50 Shades of Drake 3 and 4

Torn: Chapter Forty-Three

    It started to sprinkle, the lightest of light rains.

    Destiny held her hand out, palm facing the sky.

    Brian watched her and felt his heart swelling inside of his chest. On impulse, he leaned over and kissed her cheek.

    She gave him a crazy look that softened into one of the prettiest smiles he'd ever seen in his life. "I really should get home," she told him.

    His heart swelled even bigger at the fact that her tone sounded like she'd rather stay with him. "Of course," he said.

    The rain started to really come down, then.

    She squealed and jumped up. Then she extended an arm to help him up.

    Together, they ran down the length of the dock and towards his yacht. Then he slowed his steps and proceeded to walk her towards her car.

    She stopped walking at the edge of the parking lot and peered up at him. Messy topknot soaking wet and dripping with rain, as were her clothes.

    I still can't believe she wore a fucking hoodie to work, he thought with a smile. Cute little rebel. "I guess this is it."

    She threw her arms around him. "The talk that we had tonight... I really needed it."

    He slid an arm around her and kissed the top of her head. "Glad I could be of assistance."

    She pulled back a little bit and tilted her face up.

    His throat grew tight. He searched her round, dark eyes, took in the sight of water drops on her bottom lip and raindrops cascading down her face. He leaned his head down and kissed her. His intention was for the kiss to be a quick one, but the kiss quickly transformed from gentle to hungry.

    She reached up and cupped his face in her hands as she kissed him back.

    His arm tightened around her waist as his tongue brushed against hers. He felt something hard burying into his midsection, and a quick replay of their time seated on the dock reminded him that she had her cell phone in her hoodie pocket.

    The rain fell down all around them, and there were sounds of traffic in the distance. The feeling of rain dropping onto his arm and into his hair barely registered to him. The traffic sounds were muted and sounded like they were worlds away.

    Her hands lowered from his face, down to his chest, and her arms slid around his waist again.

    They reluctantly ended the kiss and stared at each other for what felt like ages.

    He smiled and smoothed wet hair back from her face. "Drive safely. Text me when you get home so I know you're okay?"

    She nodded. "If my phone works anymore." She pulled back from the embrace and grabbed his hand.

    He walked her to her car. After she unlocked the doors, he opened the door for her, waited for her to get in, then closed the door.

    She waved at him.

    He waved at her while backing away from the car.

~~~~~~

    While at a red light, Destiny texted Aubrey to let him know she would be home in about twenty minutes. The rain continued to pour as she drove through the city of Toronto. Brian's words replayed over and over again in her head while she drove. Love is patience. Love is kindness. Love is eternity. They weren't just words that could possibly be found on cheap wall paintings. They were words to live by, a mantra that could help her to be more patient and understanding.

    After she pulled into the parking garage of Aubrey's condo complex, she sent a quick text to Brian to let him know she'd arrived safely. She grabbed her purse, got out of the car, and frowned down at her soaking wet clothes. "Ugh," she muttered in distaste. Her phone vibrated in her hand, and she glanced down at the screen.

TEXT FROM: Brian Davies

MESSAGE: Thanks for remembering to text me. Sleep well tonight, angel.

    She smiled and pocketed her cell phone. Then, she used the key fob to lock the car doors and engage the alarm before turning and walking towards the condo building entrance. She hummed to herself as she stepped onto the elevator, and realized just how little anxiety she felt, despite having been in a malfunctioning elevator not long ago.

    Once the elevator doors closed, though, anxiety for a different reason settled upon her. Is Aubrey going to be angry at me for being late? He didn't respond to my text message. And I should have texted him way earlier, back when I was at the marina.

    The elevator doors opened a moment later, and she stepped off. She clutched onto her purse strap as she walked down the hall. When she reached Aubrey's condo, she unlocked the door, opened it, and walked inside.

    The scent of marinara sauce reached her nostrils as she turned to close and lock the door. She poked her head into the kitchen. A pot of spaghetti and a few small pans graced the stove, but Aubrey was nowhere in sight. She slipped her car keys into her purse as she walked further into the condo. He wasn't in the living room. She stood in the living room, straining her ears to listen for sounds coming down from his home office. Whenever he was in his home office, there were usually telltale sounds of shuffling paper or typing. There were no sounds coming from his home office. Taking a deep breath, she walked across the dining room and started down the hall. It didn't take long for her steps to slow down.

    A wide shaft of light streamed into the hallway from an open door. It wasn't the bedroom door that was open; it was the door to the red room. Her pulse quickened as she continued down the hallway. She nervously smoothed her hair back as she turned into the red room.

    Aubrey sat on the platform of a contraption she'd once said looked like a guillotine. A paddle sat on his lap, and he was staring down at the floor when she entered.

    Her eyes locked in on the paddle in his lap as she drew closer to him.

    He lifted his eyes to her while stroking the handle of the paddle. "You finally decided to join me, did you?"