Chapter 81

***~Riley~***

I shoved at the blanket draped over my head, enticed by a strong mix of chocolate and burning wax, I peeled my eyes open to appease my curiosity. I hadn’t expected Draven to be sitting at the edge of the bed holding a one-tiered cake in his hands, the candles slowly melting.

“Make a wish.” He persuaded and without thinking I pressed my eyes shut for a few seconds before I blew the candles out. As for my wish, what else could I ask for? I just wanted to remain at his side.

“Happy Birthday,” Draven’s lips coasted over my cheek and I grinned. I had been impatient to turn twenty since he first claimed that my age was a problem for him. That seemed like a lifetime ago because there was no longer any resentment in those eyes. I hadn’t realised exactly when that ceased to be the case, but the fact that I was staring into those lifeless orbs and found a sliver of passion reflected back at me was enough.

“Is this why you left our bed so early?” I stare up at him while he guided my hand on the knife, slicing a piece of the birthday cake. I’ve never had these traditions before and experiencing it with him only made me excited for what might be in the future.

“You noticed that?” he gathered a heavy chunk of the slice on a fork and brought it up to my mouth.

“That my source of heat was mysteriously gone? Duh.” I answer before taking the cake into my mouth. Draven smirked, setting the cake aside then.

“Should I make up for it now?” mischievous intent danced in his eyes and my heart flipped as images of last night flashed in my mind.

“We’ll be late.” I level him with a cautious gaze. I didn’t want anyone to assume I got off easy because of my connection with Draven. I already had his family to thank for the opportunity but that’s as far as I wanted their involvement.

“I assumed we would take the day off.” He frowned and I shook my head. Definitely not going to set that precedent so soon.

“Then will you sneak away on your break and come find me?” he’d gathered me up in his arms and deposited me on his lap. I weaved my arms around his neck and buried my face into him, inhaling his woodsy scent.

“I’ll think about it.” I teased.

“Is that a cue for me to entice you towards a favourable decision?” his arms caged me in, our hearts syncing in rhythm and I have never been more tempted to remain in bed all day.

“How would you do that?” I question, my voice muffled. “We’ll be in separate places for most of the day,” I remind him.

“That’s what texting is for, princess.” He drawled as if it were the most natural response. I stilled, pulling away enough to get a good look at him. His features were perfectly impassive save for the single raised brow that betrayed his amusement.

“Are you suggesting that we sext?” I almost could not believe I voiced that question to Draven.

“I prefer to call it flirting.” He placed a quick kiss on my lips, “It’s far more romantic, don’t you think?” his eyes darkened and I blushed. I suspect his version of flirting would be anything but innocent and I was looking forward to it.

***

I had been giggling at some sarcastic quip Fran directed towards Eli. Their chemistry often had me smiling to myself like an absolute idiot, so caught up in the atmosphere they created that I hadn’t noticed when someone came to stand behind me, not until I heard her voice.

“Riley,”

I turned slowly to the sound of my name. The smile that had come so easily to my lips faded instantly. Fran and Eli’s voices drowned out as their attention also diverted.

“Can we talk, please?” There was an expectation in Talia’s eyes that had me nodding before I had given much consideration to her request. She turned, wanting me to follow her. I took one step forward but was yanked back slightly by Eli.

“Are you sure about this?” Fran whispered, throwing a menacing gaze over my shoulder at where I assumed Talia was waiting for me. It seemed that Talia’s father had quite the reputation around the organisation and while everyone had no issue with Talia, Fran and Eli had become cautious since they found out about our ‘incident’.

“What’s she going to do? Stab me?” I tease but Fran frowned at my poorly timed joke. Eli didn’t disappoint, his resulting laughter rang in my ears as I headed towards Talia.

“The entire organisation is talking about your relationship with Draven.” She lowered her voice, and a tinge of pain shining in those luminous orbs caused my heart to drop. The last time we spoke, I made it seem that Draven and I weren’t serious. I had genuinely thought we weren’t, so why was I feeling a sickening surge of guilt? I hadn't personally misled her but I still felt like trash.

“Talia—,” I breathed her name, unsure how to broach this topic. I had been staying away from Draven in her presence but it wasn’t farfetched that she would have found out otherwise.

“I just need to know if it’s true? Did he offer you a relationship?” she swallowed hard, her lips pale.

“He did.” I answered carefully, “I am sorry, Talia. I know you’re hurt but we’ve never set out to hurt you.” I attempt to soothe her, her eyes pooling with liquid.

Talia shook her head, inhaling a shuddering breath, “I’m sorry, Riley. Draven made no promises to me, I was just trying to claim something I had no right over in the first place.” There was a hint of a smile on her lips.

“I needed to hear this. It will give me closure.” She reached out and squeeze my hand.

“I hope it does.” I answer almost automatically. Taken aback by this turn of events.

“I hope we can put everything behind us.” She gazed at me as if I were a lifeline and I smiled uncertainly in response. My heart ached for her, but I also felt happy for her. Draven was right; Talia needed to have reason to move forward.

“I would love that,” I squeeze her hand in reassurance before returning to my friends.

The high I had been on eventually dulled when Draven kissed me goodbye one day later. I stood at the front door staring after his car as he drove off the compound. There was an emergency situation that required his attention. A favour for his mentor, Thomas Lynne and while he moved with ease and confidence over the matter, I couldn’t temper the dread spreading through my veins with every beat of my heart.

Would I ever get accustomed to him disappearing for days or weeks at a time? Without knowing for certain if he’d ever return?

“Are you ready?” Eddy had appeared in front of me, blocking the path out of the compound.

“Yes,” I answered, closing the door behind me as I followed him. Eddie shut the car door once I was seated in the back seat, my gaze far.

“He will be fine, Riley.” Eddie consoled. I smiled involuntarily as a way to mask the tears clouding my sight. I wished his words made me feel better, even if it were just a little. I parted my lips to respond when my phone vibrated in my lap. It was a text message from Draven.

Draven: God, I miss you already. Send me frequent updates and don’t leave a single thing out, princess.

***

Draven had been gone a full week. The anxiety I felt when he first left ebbed just a bit. There were moments when I went into panic mode if I felt that his messages were too delayed but then he’d reply and I’d be able to breathe again.

I grinned as I stared at his last message. Life and death situation and he’s been ‘flirting’ since I replied to him this morning with a messy-haired picture. I absent-mindedly unlocked the door to his office, wanting a few moments of silence to focus on replying to his texts. I moved further inside to lay my bags down before shutting the door.

“We need to talk, girl,” The door closed behind me, the slamming alerting me more than the words and I spun around, dropping my phone on the floor. I was locked inside with a surly man in his mid-fifties. I vaguely recognised his face but it took a few minutes to associate it with a name. Not his name, but the name of his daughter. Talia.