Page 31 of My Dark Divine
“Of course,” my dad agrees, waving a hand toward the living room. “Let’s leave them be.”
A blast of frigid air washes over me when Mom’s hands slip away from my shoulders. I watch her leave, my nerves rising as I realize she doesn’t even look my way.
It feels like she’s leaving me for good.
“Venetia.”
Zayden closes the gap between us, pulling my attention from my mother to his face. His dark brown eyes resemble his father’s, and his short, almost black hair is stylishly messy. His lips are perfectly shaped and soft, prompting thoughts of what it might be like to kiss him. One thing is certain—I’m bound to mess it all up since I’ve never kissed anyone before.
“It’s,” I swallow a thick lump, “nice to meet you, Zayden. I’m happy you’re here.” My brain seems to stall around him, causing me to forget every single word in the English language, not to mention the basic rules of polite conversation.
He has the kind of look that makes girls drool, all of them begging for a chance. He’s not much taller than I am and not overly muscular, but he radiates confidence and authority. Charming, as my mother said, with that smug smirk and captivating eyes.
“Look, I can tell you’re uncomfortable,” he begins, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I get that this probably isn’t what youwanted, but—” he trails off, glancing over his shoulder for a moment. “I don’t want you to be afraid of me. I know this all feels forced—and it definitely is—but all I want is to get to know you. Like, truly know you, Venetia. Without the memorized speeches and trained emotions. What do you say?”
The last remnants of my consciousness fade away, and I blink a few times, trying to shake off the spell he’s cast over me. He seems… nice. Nothing like what I expected. And he says he wants to know me, and that’s something nobody has ever said to me before.
This doesn’t feel real.
“I’m… yes. Yeah, sure,” I blurt out, awkwardly stumbling over my words. “I want to know you too.”
“I don’t know what your parents said to you.” His face breaks into a warm smile, as if he’s trying to make me feel more relaxed. I appreciate that. “But I don’t expect anything from you. I won’t force you to be… intimate with me, you know? Until you want to, of course.”
The mere thought of doing something like this with a guy like him sends an electric jolt through my body. God, he must have had dozens of girls, and here I am—ashamed to even look at the genitals in my biology book.
“I understand,” I say, my eyes flitting up and down, unsure where to focus or how to act. I probably look very uncivilized. “Thank you for this.”
He nods, his smile unwavering. “Of course. It’s the least I can do for you. So, how about we watch a movie or something while they’re busy?”
My stomach tingles pleasantly, and a goofy grin forms on my face as I move from one foot to the other. He didn’t say anything special, yet it feels significant. “Yeah, sure,” I answer, letting out a nervous laugh.
He stretches his hand toward mine, and warmth floods through me when it makes contact. I shut my eyes and let him lead me to the living room, bathing in the pleasant sensation he evokes.
It doesn’t feel so bad.
Maybe I’ll thank my parents for this, because right now, it truly feels like a chance for a better life.
I’m not sure how much more of these local government idiots I can handle. I knew they were all stupid, but I’ve never had to interact with them this closely. The absurdity of their words pushes me to the edge. I don’t know what I want more—to shoot them or myself.
I was supposed to drop Venetia off at her house and head back to my place, but Dad thought we weren’t exhausted enough. He talked with one of his friends and organized another meeting, this one about sustainability concerns. The senator, development officers, and all the important people will be there, so we have to participate. There’s some fancy event afterward, and that’s the main reason the place is located so far out, deep beyond the city.
We were flawless at the first meeting, but I can’t promise we’ll maintain that image now. Withdrawal is creeping into my body, consuming my focus, while Venetia looks as drained as ever. Plus, she’s a little drunk.
“Do you have anything for a headache?” she asks, her voice a strained rasp. “It feels like someone’s drilling into my skull.”
Without taking my eyes off the road, I point at the glove box. “Same. I’m not sure. Check the glove box.”
She does, and as soon as I hear it click open, she freezes. I’m too focused on not crashing to pay much attention, but curiosity tries to break through the fog in my mind, so I steal a glance at her from the corner of my eye.
“What is this?” she inquires sharply, lacking any trace of her earlier composure.
Turning fully to her, I see the lip gloss nestled between her dainty fingers, and a wave of strange warmth washes over me, sending a delightful shiver through my insides. “It’s lip gloss. Why?”
She tilts her head, an angry scowl settling on her perfect features. Her brows shoot up before furrowing together, as if she’s unsure of what emotions she’s experiencing. “Care to explain why there’s lip gloss in your car, West?”
I can’t resist smiling at what she says, a childish amusement bubbling inside me. “Jealous, are we?”
She huffs in irritation, pouting like the little angry thing she is. “In your dreams, maybe. But we’re getting married. If you’ve got someone, you need to tell me. I’m not planning on sitting and waiting for you while you’re off with someone else,” she blurts out, tripping over the last words. I can feel her fury rising, escalating to the point where she becomes an unpredictable mess.
