Chapter 26
Ingrid
Late February
Keeping Darius alive means babysitting a man who refuses to be told no. Rest. Pills. Therapy. He thinks he’s above it all, like almost dying was just an inconvenience.
It’s exhausting.
With a heavy heart, I’ve decided against returning to Princeton.
I couldn’t leave him after all that’s happened.
If I leave, he’ll break all the rules. Overdo it and end up back in the hospital.
He needs me here. Leaving would only mean he’d follow me, setting his recovery back months.
And I can’t have that. His mother already hates me.
Plus, the University of Geneva is top-notch.
It’s where Darius and Esteban met and earned their degrees.
Seems logical to transfer there once he’s back on his feet and life returns to normal.
We’ve had to play it week by week. One day at a time.
Each day his strength returns more. Stubborn man, thinks he can do more than he should.
It’s a wonder he’s not had a setback. It’s been six long weeks since that day.
He’s a looming threat that I won’t be able to resist much longer.
His body is now healing faster than my ability to run interference.
He’ll win, and I’ll lose. (Is it losing if I’m struggling not to jump him, too?)
His mother tests every ounce of my patience.
Everything I do is wrong. She’s hell-bent on running me off.
Stops by almost daily so she can criticize me in front of him.
Continues to rave over that fucking nurse Darius fired, keeps threatening to hire her back against her son’s objections.
I want to say, bring it on, bitch. See what happens.
Instead, I bite my tongue and watch as she digs her own grave.
Darius has threatened to ban her from his home if she oversteps her welcome and keeps upsetting me.
All that did was make her sneakier about it.
Now she saves her poison for when he’s not in the room.
She’s this close to getting throat-punched.
Lenny taught me that move before I left for university, said every girl should know how to defend herself.
And I’m about to test my skills on her, so she’d better back off.
Watching her meddle makes me understand Darius’s solitude in ways I never did before. It’s a stifling presence that drives people away with its suffocating intensity. He ran from relationships to avoid putting anyone through this circus.
But he’s worth it. Worth every petty word spoken out of her mouth. Every fake smile she pastes on when he’s around. I’ll endure, take it like a champ and not fail. I’ll put up with her because I love him.
He’s the man I never knew I needed. The one who came crashing into my life and refused to leave.
I hated him at first—the way his charm, like a persistent magnetic force, drew me into his orbit.
His daily antics still get under my skin, but now…
now I’ve learned to love it. To see the truth, on why that is.
With him, there is only me. The real me.
No mask. No pretending. Just me. And that’s something I never thought I’d get.
After his team meeting, Darius comes into the kitchen and stands behind me at the stove where I’m attempting to make dinner. His hands land on my hips as he peeks over my shoulder.
I know what he’s thinking.
Cooking isn’t my strong suit. I’m trying to learn, but most of the time what I make isn’t edible, and we end up tossing it. For once, I think I’ve gotten it right.
“What smells so delicious? Did you do this all by yourself?” Reaching over, he plucked a glistening apple and onion, still warm from the pan. The caramelized duo is layered on top of golden-brown pork chops. “Damn, that is really good.”
A grin spreads across my face as I peek up at him. “I know. I’m kind of surprised myself. We have dirty mashed potatoes and rolls George made before he left.”
George is the chef Darius hired to cook for us while we’re here.
He’s taken me under his wing, teaching me not just how to cook but how to actually read a recipe without panicking.
This dish is probably the most daring one I’ve tried, although it only sounds complicated.
Truth is, it’s shockingly simple—far easier than it looks.
Grabbing a few plates, silverware, and glasses, Darius carries them to the table. “I knew you could do it. When you set your mind to something, you never stop until you make it happen.”
I bring in the last of the dishes while he pours us some water. Wine would be nice, but he’s still on pain meds, so no wine yet. I take my first bite and immediately have to close my eyes. Holy hell. So damn good. Might become my trademark dish. The one I pull out for special occasions.
“You are so getting laid tonight,” Darius announces between bites. “Maybe even on this very table as soon as I’m done.”
I pause my fork mid-bite. “You have a few more weeks before you can do that. Let’s not push our luck.”
He scoops up the last of his potatoes, dragging his pork chop through the glaze until the plate gleams clean. “Wanna bet?”
“Our wedding is only a few months away,” I say, steady but not steady enough. The nervous crack in my voice gives me away. “Better if we just wait until then.”
His eyes sharpen as he shoves the empty plate aside. “Is that your idea… or something my mother whispered in your ear? Or is it you’re afraid of something?”
“Afraid? No, that’s crazy. What’s there to be afraid of?” I stand, picking up my plate as I do. “I just think it would be better if we did.”
“Better?” His footsteps follow me, the weight of his stare prickling my back. “You didn’t seem to think so before I got shot. Why now?”
“Well, for one, you’re still healing.” I rinse off the plate and go to hand it to him, then nearly drop it when I realize he’s ripped off his shirt and tossed it aside. “W-what are you doing?”
He grins as his pants hit the ground, leaving him in nothing but his black briefs. “Demonstrating. Exhibit A: My wounds have healed. Exhibit B: And functioning.”
“Showing off your hot bod will not make me change my mind.” I swallow as my eyes leisurely track down his body. “How are you still so perfectly fit? I stopped working out and in two weeks gained ten pounds. You haven’t gained an ounce, and if I’m not mistaken, have tightened up some. Damn.”
Striding my way, he takes advantage of the fact I’m distracted. “What, you think I’ve been lying around doing nothing? These last couple of weeks, I’ve been sneaking in sit-ups, pushups, lunges… even burpees and jumping jacks. All when no one was watching.”
“What? Are you crazy? You could have—”
He knows what I’m about to say and shuts me up with his mouth.
We’ve kissed a lot while he’s been healing, but I always break away after a few, afraid of what they’ll lead to.
