Page 10 of Her Devils

He pulls me so close that our chests touch. “They are trying to mess with the Angels and with me. It’s obvious that they are using you to make me jealous.”

The first scalding hot tear slides down my face and lands on my lips, tasting as bitter as poison. “You really think that I’m the most unattractive woman in town, don’t you?”

He catches the next tear that falls with the pads of his fingers despite my attempt to turn my face away from him. “I never said that you were unattractive, Len. I just said that I didn’t see you that way.”

I hate the way my voice is breaking. “Because I’m too inexperienced for you.”

His face is so close to mine that his breath fans across my lips when he speaks. “That’s what I thought, but maybe it wasn’t because of you. Maybe it was me. I was so used to treating you like my little sister that—perhaps those assholes are helping me see you in a different light after all.”

My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I feel dizzy.

My head spins because I think he’s about to kiss me, but his closeness isn’t the only thing that’s making me feel unsteady on my feet.

Doubt runs rampant in my head, taking my breath away. Does Darrius want to kiss me just because he doesn’t want me to get closer to his rivals? And are Peyton, Channing, and Jameson hanging out with me with ulterior motives aside from our deal? Are they also trying to destroyPapà’steam?

“Darrius,” I whisper, “if you’re about to kiss me just because you hate that I’m friends with Peyton and the Devils, please don’t. I don’t think I could take it.”

His eyes drift briefly down to my lips before meeting my gaze again. “I don’t know why I want to kiss you, Len. Maybe I want todespiteyou being friends with them.”

I pull away slightly, trying to put some distance between us to help me think more clearly. “What do you mean?”

His brown eyes are so dark that they almost look black. “I mean that if you let Cox and his friends touch you, I would really have a problem with it, Lenley.”

I hate that it took losing me to his rivals to get his attention. “I don’t understand. You told me yourself that you don’t see me that way and you have a girlfriend. I—”

He lets go of my hand, but his smoldering gaze is still on me. “And maybe I was wrong. Maybe I could have seen you that way, but I never really tried. You know that I’ve always loved you, Len.”

I always thought he cared about me before he used me to make his ex jealous and called me unattractive, but now I’m confused.

“I just can’t think clearly with those three motherfuckers hanging around you,” he says, his voice low and full of darkness. “I need them to leave you alone. I need to know that you aren’t going to let them touch you.”

I don’t like his tone. There’s anger and jealousy in it, but I don’t hear the love he’s talking about. “And what if they did touch me? What would you do then?” I challenge him.

He pulls me even closer, pressing my fingers against his ribs so hard that I’m sure I’ll leave a fresh bruise next to the ones from training. “I guess I’d have to accept it and see if I could find it in my heart to forgive you.”

I try to pull away and whimper when he keeps me close by tightening his grip on my hand. I struggle against him. “Forgive me? For what?”

“For betraying me, Len!” he growls, releasing my hand and grabbing my chin, forcing me to look at him.

“Betraying you like you betrayed me when you fucked my best friend?” I bite out.

He finally lets me go, and the disgusted look on his face doesn’t hurt nearly as much as I thought it would. “You don’t understand, Len. I’ve never really entertained the idea that you could be mine one day. I didn’t really see you that way until—they taint everything they touch!” he snaps.

“They have treated me better than you ever have, D,” I say with my toughest tone. “If anyone has ever tainted me, it’s you with your little games. Don’t accuse others of using me when you’ve been doing that all along.”

He doesn’t argue with me, confirming that my assessment of his behavior is spot on. “It’s been a long, shitty day.” He sighs after a beat of silence. “Let’s go home.”

I look at his extended hand, but I don’t take it, staying rooted to my spot and wrapping my arms around my middle to protect myself from him, from his intensity and his demands. I can’t believe his arrogance if he thinks sleeping around is acceptable for him but I need “forgiveness” for doing the same.

It’s like I don’t know Darrius anymore. This guy standing in front of me isn’t the guy I grew up with, the guy I’ve loved since forever. Darrius has changed, and I don’t even know if I like this new version of him.

“I’m not coming with you,” I say without meeting his eyes. “Thank your dad for the kind invitation, but I need to be alone.”

“Len, come on!” he snaps, irritated. “I don’t like the idea of you being all alone in that big house.”

I let out a mirthless laugh. “That never bothered you when you were out chasing one of your conquests. I mean it, Darrius. Just go.”

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