that she heard his pencil moving across the paper.

“I was looking for you at the party and I saw my ex watching me from the corner of the room,” he responded, his eyes focused on the canvas.

“Did she come up to you and confront you?” This was worse than pulling teeth!

“No.” The word came out harshly as his jaw clenched down for a minute before he continued, “I approached her, just like I always fucking did.”

“What do you mean?” Confused, she began to move slightly from her pose .

“ Stay still, ” he reprimanded, his eyes meeting hers for a moment to accentuate the request. When she moved back to her original position, he returned to his drawing and to answering her questions.

“I was always supposed to be in control, it’s what she wanted.

So, I always had to act first, to call her, to see her, to fuck her.

” Beth flinched at the thought. “Even though the reality was that my actions were subconsciously dictated by her. I should have just ignored her last night, but I haven’t seen her in five years; I never expected to see her again and as soon as I did, my first instinct was to approach her and deal with her the only way I’ve ever known - by taking control. ”

“What did you say?”

“I demanded to know why she was there.”

And…

“What did she say?”

“What did she say or why was she there?” he replied with a harsh laugh. “She said she was there because she had been invited, of course. She was there for me though. I could see it in her eyes, her expression, everything - just like the first time.”

“So she wants to get back together with you?” Beth felt her heart in her throat as she asked the question, knowing that this was a woman that Darcy had once loved.

“I told her to enjoy the party and went to leave when she stopped me. She asked why I was there, knowing that I’m not close with any of the hosts of the party, and knowing that going to public events isn’t really in my nature.

” The more he recalled, the more intently he focused on his work, trying to keep his anger at bay.

“It was all a fucking ploy, though. God, that fucking bitch. She asked, but she knows I was there with someone, as someone’s date.

I could see it in her fucking smirk. She was just toying with me. ”

“What did you tell her?” she prompted, holding her breath as to what Darcy had told this woman about her.

“I told her it was none of her fucking business, which only seemed to excite her more, knowing that I was hiding something. ”

The relief of knowing that he had shielded her from this woman was momentary as anxiety washed over her wondering what his ex’s response had been.

“So, what did she say?” she asked with bated breath.

His scowl deepened and Beth heard his strokes on the paper become harsher. Well, that’s not good.

“She came on to me. She pressed herself against me and whispered that only she knew what I liked, how I liked to fuck, that she was the only one to ever satisfy me, and that I was hers. God, it makes me so fucking sick!” he said vehemently, his pencil snapping under the stress from his grip.

Throwing the useless tool on the ground, he ran his hand harshly through his hair, his breathing harsh, as he struggled to control his rage.

Beth could only stare at him in painful shock. It was her worst fears verbalized - that she wasn’t good enough for him, that she would never satisfy him like this woman had. She couldn’t find the words to continue her questions, her throat thick as tears welled in her eyes.

“So, I smiled and told her ‘not anymore.’ That shocked her, wiped that obnoxious confidence off of her face. Thankfully, someone who knew her came over and addressed her, interrupting whatever response she was trying to form. So, I just turned and left while she was occupied. I wasn’t going to waste any more time with that bitch and risk causing a scene. ”

Warmth spread through her, as she tried to persuade herself to trust that Darcy wanted nothing to do with this woman anymore. That he loved her, Beth, and that whatever feelings he had had for his ex were long gone.

“Is that why we left?”

“Yes,” remorse finally outweighing the anger in his voice.

“I knew she would follow me, and find you. I don’t know what she would have done, but I didn’t want anything to happen that would reflect badly on you for work.

So, I made the decision that we needed to leave.

I realize I could have presented it better.

I was just so fucking on edge and unprepared; I just needed to get you out of there. ”

“I see. So, you were trying to protect me from her…” Beth interpreted out loud.

Darcy gave her a curt nod, “I just can’t stand the thought of her approaching you, what she would do.” He shook his head in disgust.

“Darcy, I’m a strong person, I can handle myself,” she tried to reassure him. “I’ve dealt with enough terrible people for my work, hell, even in my family. I mean, I handled Mrs. DeBourgh did I not?” She gave him a small smile, showing a brave face.

She managed to lure a small smile out onto his face amidst the frustration of their conversation.

“You shouldn’t fucking have to though.”

“So, you haven’t seen her since you broke up until now? She’s never approached you before?” Beth asked.

“No, thank God. Not that I advertised my whereabouts; once I recovered I tried to stay off the grid.”

“So, why now?” What had changed? What brought her back?

“Fuck if I know,” he snarled before remembering who he was talking to.

“Sorry, I’m just so fucking angry that she would approach me like that.

” Shaking his head, he stood up from the easel and came to sit on the floor in front of her.

“God, I’d love to believe it’s just out of boredom, that she’s just back to toy with me - because that I could fucking deal with; but that’s not how she works.

I don’t even want to think this because I know hardly anyone knows about us, but it’s the only reason that I can think of for why she would come back now; somehow, she knows about you, about us.

Somehow, she knows I’m in a relationship, that I’ve moved on, and she wants to destroy it.

She wants to prove that she can still have me.

” Here, he paused on a harsh laugh, “She has no fucking clue how wrong she is.” His gaze was strong and reassuring, soothing her self-conscious fears, as he leaned in and kissed her tenderly.

“How would she know about me though? Who would have told her? Only Jane knows that I’m staying here. I haven’t even told Char,” Beth wondered aloud.

His eyes darkened, as if he might know how but no answer came from his lips .