Chapter 18
Ingrid
As luck would have it, shortly after Darius’s sister left, he received an urgent call from a client. Cutting off all our plans and sending him to pack. The gravity of the situation pulled him away, forcing him onto a plane bound for South Africa, where he needed to handle the matter himself.
I’d been disappointed, though I can’t explain why. There will always be something standing in our way. I’ll play second fiddle to his precious job, knowing the familiar sting of his ambition taking precedence over my needs. My childhood taught me not to expect more from men driven like he is.
I used to tell myself that being with a man like Darius would never work. Too much, too complicated. But watching how determined he is, I’m starting to believe we just might be able to pull this off.
It’s the little things he’s done since moving me in.
I’ve seen a whole different side of him, one I wouldn’t have seen if we weren’t living in the same house.
Then when he left again, I got the chance to really get to know a whole new side of him.
He was determined to prove himself, to show me he wasn’t like the men I’d been comparing him to.
The Monday after he left is when things for us really started to turn around. The insistent beep of my phone cut through the early morning stillness, delivering a message of affirmation—simple words, yet they carried unexpected weight.
DARIUS:
I hired a driver. He’ll be outside at 8, drop you near class, and pick you up after 1. If you need to go anywhere else, he’ll be on standby—day or night—just text him. I wasn’t sure about your PT schedule, so make sure he knows those as well.
ME:
I can use an Uber. You didn’t need to hire a driver for me.
DARIUS:
…
ME:
Those three dots keep appearing and disappearing. Just say what you have to say. I can take it.
DARIUS:
Ok. Let’s see if that’s true.
DARIUS:
Maybe it’s because I don’t want my girlfriend, whose parents screwed her over, to stress about the bullshit details. If I were there, I’d be the one driving you. Since I’m not, I hired a car service I trust. Is it so bad that, as your boyfriend, I want to take care of you?
ME:
…
DARIUS:
Now who needs to just say it?
ME:
When did we decide we were boyfriend and girlfriend? I don’t recall having that conversation.
DARIUS:
When I fucked your sweet mouth and spilled my cum down your throat.
ME:
…
I can’t even find the words to respond to that. Heat floods my face, and I know I’m blushing ferociously. He has a point. He’s the first man who’s ever done that—but still, he’s making one hell of an assumption.
My phone rings, startling me and I nearly drop it. I fumble, hit speaker, and set it down so I can finish getting ready. “I—”
He cuts me off, his tone a blend of authority and something softer, almost playful. “Let’s get one thing straight here, cupcake. You don’t get to push me away after you told me you trusted me in front of my sister. I know I’m not your ideal man.”
No way I’m letting him believe that. “Who said?”
Darius grunts, the sound raw with frustration. “I hate that I had to leave before we could hash this shit out.”
“Me too.” With a sigh, I sink into the chair, the steam from my coffee curling in front of me. “I’m not sure I have an ideal man. But if I did? You’d be pretty damn close.”
“Then we agree that we’re officially a couple, right?” He isn’t backing down.
“What does that mean? Does it mean… will you expect?” I swallow hard, the dryness of my throat making the action difficult.
Why is the shy girl showing up now?
“I’ll expect nothing. Just exclusivity. And that I get to take care of you.
” He pauses, his tone softening into something that hits deep.
“We’ll decide the rest together. I want nothing more than to worship you, cupcake.
Every. Inch. But until you’re ready to experience that, I’ll survive by knowing you’re mine, and only mine. ”
“Okay, then.” Not ready to talk about when that will be, I tap my nails on my mug. “So now what?”
I can hear the smile in his voice. “Now we get to know each other even better. How’s the leg?”
We talk for a few more minutes. I learn he’s still in South Africa, hashing out a plan for his client. When the car service texts to say they are ready, we say our goodbyes.
Six weeks. Every day he texts me. Short when he’s under pressure, softer and more personal when the world quits and night sets in.
In six weeks, his true nature shines through, proving my assumptions wrong. He’s nothing like my father. A far better man than Wilson. The more I get to know him, the more I see him.
I like what I see. I like him. I might even…
DARIUS:
I miss you.
ME:
I miss you too.
DARIUS:
I wish I could be there with you. Kiss your soft lips. Lick your sweet pussy.
ME:
I wish you could do all that too. When do you think you’ll be back in the States?
DARIUS:
I thought I’d be able to swing a trip this weekend, surprise you. But then one of my clients called and needs me in Belize. I’m sorry.
ME:
It’s okay. I’m busy studying. The trainers are sending me for an MRI.
My knee isn’t getting any better. A tear could end my college sports career.
I’ve gotta keep my grades up so I don’t lose my scholarship.
Otherwise, I’ll have to return home and figure out what that means for my education. So, failure isn’t an option.
DARIUS:
If you want to stay at Princeton, then we’ll figure out how to make that happen.
ME:
I can’t let you do that.
DARIUS:
You can and will. Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.
DARIUS:
How did the appointment go?
ME:
Can we talk about it later? I’m deeply involved with a very exclusive Scottish. He’s making me feel better, and I’m letting him.
DARIUS:
I hope you meant to type scotch, that auto-correct changed that.
Cause I have so many questions about what type of Scottish you are getting exclusive with.
Man? Better not be.
