“If anyone should have their ass kicked, it’s you,” Aeron says with a laugh, and Tucker seems to be the only one keeping his head. He’s not making threats or saying anything, I wonder what’s going through his mind right now.
“That’s where you’re wrong. Now, I haven’t laid a hand on Miss Carter, but your heads are so far up your own asses that you don’t even have the decency to ask what is going on. That I expect, but your total disregard for her safety is a whole other matter. So, you want to call your father, go ahead, you jumped up prick. I have a few things to tell him myself,” a smacking sound hits my ears as Darius finishes his speech, and I throw on my dressing gown before pulling the door open to find him holding his jaw with a smile on his face. Although it is far from friendly.
“Leave him alone,” I shout, my hangover can be damned.
“It’s fine, Miss, the Prince can hit me all he wants, it won’t change a thing. He likes to walk around as though he’s untouchable and nothing affects him, but I see through his bullshit.”
“I think it’s time you leave,” Tucker says coldly, and Darius scoffs.
“You really think I would leave her in your unfit hands? There’s a deluded son of a bitch going around and hurting women in this place. You let her walk out while she was drunk and unaware, even going far enough to kick her out of your wing because her behavior didn’t agree with you.” He walks over to the three Harkwrights, and my face burns.
My eyes sink closed, I acted like a fucking moron last night, I never should have got myself into that state.
“That woman over there, the one with her head in her hands is spiraling and none of you can see it.” I lift my head and I can’t take my eyes from him. I never realized he took that much notice of me, other than making sure I didn’t fall into too much trouble. “You see her every day, and yet you’re blind to the pain she’s in. I expected it from Emmet and Aeron, but not you, Tucker. Honestly, I thought you guys may have even cared for her in your own twisted, fucked up way, but I guess I was wrong. So either start treating her like she is just another number, a nameless Academy girl, or man up and face how you fucking feel.” He shakes his head at them, but it’s Tucker that he looks at with disappointment. “I am so done with being around children. You may call yourself men, but you do not understand how a man should behave. I can already see she is nothing like the other girls in this place, and I barely know her.”
He turns around and walks back over to the kitchen area and he acts as though nothing has happened. And he didn’t just tell three of the Harkwright men off. They stand there, staring at him, and I walk over to the recliner and sit down. I wish they would just leave.
“Here, like I said, I’m not much of a cook.” Darius passes me a plate with a blush on his face, and it almost makes me want to cry. He’s going beyond a standard bodyguard, surely.
He places a mug of coffee on the coffee table, and I look at the rubbery scrambled eggs and crisp bacon sitting on top of the burnt toast. Honestly, I’ve not felt this grateful for a crappy breakfast in a long time.
“You don’t have to eat it, I would understand,” he mumbles before he walks over to the wall to the left of me, and leans his muscular frame against it. Other than when I walked in on him in the shower, I’ve never really taken the time to look at him, and I know this is the worst time to start.
It doesn’t stop me from peering at him through my peripheral though, the smattering of hair on his broad hard chest catches my eye. I’ve noticed the way his shirt stretches across it when he’s wearing one, although sans shirt may be my new preference. His jeans hug his thick, solid thighs like a second skin, and his arms show their muscles even without being flexed. His face has a five o’clock shadow and his dark hair looks long enough to run your fingers through, but short enough that it doesn’t get in his face or need to be tied back. He’s not handsome or a pretty boy. He’s all rough edges and hard lines, and no one would ever dare call him a boy. Darius is all man, and I need to stop looking at him as anything more than my bodyguard.
“You don’t have a clue what you’re talking about,” Aeron finally throws out, and it sounds weak even to me.
“Why are you topless?” That’s the first thing Tucker has said, and it’s through gritted teeth. His jaw looks hard enough to break through granite.
“Because she threw up on me, and I didn’t want to leave her. So, I couldn’t waste time to grab a fresh one. She was wasted, and none of you were willing to step up and look after her. Every time I think I have it figured out, you do something to make me question my reasoning.” I’m not sure what he’s getting at, but I’m just glad the attention is off me for a little while. I feel raw and exposed from Darius’ words about me spiraling, and I don’t know how I feel about him even being able to tell. Why didn’t anyone else see?
“I believe him, so I’m out of here. You guys can do what you want,” Aeron says and my eyes flick up to him, but he isn’t even looking at me, as he pulls open the door and walks out.
“Piss off then, Tucker,” Emmet says as he waves a hand at him, his eyes locked on me, but I refuse to return the stare. I’d rather eat the rubbery eggs then give him anything.
“No.”
“Excuse me? I gave you an order,” Emmet seethes as he grips Tucker’s shirt, and all Tucker does is look down on him, and then he bares his teeth.
“I’m not an Academy girl, so you can take your order and shove it up your ass for all I care. Fuck off, Emmet, I’m claiming her for the day.” Emmet’s eyes narrow, but he lets go of Tucker’s shirt before he storms off.
“You can wait outside, Darius. She’ll be safe with me.” His eyes burn into me, but I look at Darius instead and nod my head. “Oh, and put on a damn shirt,” Tucker throws out with more heat than necessary.
“I’ll be right outside,” he says coolly before he walks out of my room and closes the door behind him.
Tucker walks closer, he doesn’t stop until he’s before me. He takes the plate and puts it on the table. He slides his arm under my legs, and the other slips around my back as he pulls me into his arms. Bridal style.
“What a-a-are y-you d-d-doing?”
“I told you there was something I wanted to show you, so I’m putting you in your room. You can get dressed and then we’ll go, I’ll write you permission to wear whatever you want. Hurry up,” he orders as he deposits me on my bed, and then he walks out the room and I have no idea what the fuck is going on. I’m a little scared to find out.
I almost go for my leggings and sweatshirt, but then my eyes fall on the dress that the shop girl picked out for me. The white ruched top with sleeves that fall off the shoulder, and ankle length leather skirt with a knee-high slit on one side. Do I really want to wear this? I can wear anything, but it’s calling to me like a siren song, and I can’t resist picking it up, and holding it against my body.
Fuck it, this and a pair of black pumps will be perfect, and it might help me find the confidence that I seem to have lost as I woke up. I don’t bother with makeup, and I weave my hair into a simple braid before I walk out into my sitting area. I find Tucker leaning against the counter.