Chapter 3 - Ivan
Even during the journey from Mexico back to San Diego, I still couldn’t wrap my head around just how different she seemed. The woman I once knew was timid…seemingly passive and far too agreeable for her own good.
That woman had me completely entranced whether I liked it or not, and she had a ridiculous hold on me that I didn’t want to admit to.
As nice as it would be to look back on that time fondly, regardless of how out of character I had been around her, the reminder of her true intentions and actions was enough to completely sour those memories. It all left a bitter taste on my tongue, and I knew it wasn’t something I could just forget.
Regardless of how strangely hopeful she once made me…able to pull me out of my habits and preconceived notions, she lied to me. She led me on, all while being the only one in on her plan—aside from her brother, of course. She shattered that trust entirely, and even if her new spark surprised me, I was still going to snuff it out.
If she wanted to let me down so completely, then it was only fair I did the same in return.
Once Daria was bound and I pulled her off the jet, I kept her closely in tow while we moved across the tarmac. With the horizon glowing orange and red in the distance, dusk began to fall, and soon enough the strip would be completely lit up. But, we weren’t staying long enough to watch it happen.
Instead, an SUV was waiting for us already with the engine running. Sights set on it, I gave her forearm another pull to keep her moving.
“Come along, Zoey ,” I muttered, well aware of how petty it sounded, yet no part of me cared. I had every right to be sour, and she would simply have to deal with it.
She stumbled slightly while trying to keep up with my longer strides and scoffed. “It’s Daria…”
Her mumbled reply served as another reminder that there was no hiding her real identity anymore…the secret was out, and there was no point in calling her anything but her real name. And yet, I still enjoyed the way that false name seemed to sting her when it left my mouth.
“My mistake. It’s hard to keep track of these days,” I returned sardonically. “So many names, so little time.”
“I get it…” Daria grumbled with a faint bite to her tone. “You don’t need to be an asshole about it.”
“No? You don’t think so?”
“How much longer are you going to keep throwing it in my face?” She asked, looking both irritated and vaguely remorseful. However, the latter seemed to come from the fact that she had been caught and couldn’t escape the consequences.
My jaw clenched when I felt her pull against me slightly, but I maintained my grip, paused my movements, and looked her in the eyes. “For as long as I feel like it…for the foreseeable future.”
A hint of uncertainty crossed her face, and while she seemed to stew in those words, I yanked her forward again. The slow pace of her steps irked me, since I could feel every second of her resistance, and to keep my cool, I needed her to comply.
Yet, something was enticing about it all…knowing she was afraid of me and wanted to resist. How, regardless of her precarious circumstances, she was still attempting to put up some kind of fight.
It was all fruitless, of course, yet it was strangely entertaining to watch her struggle at no benefit to herself.
I wasn’t one to shy away from conflict, and that worked in my favor.
Regardless of how furious I was with her, watching those irritated and fearful expressions of hers while she processed everything in real time was too good to pass up.
When I didn’t give her any time to consider everything too deeply, Daria fixed her lips into a scowl while she could do nothing but be pulled along the tarmac and steered toward the vehicle.
As hot as my blood was boiling, even I couldn’t deny how the proximity was enough to make my resolve waver by a fraction.
Beneath it all, I had been attracted to her first and foremost. Drawn in by intrigue and curiosity despite myself. And even then, it was nearly impossible to ignore that aspect of it all.
Even with her scowling face. Even with her useless resistance…she was still beautiful, and a part of me hated it.
I hated how that internal struggle reared its ugly head and seemed to demand my attention no matter what I did to try and push it away.
No part of me wanted to even allow her to have that kind of satisfaction, yet it seemed out of my hands.
And despite that, I still struggled while I held her arm and could feel the warmth of her skin against mine. The unspoken temptation of it had my nerves standing on end, and while I didn't want to give it too much thought, I couldn't help it.
There was just something about her, regardless of how infuriating that was.
With a volatile mixture of anger at her and frustration with myself for being so weak against her when I should be anything but, I put that irritation into dragging her along.
When Daria pulled back against me again with her brows pinched together, my patience started to slip away even more.
"Be gentle—“
"Gentle?" I retorted, veiled in near disbelief. "Now, why would I do that?"
Daria seemed almost surprised by my words, but she quickly corrected herself and tried to yank her arm back. "Maybe to prove that you aren't a complete monster?"
Anger flashed in my eyes at that, and I tightened my grip on her, moving closer. That restraint seemed to slip farther and farther away from my control. "And what if I am?"
Her eyes widened by a fraction, barely managing to murmur, "That wasn't who you were before..."
"You'd know a lot about that, wouldn't you?" I bit back, letting the faintest hint of a smirk cross my lips at the way she seemed to recoil.
A flicker of guilt moved through her eyes, and something about it pleased my need to see her bearing the weight of her consequences.
When she didn't say anything else, I yanked her forward more roughly to get the point across. "Hurry up...keep moving."
Even if a part of her was still trying to fight me, she eventually either ran out of the willpower to resist, or realized what was better for her, and she offered me a semblance of cooperation.
Reaching the SUV, I pulled the back door open, took a slight step back, and guided her in, not allowing any more interruptions or stalling. She had done enough of that, and while I could only anticipate more pushback from her at some point along the way, I didn’t want to encourage it.
As fun as it would be to play with her a bit more, she was going to be stuck with me for quite some time, which meant I had more than ample opportunity to get my amusement. For the time being, I just wanted to get back home after dealing with everything.
Leaning into the back, I grabbed the seatbelt and pulled it across her body, pausing once I realized the proximity. With that position held, I glanced over at her, meeting those brown eyes that looked so jumbled with complicated emotions, given the circumstances.
There was no missing the slight fluster that spilled into her features. Nor could I ignore the stirring need within myself.
She was so temptingly close…close enough that all I had to do was move a fraction closer to finally feel her lips. To know what she tasted like.
No woman had ever sparked that kind of curiosity in me before, and of course, she, of all people, had to be the one to accomplish exactly that.
As much as I wanted to cut that space between us, I had too many reasons not to. Especially while that hot anger still coursed through my veins.
I watched as her throat moved with a hard swallow, and the corner of my lips pulled slightly. She could pretend all she wanted that I wasn’t affecting her, but I knew better.
Finally buckling her in, I withdrew and allowed myself to gloat for a moment, then shut the door and rounded the vehicle. When I slid onto the other side, I noticed the slightest shift in the color of her cheeks while she sat there, obviously struggling to compose herself.
As much as I wanted to let that anger fester inside me, I couldn’t even deny how good that felt.
Before long, the SUV started moving, leaving the hangar behind in favor of my place.
I busied myself on my phone all the while, Daria sat there in silence, staring blankly out the window. Glancing at her occasionally, I could feel more of that stirring that made me desire nothing more than to pull her against me and have my way with her.
Something in me just wanted to get it over with…to sate my curiosity and free myself of it. Yet, I had the feeling one time wouldn’t be enough.
Instead, I kept my hands to myself and did my best to hold back those urges. As much as I wanted her, I wasn’t about to throw my plans and convictions to the wind.
First and foremost, Daria needed to pay for what she did, and I was going to do everything in my power to make that happen.
From my seat, I could feel how rage akin to my own seemed to emanate from her, and while that should’ve been irritating, it was exactly what I wanted.