Perhaps a dog? I’d be okay with it being even one of your book boyfriends.
ME:
Haha. Oops. LMAO. I think I’ll go search for B.O.B. now. We’ve lost touch lately, and I need a little me-time.
The sudden ring of my phone slices through the mess of scattered clothes and fumbling hands. I don’t even look at it when I hit the green button. When Darius’ face fills the screen, his voice spilling out, I stop cold.
“Damn, you look beautiful.”
“Hi,” I say as my hand finds the toy I was searching for. “Found it.”
My mind’s a little fuzzy; I blame the alcohol. Raising the massive dildo in victory, I let honesty spill out unchecked. “It’s not as large as yours, but it’ll have to work until you return. I’ve used this a lot, thinking about how you’ll ruin me once you get there.”
“Cupcake, you’re killing me.” Darius groans. “I want to watch. Will you let me?”
“You want to watch me fuck myself with B.O.B.?” Dropping onto my bed, I prop the phone against my stack of steamy romance books. “I’m not sure it’s all that interesting. I mean, I just slip off my knickers, slap on some lube, then let the rabbit ears do their best while I work it in and out of me.”
Darius growls, and that sound makes my core clench and grow wet. If he keeps that up, I won’t need lube.
“I want to watch you fuck yourself. Please, Ingrid.” He sets his phone down somewhere, not sure where, and orders, “Take off your clothes and get on the bed. Put that wet little cunt of yours in front of the camera so I have the full experience. I’m going to jack off while you do. You can watch.”
The thought of watching him turns me on more. “Okay. I’ve never done this. Oh my god, are we really doing this?”
I can’t look away as he angles the phone, giving a perfect view of him undressing. Damn, he’s so gorgeous.
“Are you just going to watch? I’m okay with that.” He grabs his cock and gives it a good, long pull. “You can just watch if you’d like, if you’re not comfortable doing the other. But if you are, I’d love to do this together.”
I grab the tumbler of scotch and take a healthy drink before I start removing my clothes. If he can do this, so can I.
Holy shit! We’re really doing this.
His eyes become focused as I strip off my clothes. I can feel his gaze. It’s intense. And I like this, more than I thought I would.
Once I’m ready, he helps guide me.
“Okay, grab your little friend and show me what you do when no one’s watching.” The calm steadiness of Darius’s voice fills me with courage.
I grab B.O.B., turn him on, and suck in a deep, shaky breath. Pressing him to my entrance, I sink him inside. No lube. Don’t need it. I’m already dripping wet for him.
Then he starts the dirty talk. “That’s it, baby. Fuck your pussy. Faster. Fuck, that’s hot.”
I follow his instructions precisely. Slide the silicone dildo in and out of me, mirroring the speed I visualize him using.
“Turn it up a little and let me hear you moan my name.” As he bites his lip, his hand glides along his shaft. “Does that feel as good as you think my cock will feel when I slam into you?”
“No. Darius… oh, Darius.” I focus on him.
Not on my pussy, spread wide.
Not on the way I’m fucking myself.
Not on the face he’s making while watching every second.
His dark, honeyed voice fills the room. “Right answer. When I finally fuck you, your little friend won’t mean shit. It won’t be nearly enough.”
He groans again, and so do I. “Fuck, baby, I’m about to come all over my stomach. Watch me. Don’t you dare look away. And when I come, you better fucking come with me.”
I watch. His hand tightens around his cock as he pumps faster. White streams of cum coat his stomach. The sight breaks me wide open. My climax surges free.
He just talked me through the sexiest damn experience of my life. Ten times hotter than doing it alone. Fifty times more satisfying than my previous sexual encounters. He’ll destroy me one day, and I’ll let him.
I can’t move. I don’t care that my wet, shattered pussy is taking up his entire screen. I’m boneless, and he doesn’t seem to care either.
“That was hot,” I finally moan as I sit up.
“Don’t misread this, please. My brain just blew out of my dick, so I’m not sure I’ll say this right.” Darius licks his lips as he grabs a tissue, wiping off his stomach. “But fuck, Ingrid, your pussy is my kryptonite. When I finally get inside you, I may never leave. I…”
A comfortable sigh escapes my lips as I grab the phone, still smiling. “You what?”
“Spend your winter break with me. I know it’s a few weeks away, but if you don’t have other plans.” He brings his phone up to his face, filling the entire screen. “I’ll fly you to wherever I am. Please say yes.”
I flop back onto my pillow and think about it. “I have to fly home. Mother requested it. I think I should, at least for a few days. But there’s no way in hell I’m spending my entire break there.”
“We’ll play it by ear, then. I want you with me, cupcake. I miss you. God, I miss you.” Reaching out, Darius touches the screen. “I need to get my schedule under control. Being away from you like this is wearing me down. I’ve got an idea. We’ll talk about it when you come stay with me.”
As we talk, our words slur, and we fall asleep.
My phone dies sometime during the night, and when I plug it in, the first thing that pops up when it restarts is the sweetest text.
Be still, my heart.
DARIUS:
You’ve flipped my world upside down, cupcake.
Last night was amazing.
Thank you for trusting me. I’m going to make it back to you soon, but if I don’t see you before your break, I swear I’m kidnapping you during it.
I miss you. More than I ever thought I could miss someone.