Something Darker (Book Three)

XXXV. Sanctuary

"What are you doing here?" I asked after I walked down the aisle and joined Demetri at the alter. My stomach turned as I waited for a response.

"Cleansing my soul of my sins" Demetri said factiously.

"Oh," I shifted my weight from one leg to the other. "Do we still have those?"

"Probably not."

We stood for a moment in uncomfortable silence.

"I'm sorry," I said, keeping my eyes focused on the stained glass window.

Demetri didn't respond.

"I didn't mean what I said."

Silence.

"Demetri."

Silence.

"Demetri!" I exclaimed, grabbing his arm and shaking it.

Demetri finally turned to face me. "What do want me to say?"

"I don't know."

Of course I knew what I wanted him to say, but there was no way I was going to admit any of that out loud.

Demetri looked past me, over my head, before shifting his attention do the door, visibly checking out of the conversation.

"Demetri! I'm sorry!" I said with growing desperation as I reached out and tugged on the front of his shirt. "What I said was super shitty. There's no excuse it. I'm so sorry."

"Why would you say it then?"

I let go of his shirt and stared at his chest guiltily. "Because— I...Because I'm afraid."

"Of what?"

I hesitated for a long moment before forcing the words out of my mouth. "I'm afraid to confronting the truth."

Demetri raised his eyebrows. "And that is?"

I held my breath and looked up at him bashfully.

"I love you."

Demetri stared down at me expressionlessly.

"I love you," I said again, with more confidence.

Why the hell was he just staring at me?

After a painfully long moment, Demetri smiled at me. "I know."

"What's wrong with you?" I pouted as I swat at him. "That not funny!"

Demetri wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close before planting a deep, passionate kiss on my lips.

I reciprocated, falling into the kiss as I wrapped my arms around his neck. He wrapped his other arm around me as I slid my hand down the side of his face and cupped his jaw.

Eventually, I pulled away, breaking the kiss and looked Demetri in the eye. "I love you," I sighed. "I love you, I love you, I lov—"

Demetri leaned in and kissed me again, that time with more fervor, before picking me picking me up mid kiss.

I wrapped my legs around him tightly as he spun around and sat me down on the low podium.

"I love you," he said; his cool, velvety voice was low, and rough around the edges.

I pulled him into another kiss, and one of my hands began to drift down as I felt his chest, his waist, his stomach, his...

Light brushing gradually became slow, firm strokes.

Demetri sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth and ran his hands up my thighs, under my dress, before roughly gripping my hips.

I moved my hand and pressed myself against him, feeling every last inch of my flirtation.

Demetri groaned against my lips and hooked his fingers under my waistbands before tearing my tights and panties apart, pulling them straight off of my body.

I gasped in surprise, and let out a light whimper as one of his big, strong hands slid up my thigh and—

"Wait. wait," I gasped.

Demetri pulled away from me immediately and took a half step back. "What's wrong?"

"We can't do this. This isn't right."

Demetri looked at me curiously, his eyes clouded with thick, amorous lust.

"I need to break things off with Alec first."

Demetri blinked and pulled his eyebrows together. "Why?" He seemed genuinely perplexed.

"What do you mean why? He still thinks...we just...he deserves to know the truth. Ugh. This is so messed up"

"Would you like to go find him and tell him now?"

"No! Don't be ridiculous!"

"Well, then what's the problem?"

"Are you crazy? I— I has sex with him today! I can't turn around and have sex with you, too!"

"Really? Why?"

"Why?"

"Well, if it bothers you, then of course we'll wait. It's fine."

"I know it's fine— do you seriously not have issue with that?"

"No," Demetri said breezily. "Should I?"

"Oh, my God," I gaped. "You are a hound."

"Don't cast judgement at me. You're just as bad," he chuckled.

"I assure you, I'm not."

"You jumped on the first person you laid eyes on when you turned."

"Oh, shut up," I said, rolling my eyes.

"I'm not saying I wouldn't have done the same thing," he smirked, "I'm just saying that you have no room to talk."

"So you're not mad about it?"

"I'm not thrilled, but I'm not upset with you about it. But, then again, I knew you were a thirsty little pervert before I left you alone with him, so perhaps I'm a bit culpable, as well."

"Oh, okay," I said with heavy sarcasm, "You left me alone with him. So glad I had your blessing. Also, I'm not a pervert. I have a healthy, normal apatite."

Demetri raised his eyebrows at me.

"What? I'm a Scorpio!" I said defensively, "And at the time I didn't know you were my—"
I cut off my words and sat in bashful silence.

Demetri's expression softened as he looked at me. He leaned in and gave me a gentle kiss, then another.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer as I relaxed into the kiss. Sighing, I felt a warm, gentle wave of comfort wash over me.

I felt truly peaceful. I felt safe in his arms.

A metal latch snapped, and the heavy front doors swung open.

I tore my lips from Demetri's and jerked my head in the direction of the sound.

Alec stood in the doorway.

Demetri and my faces were close, our arms were wrapped around each other, I was nude from the waist down, and Demetri still had shreds of my undergarments in his hands.

Alec stared at us in disbelief from down the aisle for a long, drawn out, agonizing moment.

Oh.

Shit.