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“Sorry. No filter with the whole alcohol consumption thing.” I mumble, but he holds his hand up.
“Don’t apologize. I actually prefer this brutal and raw honesty. It’s refreshing.”
I blink at him and nod lightly, then smirk as I hold up my glass in a comedic ‘Cheers’, “To brutal, and raw honesty, whether you like it or not.”
He barks a laugh and bumps his drink to mine, “I can ‘Cheers’ to that.”
We both take a sip as my thoughts wander to the events earlier in the night, “So what was Dolly’s deal anyways?”
Darian grimaces, “She has been involved in the club for the last hundred years or so. She was being hunted by Caspian along with her brother prior to that. When we first met, her brother had just died, but I was able to give her protection and full access to my safehouses, properties and guards. Over time it seems as though she’scome to dislike humans and the lack of magic here. She blames humans because there’s no one else to blame other than the Gods and she wouldn’t risk angering them like that.”
I huff loudly, “Oh she felt more than dislike. It was plain as day, the disgust and hatred she felt while she was in front of us.”
He raises an eyebrow, “What do you mean?”
“I mean it was easy to tell. Behind that amusement, she was absolutely enraged. She was disgusted. I just can’t tell if it was at me or you or everything.”
Darian hums in agreement as we both finish our drinks and there’s a long pause of silence between us. My mind wanders to showering but then settles on the Jacuzzi outside on the patio and my entire face lights up, “You wanna go swimming, Mr. Cathorn?!”
Darian’s mismatched eyes darken as heat flares through them, “That shouldn’t even be a question, Ray.”
My name on his lips sends tingles down my spine and I grin mischievously.
“Last one there is a rotten egg and has to make breakfast tomorrow!”
Before I get half the sentence out, I’ve broken into a sprint toward the master bedroom, Darian’s laugh and quick footsteps follow behind me.
I scramble to press the button for the curtains to rise, then jog past the bed where Val is peeking at me with one eye before resuming his ‘sleep’.
Opening the door to the patio, I check the dial on the side of the Jacuzzi, turning the jets on before tearing my cardigan off. Tugging my dress over my head, I drop them both to the floor and take two steps into the water.
My body tingles with the feeling of being watched, and I turn slowly to see Darian staring at me. His expression is hard, jaw feathering as his eyes narrow before they flick to mine.
My face falls in embarrassment and I stare at the ground between us, “If they’re too disturbing, I can put my clothes back-”
“Stop.” Darian interrupts me with a growl.
My head snaps back up to look at him, “Stop what?”
He walks closer, peeling his shirt off and tossing it next to my dress, “Don’t you fucking dare cover them.”
“Do they not disturb you?” Disbelief coats my voice as I feign a teasing tone.
He shakes his head and I scoff.
“Do not lie to me, Darian. You don’t need to minimize their severity; I am painfully aware of what they look like. These scars may be a part of who I am, and I’m still learning to live with them but that doesn’t mean you have to.”
He’s quiet as he studies me, and once again, I’m like an ant under a magnifying glass as he does. The look on his face is not one of sympathy but anger and something else I can’t place.
I feel as though I’m on the verge of squirming or fidgeting as he speaks again.
“Who was it?” He has a certain calm about him as he steps closer, but I’m unable to find my voice to answer and my gaze drops.
Telling him would mean I’ve now spoken into existence the truth of my traumas not once but twice.
Verbalizing one of my many abuser’s names to Caspian was a possible misstep but, Darian gives me a sense of peace and calm that I’ve never experienced before.
I find myself more trusting of him, which has only been reinforced seeing how he interacts with those around him.
