Page 106 of The Villain

“Darius…”

“I’ll rest on my good shoulder, I promise,” he rumbled, his mouth stamping kisses along the side of my neck. “Just need to sleep with my cock inside you. Feels like the only way I’ll know this is real…that you’re really mine.”

A warm shiver consumed me, the heat of an unspoken confession charging through me with unexpected force.

I was really his. I always would be.Because I loved him.

Instead, the response that came out was, “Okay.”

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow I’d tell him how I loved him and hope it would erase the last fears of his past from ever hurting him again.

Chapter Twenty-One

Dare

Bang. Bang. Bang.

I jolted against the warmth tucked to my front, Athena’s bare body curled against mine.Around mine.A groan awoke in my chest, my body tucked into the heat of her pussy. It only took a second for my dick to turn from semi-hard to steel and for all of me to regret having to move from this spot.

I’d waited…a lifetime for last night. A lifetime of trials and triumphs and loss. A lifetime of thinking our paths had diverged and that door would be forever closed.

I’d waited a lifetime to love Athena Holman, and I didn’t want to wait a second more to tell her.

But I would have to because someone needed me.

“Darius?” It was Rob knocking.

Athena made a soft noise that didn’t help my body’s growing reaction.

“Dammit.” Gritting my teeth, I quickly pulled my body from hers and pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder. “Stay here.”

I rose from the bed, finding my sweatpants on the floor where I’d discarded them when we came inside last night. Pulling them on, I looked around for the wrap for my arm and realized it was still outside.Oh well.

Rob must’ve heard my commotion because she didn’t knock or say anything more, instead waiting for me to come to her.

I opened the door quietly, finding my sister reclined against the wall. “What is it?”

I stepped into the stairwell, closing the door behind me, but not before Rob saw enough over my shoulder. I watched something flicker in her gaze—a bright happiness that appeared for a second through the clouds that normally shrouded her.

“Sorry to wake you.” She looked genuinely apologetic.

“I’m assuming it’s important.” I folded my arms, giving support to my shoulder.

“We found the shooter.”

“What?” I reeled. “Who? Where is he?” There was hardly room for the two of us on the small landing, but still, I advanced a step toward her. “I want to talk to him.”

“Not going to happen,” she said, and I stilled. “He’s dead.”

“Fuck!” I spat the word, reaching to drive a hand through my hair and realizing too late it was my injured arm. I pulled it down with a wince and a more effusive curse that ended abruptly when the door opened again.

“Dare?” Athena’s voice settled me even though I wished we hadn’t woken her. “Hey, Rob,” she greeted my sister when she realized who was with me.

“Sorry for the interruption.” Rob looked at me, knowing it was my decision how to handle this conversation.

I exhaled slowly. “Let’s go back inside.” There was no need to stay cramped in the hallway anymore.

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