Page 18 of Hopeless Magic
“Well, you’re no high dollar escort but, yeah, you look decent.”
I bite my lip to stop the smile from growing on my face. My feet are still bare and I cross the room to where he stands.
“Did you need something, Daxdyn?” If I’m being honest, the words are intentional. I can practically see the dirty thoughts slamming through his mind.
He tilts his head down to admire me closer. He towers over me without my shoes and I find myself wanting to lean into his hard chest.
He’s not built like the other two. He’s more lithe instead of bulky. He’s not skinny or wiry. The muscle tone is cut solid. It lines his body, as if he’s never eaten a single carb in his entire life.
“Your aunt said it’d be a good idea if I went and checked on you.”
I cock my brow at him. She’s ridiculous. She sent him up here with all her hopes and dreams that we’d be having sex by now.
She probably made a small sacrifice to the gods in the name of my orgasm.
Lady Ivory is that little devil some people have that whispers terrible ideas into their ear at the worst possible time.
She’s going to get him into trouble.
Does Daxdyn know that?
“This place is a whore house, isn’t it?”
His blunt words cause a bubble of laughter to part my lips. I swallow down the sound and nod. My eyes drift to his dusty black boots.
“You don’t have to be embarrassed about it, Zakara.” Carefully, he leans into the white doorframe, coming slightly closer to me.
“I’m not embarrassed. I’m never embarrassed.” Skepticism lines his brows as if he knows me better than I do. “She’s the only family I have and she’s the most successful woman I’ve ever met.”
“You should be proud. In this world, most women die without the protection of a man.” His fingers skim the inside of my wrist just lightly and I shift away from him and his affectionate touch. “You and your aunt are strong. Never be embarrassed by that.”
He leans into me even further and my spine stiffens from his closeness. He doesn’t reach out to me as he presses a kiss to my temple. Warmth sears through me from the small contact.
It’s then that I know he’s the one that held me close when I thought I was dying. A shiver races through my entire body.
Without another word, he brushes past me and heads toward the bathroom.
The door clicks shut behind him and I realize how loud my heart sounds in my ears.
Then I feel someone’s attention on me and I look up in time to see Darrio standing on the top step, staring at me with steely eyes.
“You kissed him too, huh?” His voice is all deep rumbles and sneering laughter.
My brows lower as I wrap my arms around myself. The dress no longer feels pretty. It feels weak. Exposing. Fragile.
“I didn’t kiss him, you demented asshole.” My eyes narrow on him and he takes his time walking closer to me. His boots scuff across the shining hardwood floors of the hallway. Rage flies through me as a taunting smile touches his lips. His amusement only urges me on. “For the record though, when Idokiss him, I won’t push away from him. His touch won’t repulse me. I won’t flinch away from your brother, Darrio. I promise you I’ll enjoy it.” Every clipped word is spoken with vengeance. The shitty words he’s said to me since the moment we met are fueling my terrible anger.
He looks down on me. His wide shoulders fill the span of the doorway but I don’t shrink back from him.
“You really think you’re the first woman to reject me for my brother?” A low, gravelly sound fills his voice. It’s the same tone I thought was so sexy the first time he spoke. His head dips low until he’s right in my face. “You think you’re so fucking special, human? You’re not. You’re nothing.” Only an inch separates his lips from mine as he breathes out the last part on a whisper. “Just like me.”
My lower lip trembles as I stare up into his hard eyes. My own furious reflection is all that I see in his gaze. Our bodies are nearly touching; sparking with the anger fuming between us.
This reaction always floods through my body when it comes to him. This tingling fury that sets me on edge just because he’s near.
“Iamnothing, Rio. But someday I’ll be happy. I’ll be loved. And you’ll still be alone. Alone and an asshole.”
My heart claws at my chest, demanding I push him even further.
