Page 76 of Crazy Thing

“Yes…say it,” I plead.

In this moment, I don’t care how desperate I sound. I might feel differently tomorrow. I might hate myself tomorrow.But right now, I really need to hear it. If I hear his version of the truth from his own lips, maybe then I can decide if I’m ready to trust this man.

He stares at me for so long, before he finally speaks again. “Fine. I like you, Fairy Girl. I like being around you,” he whispers softly, sending goosebumps down the length of my whole body. “You make me…happy. Which is a very unfamiliar feeling for me. But I like it. And I…well, I like being close to you.”

I’m fighting hard not to smile. I can’t help it. I still don’t know if I can trust Darius or his motives, but I like his words. I like his words a lot.

My Aries ego is eating that shit up. Miam-miam-miam.Bon appetit!

“Fine. You can stay.”

With a sigh of relief, he sinks deeper into my bedding, holding me tighter. “So, does that mean you like being close to me, too?” he asks, and I’m almost certain I sense a touch of vulnerability sneaking into his voice.

I lift my bare shoulder. “A tiny, little bit.”

A completely un-Darius-like grin stretches across his handsome face. Ugh. He looks so gorgeous, it hurts. “That’s good enough for me.”

“Stop grinning like that. It’s freaking me out.” I smack at his arm.

Darius grabs the back of my head—matted, wet hair and all—and tucks my face against his bare chest. “You can’t make me.”

I sigh, pretending to be annoyed by his constant bossiness.But in reality, I’m really enjoying this.

I settle back down on my Darius-pillow and let him keep his arms around me. I plan to kick him out soon. As soon asthe rain lets up. As soon as I’m not so entranced by his pretty words and his mesmerizing eyes and his soft touch.

But instead I fall asleep with a grin on my face, listening to the sounds of Darius's heart and the rain coming down outside.

31

DARIUS

Holy shit…That wasn’t a dream.

I blink awake and find Ziggy, splayed across my body and her messy hair tickling my nose.

I take stock of our positions. I’m sweaty. She’s sweaty. Our skin is sticking together. It’s like, at some point overnight, fire melted us into one. Every part of my body aches from passing out on this lumpy couch or mattress or whatever it is.

But despite that, I have no desire to move a muscle, because having Ziggy in my arms is so goddamn perfect.It’s the only thing I need.

I lay here, content with burning to death as I relive the events of last night.

When I dove into her moving bus, I never had the intention of taking things this far. But after one hot kiss, I lost all my senses, and for once in my too-serious life, I was so grateful to just let go. To flow with the moment. To give in to what I really wanted.

Ziggy. She’s what I wanted last night. She’s all I need these days.

More and more, I’ve been asking myself, what is this thing she makes me feel? I’m starting to think it’s love. I think I’m in love with her. That feels like the appropriate label for it.

And now that I’m holding her in my arms, I’m not sure I ever want to let go.

Y’know what? It’s decided. I’m not letting her go. My brain is already trying to come up with a scheme to keep her here in my arms forever and ever.

But before I can devise a plan, my belly growls.Loud. It’s not like a little growl. More like a hungry, feral lion.

It’s so loud that Ziggy startles, squeaks, and then falls onto the hard floor with a thud.

“Holy shit. Are you—?”My arms dart out to grab at Ziggy, but then I sit up too fast and smack my head on the flimsy shelf above the couch.

Biodegradable bowls and containers fall everywhere, raining down around me and clattering to the floor. I stretch my legs out, smack my shin on a table leg, and let out a groan.

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