Page 35 of Hopeless Realm
“He was afraid you wouldn’t say it back,” Daxdyn says with a teasing tone.
“Shut up, Dax, you’re not helping.” Darrio shoots his brother a serious look and I follow his gaze, taking in the humor in Daxdyn’s smooth features.
Is he being honest?
The last thing Darrio said to me was that he loved me, and then he shoved me into this world before I ever had a chance to consider a reply.
“Please, don’t act like avoiding her rejection wasn’t a bonus to saving her.” Daxdyn folds his arms across his chest as he leans into the door frame.
My heart pounds while I think about everything. Gods, I was so worried about them, and now life’s just spun out of control. And yet, everything between us is completely normal.
“So, you don’t want to know what I would have said?” My palm runs down his muscular thigh as I hold his attention entirely.
I give a careless look toward the floor.
His brooding gaze studies me for a few seconds. It’s almost as if I can physically hear him thinking.
“It doesn’t really matter. I meant what I said. I didn’t say it in some vain attempt to hear it repeated back to me.”
Gods above, he’s so damn stubborn.
“Fine.” I shrug and stand as if it truly means nothing to either one of us.
My boots only make it two paces away from him before he speaks again.
“What,” a small pause has a smile pulling at my lips, “what would you have said, Kara?”
My eyes meet Daxdyn’s and his shit eating grin mirrors mine.
I love it when I win.
The quiet settles in between us and I turn to him, taking in his beautiful, scarred features. The jagged imperfection running down the side of his face reminds me of the first time we kissed. It was the first time I slapped him too.
My smile grows fonder, less tormenting and more genuine.
“I wouldn’t have been able to say it to you then.” My attention carefully tracks the way his brows raise, the slight parting of his lips as if he just took a blow to his stomach.
I wouldn’t have. I would have been too afraid. Too confused of my own damn feelings. Love is dangerous. It doesn’t seem like it. It seems completely euphoric. But it has the power to destroy us.
Or … it has the power to make us realize what happiness really feels like. Daxdyn’s teasing playfulness and Darrio’s unyielding loyalty drift through my thoughts.
“But then I lost you two for days. I forgot what it feels like,” my arms fold across my chest in a protective way as my voice falls to a quiet whisper, “I forgot what it feels like to lose someone you love.”
Darrio’s brows raise even more, his starlight eyes widening. Strong arms skim across my stomach as I’m pulled back into Daxdyn’s chest.
“I’m sorry, did you just confess your undying love for me?” Daxdyn whispers against my neck.
Soft lips press there, making me shiver in his arms as his warm tongue sweeps across my skin.
“No one said the word undying, Dax.” My hands fold over his as I sink into him.
“Say it again,” he whispers as his lips press to the base of my neck once more.
My heart pounds, my mouth feeling dry.
“I said,” Darrio holds my gaze with heightened interest, “I said I love you two assholes.” I force a smile to my lips even though terror like I’ve never felt is clawing its way through my chest.
What if Darrio changed his mind? What if Dax doesn’t feel the same way?
