50 Shades of Drake 3 and 4

Chapter Nine

    Aubrey's condo felt incredibly empty without Destiny in it. He had underestimate just how much life she'd filled the place with when she was here. He tried to work in his home office Friday evening, but his head wasn't in it. He couldn't focus. He tried watching a movie, but with that he had the same problem. His mind wandered. All he could think about was Destiny and how much he missed her. In vain, he tried to think of another plan, a plan where she could be with him while also being safe. There simply wasn't one, not one that he felt guaranteed her safety. 

    He wound up sitting on his piano bench, staring out of the floor-to-ceiling window to his left. It hurt to see Destiny at work these days. He always wanted to reach out and touch her, but he couldn't. The look in her eyes said that she felt the same way, which hurt him even more. He was depriving her of time spent with him, and he was depriving himself of time spent with her. All because I'm trying to protect her from Palmer, he thought as he lightly pressed a few of the ivory piano keys. All because someone is gunning for me for the purpose of hiding dark secrets from their past.

    One saving grace was that he was the only person in the condo, meaning that Bridgette was also gone. He'd set her up in one of the nicest hotels in town and hired a few security guards to stand outside of her room. Those security guards were also hired because he wanted them to keep an eye on her. He wanted to know anything that looked suspicious, and wanted to know who all she met with. As soon as he realized she was telling him partial truths at best, there was no way he could allow her to continue sleeping in his residence. He was too particular about people sleeping in close proximity to him as it was. Knowing that she was potentially lying or dangerous killed any chances of him allowing her to share his living space.

    Bridgette had protested at first, claiming that two bodyguards wouldn't help her to feel safe.

    He had calmly told her that it was either this, or she return to her apartment.

    She had reconsidered her options and accepted his offer.

    His phone vibrated beside him on the piano bench. The screen lit up, the only source of illumination in an otherwise dark room. Instead of paying his phone any mind, he continued to stroke the piano keys.

"Missing the smell of you," he sang out while playing the piano.

"Missing the feel of your lips,

And your skin beneath my fingertips.

I wish I could have you now,

But just know someway, somehow,

You will be mine again.

Missing your pretty face,

The way it lit up the place,

No matter what Palmer has to say,

Your face will light up my life again someday...

Ohhhhh..."

    His fingers flew across the keys for an instrumental break, and then he sang softly, "You will be mine again..." He closed his eyes and his hands went still over the keys as he summoned an image of Destiny. When he opened his eyes, emotion burned within them as he held onto that image of the love of his life.

~~~~~~

    The following morning, Destiny woke up extra early to make herself breakfast, just so she could avoid Brian. A bowl of cereal, a small cup of yogurt, and a half of grapefruit. She was quick to eat, and quick to return to her room, where she sat on her bed with her arms wrapped around her knees. Today was Saturday, which meant that she would be spending all day today and all day tomorrow in a house with Brian. Which means that I have to try avoiding him for a full two days. At work, at least there's the distraction of work. I don't have to talk to him often at Graham Enterprises. But here...I have to eat. I have to go to the bathroom. How can I expect to avoid him for the entire weekend?

    She heard a door open and close. Raising her head and glancing towards her door, she nervously chewed on her bottom lip.

    Footsteps sounded, first sounding faint and then gradually sounding louder. The steps paused at her door.

    She held her breath, her brows drawing together. A small part of her wanted him to knock or open the door. The dominant part of her wanted him to keep walking without trying to communicate with her. The dominant part of her would prefer for Aubrey to be on the other side of that door. Even so, she could no longer deny the fact that she felt drawn to Brian. She was curious about him, curious about the kind of life she could have with him. And she hated herself for it. She felt disloyal for it. The feelings she was beginning to feel for him frightened her. The fact she'd cried out his name - without meaning to - while touching herself also frightened her. It scared her to death. Keep walking, she thought to herself. Please keep walking.

    The silence seemed to drag on for forever.

    She crawled to the edge of the bed and set both feet on the floor, still staring at the door. Nothing. No sounds. Complete quiet. With her heart pounding in her chest, she stood up from the bed and tiptoed across the room, to the door. Wordlessly, she stared at it. She stared at it so hard, it was a wonder she wasn't able to see through it.

    He was standing on the other side, so close that she could hear him breathing.

    With a sigh, she raised her hand and placed her palm against the door.

    There was the slightest sliding sound, as if he was doing the same thing on the other side.

    Aubrey's face flashed into her mind; this moment was too similar to one she'd shared with him. Her heart was beating erratically in her chest as she removed her hand from the door and took a step back.

    There was another sliding sound, and then the sound of footsteps could be heard again, starting off loud and then growing fainter.