Page 46 of His Dark Cravings

“So,” she says, her tone shifting from playful to something more serious. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”

I frown. Here it comes.

“What?”

“You,” she says, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Specifically, the way you stood up for yourself at dinner last night. I mean, damn, Evie. You’ve got bite.”

The praise catches me off guard, and I feel heat rise to my cheeks. “It wasn’t a big deal.”

“Don’t lie,” she cuts in, wagging a finger at me. “You were brilliant. Xavier loved it.”

I stiffen at the mention of his name, my stomach twisting into a familiar knot. “He didn’t seem to love it.”

“Oh, Xavier’s always like that,” she says, leaning forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “He doesn’t show everything he's feeling. But trust me. He’s paying attention to you, and he likes what he sees.”

I frown deeper, my thoughts tangling. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because,” she says, sitting back as Dawn returns with our coffee, “somebody needs to. And if that somebody isn’t Xavier, then it might as well be me.”

The coffee is hot, and I wrap my hands around the mug, letting the warmth seep into my palms as I turn over her words in my mind. I take a sip of the steaming liquid, the bitterness a jolt to my still-foggy brain. Lila watches me, her expression softening in a way I hadn’t expected. She leans back, cradling her mug in her hands, and her gaze drifts toward the window, as if tracing the rays of sunlight streaming through.

"When I first met Xavier," she begins, her voice a shade quieter, "I was in deep. Gambling debts I couldn’t pay. He offered me a way out, but I didn’t realize I was stepping into a different kind of trap." She pauses, her eyes refocusing on mine.

I hold her gaze, intrigued by the vulnerability she lets slip through. "Why did you stay after paying off your debts, then?" I ask.

She shrugs, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Xavier has a way of making you feel alive. And once you’re in, it’s hard to imagine life outside these games, these dynamics. But you lose pieces of yourself if you’re not careful."

I nod, understanding flickering to life. "So, how do you keep yourself?"

"Boundaries," she says, her tone firm. "Know where you stand. Submission doesn’t mean losing yourself; it’s about choosing to give, to trust. Don’t let anyone, not even Xavier, take that away."

I nod, the warmth of my coffee mug still cradled in my hands. “I was thinking about that when I stood up to Xavier,” I admit. “About boundaries, I mean. I didn’t realize it then, but I guess I was testing where I stood.”

Lila’s eyes light up with a knowing glint, her lips curling into a sharp smile. “Girrrrl,” she drawls, dragging out the word like a victory cry. “You’re smarter than you think you are.”

I flush, dipping my head to hide the heat in my cheeks. “I just... I don’t want to lose myself in all of this. It’s already so much to take in.”

“Good,” she says, her voice taking on a serious edge. “That’s good, Everly. You’ve got to keep that fire lit, even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.” She pauses, taking a sip of her coffee before continuing, her tone softening. “You know, I used to live for the rush. Gambling, parties, pushing limits—anything that made my heart skip a beat. Xavier was the ultimate rush, you know? But after a while... it stopped being exciting. It just feels empty.” She swirls the coffee in her mug, her gaze drifting away. “I thought I was done with all that. I mean, I paid off my debts months ago. But lately... I don’t know. There’s this itch under my skin, like I need to do something reckless, something that’ll remind me I’m still alive.”

The way she says it unsettles me. “Lila, you’re not thinking about—”

She laughs, the sound sharp and self-deprecating. “Oh, trust me, I’m not talking about running up another gambling debt. I’ve been there, done that. This is different. Something new. Something bigger.”

“Bigger?” I repeat, unable to keep the worry from my voice.

She grins, the mischievous spark in her eyes making my pulse quicken. “It's something I'll know when I see it.”

Before I can press her further, the waitress returns with our food. Lila’s eyes light up like a kid on Christmas morning as she digs into her eggs, her earlier seriousness forgotten.

“Thank God,” she mutters around a mouthful of bacon. “I’m legit starving.”

I watch her, marveling at the way she can switch gears like that. One minute she’s talking about life-altering decisions, the next she’s shoveling food into her face like nothing’s wrong. It’s exhausting just to watch.

“Eat up, slowpoke,” she says, gesturing to my plate with her fork. “Your stomach's been speaking to me all morning.”

I roll my eyes but pick up my fork, spearing a bite of pancakes. They’re sweet and fluffy, melting in my mouth. With one taste, I forget about all the complications swirling around me. Forget about Xavier and the dolls and the shifting power dynamics in that sprawling house. All that matters is the sugary sweetness on my tongue and the chaotic energy of the woman sitting across from me.

But even as I savor the moment, I can’t shake a nagging thought. Just last night, Xavier was asking me if I was thinking about leaving.

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