Page 35 of Darkness Tempt Me
I pull my friend into a grateful hug. “Thank you. Now, I’m going to bring my husband home and make sure he’s safe.”
He’s still dancing at the edge of the floor, eyes closed. I walk right up to him. As if sensing me, Peyton blinks his pretty eyes open, his bright blue gaze immediately finding mine. He smirks at me before sensually moving his hips to the music and closing the distance between us. I wrap my arms around him as we begin dancing. All the tension and anger leave my body until he’s nothing but my sole focus.
“If looks could kill,” he murmurs in my ear, running his fingers through my hair, nails scraping against my scalp.
I pull back and arch a curious brow, amused.
“Did I ever tell you how hot it is when you stare at me like that?” he asks.
“Like what?”
He waves his index finger in a circular motion in front of my face. “It’s like you’re either hungry or… murderous.” He cackles as soon as the words leave his pretty lips.
Murderous. Murderer.
My heart skips a beat. He sways to the left, and I have to catch him before he falls over. I know he only meant it as a joke, but that dark part of me revels in the ‘what-if.’What if he truly saw me? What if he accepted me?Allof me.I shake my head, shoving those thoughts away.
“You’re drunk,” I state, and he giggles.
Fuck. This is exactly why I kept Peyton at a distance all these years. No one knows me better than this man. It only took him a month to have Mavik Blackwood, CEO, all figured out. But how long would it take for him to discover Mavik Blackwood, serial killer? How long would it take for him to discover the darker side of me I’ve kept hidden from the world?
Probably not long at all, if I’m being honest. Peyton is smart. There’s a reason I didn’t show Peyton any other part of my personal life. How would Peyton react if he ever found out he’d married a serial killer?
A waitress walks by the edge of the dance floor. Peyton tries to take another shot, but I place it back down on the tray. “That’s enough, little light. Let’s go home.”
He smiles up at me sloppily. He’s an adorable drunk.
Once I get him to my place, I bring him to the bathroom, help him brush his teeth, undress, and help him into my loose dressshirt so he can sleep. And when he’s in bed, blinking up at me slowly, I tuck him in, tenderly kissing his forehead.
His words from earlier replay in my head.I just want to find my person…someone to call mine.
“I could be yours.” If you’d let me. If you would accept me.
Chapter twenty-two
Peyton
Sunlight streams through the windows. For some unbeknownst reason, I reach my hand out, looking for my husband. It’s been six days since we got married, and five nights since I started sleeping in the fucking guest room.
Yeah, I’m still salty that I didn’t have sex on my wedding night, or hell, I haven’t had sex since getting married. Memories of our wedding night come to mind. Oh god. I can’t believe I confessed some of my fantasies to him. I remember how hard he was with me in his lap, so he’s clearly attracted to me. Maybe he isn’t into any of the things I said?
Flushing with heat, I groan, covering my face with a pillow. I mean, I was practically dry humping his cock. It was probably just basic biology that he was hard. Maybe he isn’t into me at all.
Memories of him whispering to Hunter that night fill me with rage. What were they talking about? Why are there still so many secrets between us? Six days and we don’t share a room. Mavikhas snuck out of the house at least three times since we got married, and I have no idea why.
My phone vibrates with a notification.
Mavik: I had to head into work early.
Of course he did.
Mavik: I can’t wait to see you. I have a surprise for you.
I jerk upright in bed and reread the text. Shit. I’m so pathetic. One little text and I’m buzzing with happiness. Screw it. No one has to know how lame I am.
Spotting the shimmery white box that was supposed to be reserved for my wedding night, I tug the lid off and smile down at the lacy material.
As I get ready for work, I convince myself that our marriage might just be a way for him to easily secure his company. It might be fake, but there’s nothing stopping me from trying to make it real. I mean, isn’t that what his uncle wanted? For Mavik to be happy for a year? Why can’t I try to make him happy? We’re leaving for our honeymoon next week. Maybe by the time we leave, I can have him convinced that we could have arealhoneymoon together.
