Damaged Queen (Darkness Within Duet 2)
“Fine,” he said, cupping her face. “You’re not nothing. You’re everything to me. I don’t care what Alan did. It wasn’t you. It’ll never be you. I’ll never turn my back on you. Never. I can wait for you to be ready. So long as you agree that if at any time you’re scared or nervous, you come to me.”
“Agreed,” she said. “Don’t forget this is all new to me too.”
“I hate the opera.”
She burst out laughing. “Why did you take me?”
“I thought you’d like it.”
She kept on laughing. “That makes no sense to me at all. You’re a crazy person, Draven Barries. Take me home.” She pressed her lips to his, and he held her close, deepening the kiss.
Chapter Seventeen
Two months later
Dating Draven was … strange.
Especially as Harper was the one to hold back. After everything they’d been through, she didn’t want to rush their time together. This was a first for them, after ten years apart. They were taking their time and enjoying each other, and of course, to get to know one another without the threat of his father or anyone else in their life.
In the beginning, she was nervous in case there were repercussions from his past. There were times she’d see him gazing out over the city, and she was sure he was waiting for something. He was always careful, and she knew he carried a gun. She had also seen a guard was close by her at all times. Day by day, week by week, even as nothing happened, he was still cautious.
He’d been able to start a life with his businesses and become part of it. He worked from his laptop and often stopped by the florist shop and talked with Stephanie about ways to expand.
In fact, Draven had taken Stephanie out to look at another property across town while she was taking care of the shop.
He’d become such a sweet and tender … boyfriend.
It seemed odd to call him that. She was arranging the delivery of some fresh roses when the doorbell sounded.
“Just a moment,” she said.
Harper turned and froze. Standing before her was Axel. She’d not seen him in so long.
“Axel,” she said.
“Hello, Harper. You’ve missed Draven.”
“I know. I saw him with Stephanie. You’re looking good.”
“Thank you.”
He looked a little scary.
“What’s going on?”
“I wanted to come and see you. I know you’d tell Draven that you had, and so I can rely on you.”
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing. Not a damn thing. I’ve got a thing going on right now. It’s kind of important. Your boyfriend has been looking for me, and I grow tired of it. Tell him to keep his distance or I’ll make his life hell.”
“Axel?”
“Tell him that, Harper. He’ll get the message.”
“Are you and him fighting?”
“No. What we are is moving on, and Draven won’t let me. You make him leave or I will hurt him.”
“I’ll get him to leave you alone.”
“Good. You look amazing. When he proposes, accept it.”
“What?”
Axel turned on his heel about to walk away, but she rushed ahead of him, throwing herself in front of the door.
“Harper, please.” He looked bored.
“I know you don’t like me or anything right now, but there’s no way you can tell a woman that and just walk away.”
“I intend to.”
“Axel, I mean it.”
“Fine, fine. I saw he bought the ring. It’s a brand new one. Not the family heirloom that was on his dad’s side. It’s pretty. It was always supposed to be you and Draven. You both make one hell of a couple.”
“And you know how to spoil surprises.”
He reached behind her to open the door. He held the door and slowly moved her without even breaking into a sweat.
“At least tell me you’re all right,” she said.
“I’m all right, Harper. Don’t worry about me.”
Harper watched him leave. Her heart pounded, and as Stephanie and Draven arrived hours later, all she wanted to do was ask him about it.
She didn’t bring it up in front of Stephanie even though she wanted to so damn badly. Forcing a smile to her lips, she got through it. Closing time was a welcome relief to her.
“Are you going to tell me about what happened with Axel?” she asked as soon as they got in the car.
“Axel?”
“Yeah, he came to the shop while you were out.”
Draven got out of the car, looking around.
“He’s not there. He left. He said to leave him alone and to stop looking for him or he’s going to make your life hell. I don’t even know what that means.”
“It’s not important.”
“He wants to be left alone.”
“He’s my best friend.”
“So do as he asks and leave him alone.”
“Is that all that he said?” Draven asked.
“No, he said something else, and I don’t want to repeat it.”
“Harper!”
“No, because what if he was lying and then I just look silly, you know? I’m not going to say what it was.”