Page 103 of Dark Obsession

Daniel held her close to his side, enjoying the peace it brought him for a moment.“Keira, you’ve been quiet tonight.”

Keira tilted her head up to see his face.“I’m sorry.”

Daniel tightened his hold for a quick hug.“Don’t be sorry.I want to know if you can talk about it?”

She stayed silent for so long he thought she was either asleep or didn’t want to talk.

“One thing I was thinking about is your ex.”

“What about her?”

“I know you’re going to get in touch with her, and I just wondered if you had any feelings left for her?”

Daniel smiled gently and felt her relax a bit.“Absolutely not.No other woman compares to you and never will.”

She nodded.“Then, I started thinking about how much I have to do, and it seemed overwhelming, but I just keep telling myself to take one thing at a time.I wish I’d get my energy back quicker.”

He slid his hand up and down her back.“What things need to be done because you have to know I’m going to help?In fact, I know a lot of people who want to help.”

“I know.I’m so lucky, but everyone has such busy lives, I hate to ask for too much help.I have to clean the house, pack my things again, find an apartment, buy the clothes and other things he destroyed.”She felt his body stiffen and misread his body language.“I know it’s a lot, isn’t it?”She looked up at him when he didn’t speak for several moments.“What’s wrong?”

Daniel tried to keep his anger in check, but still a growl tore from his mouth.“There are so many things wrong right now.I can’t tell you.”

Keira propped herself up on an elbow.A chill raced down her spine at the angry, cold look on his face.Keira started to move away from him.“Listen, Daniel, maybe it would be better if I go.”

She gasped when he carefully flipped her over on her back and then held her pinned to the mattress with his body.

“First of all, Keira, I don’t know where you got the idea that you were ever leaving this house.We talked about it, remember?I thought it was already decided.”

“Daniel, I just think it’s too early in our relationship to think about living together.”

His eyes bore into hers as fear swept through him.“Do you love me?”

“Yes.Very much.But that doesn’t...”

“I love you.”

Tears burned her eyes.Keira sighed and laid a hand on his cheek.

Daniel swept his thumb over one of her silky cheeks.“What’s holding us back from living together and eventually getting married?”

“I don’t know.I just don’t want to push you into something you’re not ready for.”

Daniel studied her for a moment.He was momentarily afraid that what he was about to do might freak her out and make her want to run from him.“Stay right here,” he said as he pushed himself off of her and walked to his dresser and back.

She sat up, apprehensively, when he sat down on the edge of the bed next to her hip, facing her.

“Keira, from the moment I saw you, I knew you were born to be mine, and nothing since then has changed my mind.We’ve been through more than most couples go through in a year or more together.I love you more than I ever thought I could love another person.”Daniel opened his hand.

Keira gasped and slapped her hands over her mouth at the small blue velvet box lying in the palm of his hand.“Daniel...”

“Just hush for a second.We love each other, and we’re old enough to know what we want and how love really feels.I don’t ever want to lose you.”Her silence had his nerves skittering.He waited for several heart-stopping moments.“Unless you don’t feel as strongly for me as I do you?”

Her shocked eyes snapped to his face.“Oh, God, no.I absolutely feel the same way.It scares me sometimes how much I love you.”

Daniel drew a relieved breath into his lungs.

He watched tears fill her eyes as the lid of the box lifted.She loved everything about the ring.On a thick silver band was a beautiful two-carat oval diamond.It was the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen.

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