Page 16 of Hopeless Kingdom
A strong arm pulls me against his side and I burrow my head into the nook of his shoulder. There’s something about being manhandled in a bed that wakes up every part of your body. Energy swirls tightly in my core, sparking within me.
A comfortable silence passes and just when I’m about to drift to sleep again, he speaks.
“You know, you don’t have to pretend like you haven’t slept with Darrio.”
My eyes fling open. It’s like his empathic emotions can’t feel the churning of awkwardness within me, as if that feeling has never existed in him in his entire life.
“What makes you think I have?”
His fingers begin to drift along my arm, sending goosebumps across my flesh.
“The chemistry between you two is almost combustible.” His words aren’t spoken with jealousy. It’s just a statement to him, but it does seem to be something he’s thought a lot about.
Chemistry? Is that what he’s calling the love- hate tension Darrio and I have?
I don’t even know how to respond, but I try.
“I wish I could explain it. Darrio isn’t that terribly likable.” And yet, he is in a way. My gaze meets his, finally; the pale light in the room seeps into his features, washing out his coloring.
Laughter rumbles through his chest, shaking into me until a smile pulls at my lips.
“That’s what sucks about it. He’s an asshole and still you’re drawn to him. It really kills my ego, just so you know.”
His tongue rolls across his bottom lip as he smirks down at me. His light eyes shine, making him impossibly sexier. I love his happiness and it soothes me just seeing his smile again.
“Aww, do you need me to stroke your ego, Dax?” My palm skims across the cut lines of his hard chest, tracing his pectorals with a daring finger.
“I don’t need your pity strokes.” His teeth sink into his lower lip as he bites back a smile. His heated eyes study my features, his gaze falling to my mouth before he pulls me closer and presses his lips to my hair once more.
Warmth spreads all through me and for an instant I hate myself for making our relationship harder than it has to be.
I should tell him he should leave. Our friendship feels shaky, like at any moment we both might teeter over the edge into something more sinfully complicated.
Neither of us speaks. We ignore the tension that fills my nerves. We ignore the way he makes my heart calm just from his presence.
We ignore every emotion that screams at me to be heard.
I need Daxdyn and I can’t screw up any more than I already have.
Chapter Six
Freedom and Vengeance
Warmth surrounds me when I wake. My eyes refuse to open as I just settle into that content, calm, and safe feeling of comfort. My palm lightly traces the cut lines of Daxdyn’s smooth abdomen and his hand is pressed to the center of my back, holding me against the side of his body.
Rough fingertips skim up and down my arm, making me crazy with the minimal contact.
“Wake up, my human,” a deep voice whispers in a rumbling tone.
My lashes flutter and I glance up to see Daxdyn’s serene face. His lashes shadow his high cheekbones and even breaths leave his parted lips.
He’s still asleep.
Shit, he’s still asleep.
My eyes widen as I turn in Daxdyn’s arms to see Darrio resting with his back against the glossy headboard.
“Good morning.” His dark brows raise but he doesn’t say anything more.
