Damaged Queen (Darkness Within Duet 2)

“You’re sure?”

“I’ve no interest in kissing guys or having them touch me. I just want to drink.”

“Okay, I’ll leave you to it.” Stephanie left her side and headed onto the dance floor.

Knocking back another shot, Harper, pointed to the bartender and waited, tapping her fingers across the counter.

“You know, it’s dangerous to drink so much alcohol.”

Harper stared straight ahead of her. She didn’t need to turn to recognize that voice.

Licking her dry lips, she finally did turn, and sure enough, Draven was sitting beside her. He looked … different.

She noticed instantly he had a scar down the side of his face that looked fresh.

He wore an expensive-looking suit, and he nodded to the bartender, who actually came to him to serve.

“Seriously, right here,” she said. “I ordered my drink first.”

“I’ll get it,” the bartender said.

“You’re going to ignore me?”

“No. I’m going to sit here, wait for my drink and the buzz I’m hoping to get from it.”

“You’re still very beautiful,” he said.

“Don’t, Draven. Please, don’t.” She tucked her hair behind her ears and glanced behind her at Stephanie. Her boss had two men around her and was having the time of her life.

“What is it, Harper? I didn’t think you were the partying sort. You know, having girl time and all that.”

“I’m not. I’m here, so I don’t have to think about you!” Harper got up and was about to leave, but Draven stopped her. He held her arm and wouldn’t let her go.

“Where are you going?”

“To dance. To do anything but sit here and listen to you.”

He didn’t let her go and instead, followed her over to the dance floor. She didn’t go anywhere near Stephanie.

Draven wrapped his arms around her, holding her close even as she tried to keep some distance.

Just her luck, the dance number changed to that of a slow one, and she cursed every single DJ in the land for their inappropriate music changes.

“You look good,” Draven said.

Harper tried to ignore him, but she couldn’t do it. He wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was she.

“You don’t,” she said. “I’m afraid to ask. I mean, what happened? Why are you here? Is it safe? You kicked me out of your house, and now you’re here, talking to me. Do you see what I mean about this whole personal space thing?”

Draven smiled. “Let’s have this dance, and then I want to take you somewhere private.”

“You’re going to hurt me?”

“No.”

“Kill me?”

“No and to kill you would also hurt you, and I’ve covered that.”

“Smart ass.”

He chuckled. She liked the sound a little too much. Harper had missed him, no doubt about it.

She enjoyed his company, had missed him, and wanted him back. Still, she could do nothing about that. He’d kicked her out of her bedroom after stealing her away.

Now she had no choice but to rebuild her life. It wasn’t easy. Not even a little bit.

Her thoughts would always escape back to Draven and what he was doing. Axel as well, but she wasn’t kidding anyone about her feelings. The person she loved more than anything in the world was the one holding her. The one she had always wanted since she was eighteen years old. The one who could handle the good and the bad and would keep coming back for more.

“Come with me, Harper,” he said.

She stared into his green eyes, and she trusted him. She couldn’t explain it as she didn’t even understand it herself.

“Okay. I’ve just got to go and see Stephanie first.”

They finished their dance, and afterward she found Stephanie in the bathroom. Her friend wasn’t interested in coming out of the stall so she called through telling her she had met someone and would see her the next day at the shop. With that, she left. Draven was waiting.

He held his jacket open for her to slide on, which she found incredibly sweet.

A car was waiting for them, and even as her heart raced, she climbed right on inside beside him. They drove for a short while. She didn’t know how long before they reached an apartment building.

“This is mine.”

“I figured you’d take me to a diner or something.”

“No diner. I wanted complete privacy.”

“But not to kill me?”

“Not to kill you.”

The car was parked, and Harper climbed out, rounding the vehicle to join Draven. He held his hand out for her to take, and she accepted it as they climbed onto the elevator.

Draven gave an instruction to the driver, and in the next second, the elevator doors closed, and it was time for them to head to his floor.

She watched the light as they climbed each floor, going up and up until they finally reached his floor.

There were only a couple of doors along the corridor, and Draven went to the last one, putting in his key card and entering his apartment.

Harper followed close as he still hadn’t let go of her hand.