I groaned and tried to fall asleep.
And dreamed of a nightmare without her by my side.
Chapter20
Samantha
Ihad to credit Darius for being devious.He’d slyly advised his brothers to move my things into his room while I stayed with them for however long that would be.
As if I’d be able to resist temptation sleeping next to him day in and day out.I’d insisted on privacy, and after much grumbling, he’d conceded to give me a room of my own.
Maybe because I’d kicked him out of his room until I got my way.
That had been five days ago.
I missed working, and after a week without Darius—withoutsex,I hastily corrected—I was overloaded with frustration.
But I refused to go down that road again, not until I had a better handle on my emotions and the situation I faced.Odd, but accepting Darius came from another world and that I’d become involved in a fight against evil was easier to stomach than having feelings for the bossy Adonis.
Spending more time around him, watching him interact with family and friends in his home—inthisworld—would better illustrate just what kind of man he really was.I didn’t want to be clouded by desire, even though I could find no way to turn off my visceral reaction to his nearness.
I’d spent Monday managing Jerry and finishing up administrative work remotely.Tuesday, Darius collected my winter clothing from my storage facility.
So much for apartment shopping.At least I didn’t waste money on rent.
I uncluttered and went through all my clothing during the day, more than earning my hot chocolate and mini marshmallows that night.
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday morning had been spent in a similar fashion—willing myself to relax.I tried to think of my time off as a vacation, one I hadn’t had in years.I could easily compare my new accommodations to a luxury hotel and knew I was lucky to reside in such comfort.
Staring at the mountains from the living room’s bay window Friday afternoon, I couldn’t help admiring Darius’s house.Had I the money, I would have bought something similar.I loved the Queen Anne area, and the house had a phenomenal view of the mountains.
The room I’d requested, away from Darius, sat on the first floor, allowing me a nice picture of the the guys’ now-frozen garden.I could just imagine the blooms in late spring, which according to Cadmus, didn’t come close to rivallingmynatural beauty.Talk about a player.
I’d been hard-pressed not to laugh in his face when he’d said that, doubly amused when Darius set his brother’s napkin on fire.I’d found it immensely satisfying to see Darius jealous and didn’t feel the least bit bad about it.Not when he looked like everyone’s version of Mr.Perfect.
I sighed, missing him all over again.So I stared at the gloomy picture of outside and thought how easily Darius seemed to take our separation.When I’d initially asked for my own room, he’d seemed affronted.But after a few hours, he’d changed his tune.
“You need time and space to sort things out,” he’d grumbled, the insightful comment unexpected, and one that made me question the fiery prince’s hidden depths.
Though normally curt, bossy, and rude around his brothers, he never presumed with me.Aside from knowing exactly what my body needed physically, he didn’t take my mental and emotional desires for granted.
He’d been surprisingly solicitous since I’d moved in, constantly making sure I had everything I needed.And he’d given me space, leaving the house often to do whatever it was he did during the day.The one time I’d asked him, he’d grown so prickly I hadn’t questioned him again.
Cadmus and Marcus proved charming companions, another thorn in Darius’s side.Oh, I could tell he loved his brothers, though it might pain him to admit.The way they all interacted, how he sought to keep them out of harm’s way, showed how much he cared.
Only yesterday he’d adamantly denied my request to go downtown, despite Marcus’s promise not to leave my side.
“It’s not safe, and I’m not about to lose either of you due to your arrogance,” he’d said with a look to Marcus, “Or your impatience,” he’d said to me.
While I appreciated his caring, I didn’t relish his constant need to control.Marcus had muttered something condescending under his breath, and I’d secretly agreed.
After five days of catching up on work, my personal needs, and the latest streaming movies and novels on my TBR list, I was ready to burst if forced to stay inside one more minute.
One of the brothers entered the living room behind me, his face visible in the window’s reflection.I turned, noted the brown eyes, and smiled.“Good morning, Cadmus.Nice to see one of you is an early riser.”
He grimaced.“I hate to admit it, but I’d still be sleeping if you weren’t here.”He grabbed coffee and a banana and settled into a leather recliner.“How are you this morning?”
“Stir-crazy.”
