Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 87967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“That Mrs. Evans has applied to NYU for her graduate degree in Business. I think you’re going to do very well.” She smiled at me.
“Thank you, Ana, and how many times do I have to tell you it’s Addie, not Mrs. Evans.” I made a face at her.
“Okay.” She smiled, leaving Daimon and me alone.
“So you applied to NYU?” he asked, trying to play with Drako, but Drako wasn’t in the mood. I suspected he missed him too much and was acting coy.
“I might have to do some classes over again but I can enter the graduate program,” I told him, still watching as Drako avoided Daimon.
“Good, I’m glad,” he said quietly as he relented and headed toward the bedroom.
I looked at Daimon’s back, it was hunched over and he looked exhausted. I knew there was some sort of major business deal he was working on with Rafe. Rafe actually called and told me to keep an eye on him. Daimon liked to bottle things up when he was stressed. It had been a month since he played his violin and I knew it was an important outlet to him and how he expressed himself. Daimon and I had a relationship like no other, one I could hardly understand myself, yet I was married to him and I had no other choice but to listen to my heart, especially after everything we’d been through. I’d tried my hardest to ignore it over the last few months, but his despondency tore at my heart.
“Come, Drako. Don’t be angry with Daimon. He’s been working hard,” I said as I slid off the counter’s stool and played with him.
I walked over to the library by the window, picked up his violin case and took it upstairs with me. Daimon was in the shower. I placed the violin case carefully down onto the couch and lowered the lights to the bedroom and waited.
“What are you doing?” he asked, finally coming out of the bathroom.
“Waiting for you,” I said as I stood up. Drako on cue ran to him and wagged his tail.
“Did you tell him something?” he asked, pointing at the dog.
“Told him to not be an asshole like you.” I shrugged. Daimon laughed and started petting Drako. “I brought you your violin,” I said carefully, not knowing where I was treading.
“Why?” he breathed.
“Because you need it and I haven’t heard you play in over a month,” I remarked.
“I'm not in the mood to play,” he bit out coldly.
“Daimon…I know I haven’t exactly made things easy for you, and let’s be honest, you’ve been a fucking bastard, but still, can’t we find a way to coexist without constantly butting heads or hurting each other?” I waited, watching Daimon move closer to me.
“I don’t know? Can we? I can’t promise you I won’t be a prick. It’s in my nature.”
“Why is it in your nature? Especially with me?” I asked.
“Because you’re different. Look, I’ve always and will always be this way. So why invite me back in? Aren’t you happy I'm out of your life?” he asked, seeming genuinely intrigued.
“So you have been distancing yourself from me. It’s not just this business deal,” I noted.
“Like you said, I’ll just keep fucking it all up. So there’s no point.” He smiled a toothless grin.
“So that’s why? You’re afraid? Since when?” I scoffed.
“I’m not afraid of a lot of things, until I met you. Now, I'm afraid of your fucking tears. They look so much like my mother’s just before she left. So I keep thinking, what if you leave me too?” he said earnestly.
“I told you, I'm not going anywhere,” I breathed, my heart breaking. As much as he drove me to distraction, as much as he hurt me, my heart still called out to him.
“That’s what she said,” he said, his voice serious. “It’s inevitable, Addie. You will leave and I will be the reason why,” he said flatly.
“I gave you my word. I told you three years. So why are you so anxious?”
He stepped closer to me, closing the gap between us. His smell invited me in while his body towered over me. He slowly reached for my hair as his finger gently caressed the outline of my face. “You know why I'm worried,” he murmured.
We peered into each other’s face; his sky-blue eyes were melancholy as he brought his hand lightly to my chin. I tried to look down but he wouldn’t let me.
“Look at me,” he commanded softly.
I did as I was told and looked at him. He smiled gently and gave me a chaste kiss.
“We’ll do it your way,” he murmured and lowered his mouth onto mine.
Daimon’s lips were soft and tender as he kissed me. His intoxicating smell enveloped me as I melted. His tongue lightly grazed the seam of my mouth. Pulling away, he smiled contently.