Insolent (Crimson Elite 4)

My feet start moving in that direction before I can stop them. I don’t want to be out here in case Johnny does wake up to an angry man standing in the living room, ready to do God knows what.

“You really should calm down, you’re hurting my head,” I say rubbing my temple.

We reach my bedroom, and he slams the door shut behind him, pulls out his phone and then starts talking. “I’m a lowlife piece of scum?”

I need to sit for this. Actually, I don’t want any part of this.

“Why are you here again?” I ask in a dead-tired voice while rubbing my temples. I need more sleep, shower, food, then more sleep, in that order.

Then the previous day’s events flood back to me. Why am I allowing him to even stand in my room right now? Anger takes hold of me as I look up at him. “You need to leave, right fucking now.” My hands clench the bed sheets, and his anger seeps away from him as he notices the change in me.

“I’m sorry,” he says through gritted teeth.

“Was that hard for you, Darby? Was it? Oh, poor Darby. Get over yourself and leave.” He doesn’t move, and it makes me angry. “You want to turn another light off, Darby? Would that make you feel like a man?”

“I didn’t turn it off, you did.”

“You implied you would, and I tried to stop you, and that’s damn low. So fucking low.” I shake my head at him. “I really don’t have time for this. I want you to leave so I can shower.” I get up, walking straight past him and into my bathroom. Shutting the door, I strip down and get in. The water feels good on my back, and it still feels weird when I check and there’s no blue running down the drain.

The shower door is pulled open, and Darby stands there.

“What the—”

I’m not blind, I know this. He’s like the kryptonite I never wanted in my life. His strong jawline is clenched as he looks at me. “Get out, Darby.” I don’t even bother covering myself as I turn to face him. His eyes don’t leave mine as he steps into the shower, fully dressed without a care in the world.

“No, we need to talk.”

“Ha,” I say throwing my head back.

His hand comes up and captures my throat. It’s soft, not hard, as he leans down and kisses my jawline. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I shouldn’t have spoken to you that way.” His words ring true, I can hear the conviction in them. My anger seeps away as he presses himself on me. I’m naked—he’s fully clothed.

“You shouldn’t have, you don’t know what I went through.” I shake my head at him.

He cups my wet face with his hands, letting go of my throat. “I shouldn’t have even contemplated it, I could see it upset you. I used it against you.”

“I didn’t read the damn letter,” I say looking at his cupid bow lips waiting for the kiss that I know is going to come.

Darby’s finger strokes my cheek. “I believe you.”

“I should have, if I’d have known that was the way you were going to treat me.” I stand taller, and he chuckles to himself.

“Probably be worth it all then, hey?”

I nod to him. “Have you read it?” I ask him.

He shakes his head then leans in, his lips coming down on mine. I press myself onto him, effectively ending our conversation. His lips devour mine, and I grip onto him, accepting his apology and hoping for a better tomorrow.

“Olympia…” He pulls back, my lips now coming back empty from his kiss. They want him back, and it takes me longer than a moment to open my eyes again. When I do, he has his shirt off, and his trousers are being pulled down his legs with difficulty—they are stuck to him being so waterlogged—so he’s as naked as I am.

“Shower sex,” I say smiling. He chuckles at me.

“All kinds of sex with you.”

I giggle as he stands back up and steps forward, his hands coming around my waist as he takes hold of me. When a man so powerful as him traps you in his arms, all you can do is succumb to him. It’s exhilarating knowing he wants me. That this man, who could have so many, time and time again, comes back for me. A thought enters my head, and I put my hand on his heart and push backward before he makes me lose my mind again. I look up at his chocolate-colored eyes which are staring back at me, and it’s not something I expected. There’s lust, sure, but it’s mixed with something else. Need? Want? I’m not sure, so I shake my head to get my next words out.