“Shit!” Denham flies around the breakfast bar and pulls some very black bacon from the grill, then drops the pan on the countertop and mutters expletives.
Laughter bubbles out of my chest. “Breakfast smells good, chef.”
“You distracted me! I can’t cook breakfast with distractions.”
“Me? I didn’t do anything!”
“You look too good. You smell too good. You taste too good…” His eyes narrow and he starts to walk slowly toward me. Every nerve starts to twitch as anticipation starts to take over and neither of us look away.
I’m determined not to break first, but my nerves get the better of me and I hop off the stool and run toward the balcony doors, laughing as I go. He breaks a split second after me, but with the length of his legs and obvious prowess, he’s faster. I manage to get to the leather couch before I’m tackled and brought down,trapped under his body as adrenaline runs rapidly through both of us. Giggling and panting hard, we lie together in a heap of tangled arms and legs. I have no doubt that I will never be left wanting with this man.
He thrills me. He electrifies my senses.
He warms my soul.
Chapter 13
After burning his attempt at breakfast, Denham reluctantly decides that we should go out and eat.
I’m slightly shaken by the surprise meeting with Amy this morning, and disappointed that if I want to spend time with Denham, I’m going to have to deal with a crazy assed ex-girlfriend who’s sizing me up for a threesome. I find myself scanning the area surrounding us for any sign of her, and it doesn’t take long for my doubtful mind to start working overtime and going downhill. It seems so much easier to stay upbeat when all around good things are happening but the minute something happens to break my happy bubble, all the doubts and negativity come screaming toward me and I can’t makes sense of it all. By the time breakfast arrives, I’ve lost my appetite, so I drink my coffee and push my food around my plate. I automatically answer when Denham speaks but I can’t disguise the fact that I’m distracted.
“Out with it.”
“Sorry?” I query.
“You’re distracted. There’s clearly something on your mind and I’m sure that by keeping it all inside, you’re making everything ten times bigger. Talk it out.”
“Bigger? I’m not sure how it can be any bigger than it actually is.” My voice rises past the acceptable volume for a restaurant, but I can’t contain it. Denham slides his hand across the table, covering mine, but I snatch it away. “How dare you tell me I’m exaggerating. My husband hit me, hunted me down, and then almost went up in a ball of flames. I shouldn’t even be here because my ex fiancé beat me so bad he nearly killed me. And to top it all off, I’m not the only one that has a psychopathic ex!” I spit the words out, fast, furious and out of control.
“Arianna—” he speaks calmly, but I don’t let him continue.
“Don’t you fuckingArianname. I don’t need this shit. I just—”
Denham is out of his chair before I can blink the wall of tears away. He lifts me up and wraps his arms around me, pulling me into him, and I don’t try to fight him. I don’t want to. He strokes my hair, letting me sob into his chest as I cry, letting it all out like a caged animal that’s been given freedom for the very first time.
The steady heartbeat I can hear through Denham’s chest and the rhythmic feeling of his fingers in my hair has the calming effect that I need and finally the sobs escaping from my chest become quieter, turning into little hiccups. I release my arms from the tight bundle in front of me and encircle them around his waist.
The tension releases in his chest and he brings both hands up to my face, running his fingers past my temples and through my hair. He secures his hands at the nape of my neck and dips his head to kiss my cheek. Kissing the path of my tears, he kisses my closed eyelids with such tenderness it pulls at my heart, then his lips press softly on my bruised cheekbone, lingering there a fraction longer as if needing more of his tenderness to heal. He continues until no part of my face has been left un-kissed.
“I’m sorry. I—” The words catch on a sob and I begin to wonder how I can balance being brave and sticking up for myself with allowing good things to happen.
“Don’t be sorry.” He nuzzles his head into mine. “You’ve been through a lot. I just…I want you to know that you don’t have to fight it all on your own. Don’t try to fight the things in your head, Arianna.”
“It’s always been that way, I don’t know any different.”
His muscles bunch at my statement. “That’s because you didn’t know me. I’m truly sorry that you have had to deal with all that shit on your own. If I could take it all away for you, I would, but I can’t. What Icando is help younow.”
“I need to see Aaron,” I blurt out of nowhere. “I need to explain everything to him.” I don’t know why I feel I owe him an explanation, I just do. I hate the lies. I hate living a lie. It’s taken me a while to try and get my head around things and I think I need to make sure I have closure on the things from my past before I can fully embrace the future. “I’m sorry I made a scene.”
“Arianna, look at me. Do I look like I give a fuck what these people think?” I shake my head. “Then stop apologizing for being who you are. You need to yell? Yell. You need to cry? Cry. If I ever find the bastard that made you sorry for every goddamn breath you take, then I’m going to damage him beyond repair.” His voice has risen considerably and his shoulders have drawn back in taut ropes of muscle that are bunching under my fingertips. I feel a warm blanket fold around me at his words. He makes me feel protected.
“Can we please start today over?” I say hopefully.
He softens, kissing me on the forehead. “I have to do some work today. But I have someone I’d like you to meet first.” He takes my hand and starts to lead me out.
“Denham, wait. I’m not dressed to meet people. I have no makeup and…stop walking, will you?”
He stops and turns to me with amused expression.
