Consumed By You by Alicia Marino

Author:Alicia Marino [Marino, Alicia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Limitless Publishing LLC
Published: 2018-07-16T16:00:00+00:00

***

I’m in bed, showered and dressed in yoga pants and a tank top when I hear a soft knock. Benjamin quietly reenters my living space, shuts the front door behind him.

He glares at me disapprovingly. “You should have locked the door.”

“I was hoping you were coming back,” I say. “I wouldn’t have heard you in the shower.”

“I would have waited. Darcy, never leave your door unlocked.”

I refuse to respond, because if I do, I’d tell him he’s crazy if he thinks he can order me around. He runs a hand through his hair. He’s a complete mess.

Wordlessly, he comes to the bed and lifts the covers, to my surprise settling in beside me. I roll over to face him and he does the same.

“It’s not your fault, Benjamin.”

“I’d really like not to talk about that right now,” he whispers, his voice controlled.

“Why did you come back?”

He pins me with his emerald eyes and shrugs. “I don’t know.”

I hate that answer. I stare at him, hoping my persistence will force him to talk.

“I want to help you. Maybe that’s it.”

I look away, trying to conceal the flash of pain that crosses my features. Why can’t he love me? Is he incapable of love?

“What do you feel for me, Benjamin?” I shouldn’t even be asking him this in the first place, but I can still feel his lips on mine. I can’t resist knowing.

“I care about you, you know that.” He lays his hand over mine and I study their compatibility closely—the shape, the lengths, the curves. We’re the perfect fit. His hand is much larger than mine, but when put vertically together, they look like one.

“I know you care about me. I’m really not asking that.”

“Darcy, I-I don’t believe in what you do. That hasn’t changed.” He exhales, squeezing my hand tightly. “I believe in lust. I believe in wanting someone more than anything in the world. But the love you’re looking for? That doesn’t exist.”

I keep my mouth shut, still trying to rein in my emotions so I don’t lose it in front of him.

“These books you read, they fill your head with silly notions that the world has to revolve around your partner, that they are all that matter. It’s just not true. There are more important things in life than love.”

Like what?

“I’m sorry,” he murmurs, resting his hand on my back. I move away from him.

Removing his hand from my crawling skin, he sits up slowly. “I do want you, Darcy. I want you more than anything. Doesn’t that mean something?” he asks, his voice desperate.

“Please, just go,” I choke out, pressing my hand to my heart.

“Darce,” he whispers, reaching out to touch my cheek. I have no doubt he can feel the tears that have escaped, but he doesn’t remove it.

Don’t let him see you like this, Darcy. You’re stronger than this.

I take in a brave breath and shift so I’m out of his reach. Sitting up, I wipe under my eyes quickly, forcing the other tears that threaten back into my skull.

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