50 Shades of Drake 3 and 4

Torn: Chapter Seventy-Six

    The limousine ride to Brian's house was a quiet one. The silence extended as he led Destiny to his front door. The limousine driver walked to the back of the limousine and opened the trunk as Brian unlocked the door to the house. She followed him inside and stood near the staircase.

    "Get the lights?" he asked, standing near the entrance to the living room.

    She shook her head, staring down the hallway. "No lights." With her eyes fixed ahead of her, she lifted one foot and removed one heel. Then, she did the same with the other foot and left her shoes discarded near the stairs. As she walked past him, she reached behind her back and started to lower the zipper on her dress. She moved down the hallway and pushed her dress down her torso, feeling incredibly numb. Upon entering the kitchen, she still didn't bother turning on any lights. Her steps halted, and her dress soundlessly fell to the floor. She stepped out of the dress and proceeded across the kitchen, stopping only when she reached the patio door.

    Brian trailed behind her.

    She wordlessly slid the patio door open.

    He looked like he wanted to ask her if she was okay. He looked concerned for her. His brows were drawn together, and his lips were set in a straight line.

    So I saw Aubrey and Bernice kissing? So what? Brian doesn't have to worry about me. I told him I was fine, and I am fine. I'm not hurt by what I saw. I don't...feel anything, really. Although she was looking him in the eyes, she was actually searching within herself. If I'd seen Aubrey kissing someone else even a month ago, I would have responded differently. I would've dragged Brian off somewhere and had my way with him. I would have used him, the way Aubrey accused me of doing. Even earlier tonight, I was tempted to show out in front of Aubrey and Bernice, when I saw they were here. Looking at Brian now, I do want him. But not as some form of retaliation against Aubrey. I want Brian because I got a peek inside of his soul tonight, and I'm extremely attractive to what I saw. She lowered her gaze, then turned her head and peered out into his backyard. Expansive. Green grass darkened by a midnight blue sky stretched out beyond the deck and bordered an Olympic-sized in-ground pool. Wearing only her bra and panties, she stepped out onto the deck, enjoying the feel of the wind in her hair.

    Ninja-silent, Brian was close at her heels.

    "What is the rule on swimming with a broken arm?" she asked him, while looking towards the pool.

    "I have a waterproof cast and a cast drier," he told her. "I've been in the pool a lot this week, actually. I don't know if you would call what I do swimming, though. I pretty much just...lounge around, since I can't do much else."

    She nodded and stepped down from the desk. The grass felt cushioned each step as she made her way across the yard. When she reached the poolside, she dipped a toe into the water and smiled for the first time since seeing Aubrey lock lips with someone else. Not that it bothered me, right?

    Brian came to stand beside her. "If you need to talk...about anything..."

    "I can talk to you," she said, staring down into the water. "I know. Thank you."

    "You don't have to put on any proud fronts for me," he told her. "You don't have to feel weird about talking about him with me."

    "I do."

    "Well...you don't have to. I know how much he means to you."

    She closed her eyes. "I don't want to talk about him right now. I'm here, with you. He's there, with her. I'm doing me, so I'm going to let him do him." Opening her eyes, she dipped her toe into the water again. "I wasn't lying, when I said that I wasn't mad at him. I'm not. It took a lot for him to allow me to date you. He pretends that my dating you doesn't worry him, but it does. So he deserves to spend a night with a woman who loves him unconditionally, a woman who is willing to drop everything for him. That's what he needs right now."