Guess he should’ve stripped down sooner, short-circuiting my defenses.
My hands skate over the hard planes of his body, greedily. Fuck, he feels so hot against my palms.
He scoops me up without breaking the kiss, and heads for the stairs. My fingers tangle in his hair, holding on tight, not daring to let go. I should protest, but dammit, I’ve waited long enough.
He has us upstairs without incident or growing winded. Proving he’s stronger and those late-night workouts while I slept, seem to have paid off.
Laying me down on the bed, he slides in next to me. Reaching for the hem of my shirt, he tugs it upward. When I lift my arms to help, the look he gives me—half gratitude, half hunger—nearly breaks me.
Once it’s gone, I roll him onto his back, straddling his chest.
“In a hurry?” His chuckle fades as I reach behind me, unhook my bra, and slide it off my arms, causing his breath to catch. “Damn. You are, aren’t you?”
With my hands firmly on his chest, I squint. “Look. Since we’re going to do this, we’re doing it my way or I’m leaving.”
Placing his warm hands on my hips, he grins up at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Fine. And what’s your way, cupcake?”
“Me on top?” It’s phrased more like a question.
“Are you sure? You don’t sound very convincing. Have you ever been on top before?” Darius’s hands caress my arms. “I’ll take you however I can get you. If that means letting you ride me like a bucking bronco, I’m game.”
The thought from my uni days involving a mechanical bull floods my brain.
“I’m sure. You just lie back and let me do most of the work.” I stand so I can remove my leggings and knickers. Pointing at him, I order, “You can take those off instead of just gawking.”
He lifts his hips and slides his briefs down his thick thighs, kicking them to the side. “I was just following earlier orders. I don’t want to be denied my chance to love you properly.”
Returning to the bed, I look at his sizable knob. “We might need to slow down. How do you walk around with that tucked in your pants?” I’ve wondered that a lot after having had him in my mouth.
I need to do that again soon.
“One step at a time.” With a forceful tug, he pulls me on top of him, his hungry mouth devouring mine. “Condom. We should probably at least get it out.”
Leaning over, I fumble in the side drawer, grab a strip, then slap it on the bed. He takes full advantage. Tugs me higher so I’m sitting on his face.
“Goddamn,” he growls against me. “Sit. This is worth suffocating for. Breathing is overrated when I can drown in the taste of you.”
I fist his hair in my hands so I can ride his face like I know he wants me to. “Jesus, you’re really good at that.”
He really is. If I had to rate him on a scale from one to ten, he’d be at least a fifty, if not higher.
“You’re my favorite item on the menu every night, cupcake.
I’ll be eating my dessert first, always, when we do this.
” He licks my folds while thrusting his fingers inside to rub that sweet spot that drives me wild.
“Come on my face, Ingrid. Let me taste you one more time before we play bucking bronco. Can you hold on for a full eight seconds?”
I explode, and he laps it up, not letting a drop fall past his soaked lips. When I’m spent, he slides me back and hands me a condom. “Do you know how to put that on?”
“If you’re asking if I’ve done it before, then no.
But I’ve watched others do it. I remember giggling in sex ed when we were forced to violate a banana several times.
Our teacher said we couldn’t go into the real world unprepared and insisted that we’d all be experts by the end of his class.
” I aced that class! Within seconds, his dick is sheathed and ready.
“Now climb on board. Let me see if you can ride the greatest damn cock of your life.” He guides me over it and then looks like he might die when my warm heat slowly swathes him.
I lower myself inch by inch, savoring every second, my body molding to his. Nothing, nothing has felt this amazing. I feel so full and burn in the best way possible.
His breath comes in harsh pants, his grip bruising as though he’s holding on for survival. “Fuck, babe. That feels so damn good.”
Leaning forward, I drop fast onto him, and we both gasp. “Wow!”
He grabs the back of my head and kisses me furiously. While he does, his hips move, and I know he’s fighting the urge to flip us over so he can take charge.
“I love you,” he whispers against my lips. “I love you so damn much.”
Nibbling his bottom lip, I straighten, smirking down at him. “I love you too. Now prove it. Show me your cock is as legendary as you claim.”
The second I start riding him, it’s like constellations burst inside me. I move slowly at first, then gradually increase the pace, circling my hips so my clit drags perfectly against him.
A guttural, tortured groan makes me shiver with power. His jaw is tight, the vein in his neck throbs as he fights not to break. My breasts are cupped and squeezed as he thrusts to meet me.
God, help me, when he fully heals, I’m in so much trouble. He’ll pound me so hard into this mattress, I’ll become part of it.
Bring it on, big boy, bring it on.
“Fuck!” I scream. “Are you close?”
Biting his lip to hold back, he nods. “Just say when.”
Leaning forward, I kiss him hard and then whisper, “When.”
We explode together, and I swear he blacks out.
“You okay?” I nuzzle into his neck when I feel him stirring again. “I think you passed out.”
He shifts me onto my side, desperate to catch his breath.
Sliding free, I remove the condom and toss it casually behind us.
“Trying to take over my job in here?” His voice is rough, and I can’t help but snicker.
“Just filling in until you’re back at full strength.” I press a kiss to his warm lips, savoring how soft they feel. “Then you can take the reins again.”
“Cupcake, you better enjoy this. Good thing we did it like this first. When I’m in charge, you won’t be coherent enough to smart off like that.” He smacks my arse and lets his eyes drift shut. “Give me five minutes, then you can break me in again.”
Kissing his neck, I giggle. “Didn’t know breaking in a cock could be this much fun. You better sleep while you can, cause I’m just getting started with your training.”
His chuckle fades as sleep claims him.
I study his face, realizing just how rewarding loving him is. He’s mine, and I’m not letting him go.