DARKEST DESIRES

2

♤♡DARREN◇♧

The elderly man’s face softened as he took me in, a mix of nostalgia and warmth filling his gaze. "Those eyes... I know them," he murmured, studying my face as if trying to piece together a memory. "Darren?" he asked, his voice tinged with hope and familiarity.

I nodded, and before I knew it, he had pulled me into a bear hug, his grip surprisingly strong for his age. His embrace was tight—if I wasn’t built the way I was, it might have been too much. As he finally let go, his hands lingered on my shoulders, squeezing them with a proud, approving smile.

"Look at you!" he said, his eyes roaming over me, almost like a father admiring his grown son. "Solid as a rock!" He grinned, giving my arm another pat.

I laughed, caught up in his infectious enthusiasm.

"So, how have you been?" His eyes crinkled at the corners, the lines of age deepening, yet there was a warmth in his gaze that made him seem timeless.

"I've been alright, son..." he began, his gaze shifting to the girl beside me. His curiosity was apparent, his eyes sparkling as he looked between us. "And how did you come to know Monet?" he asked, a sly smile playing on his lips as if there were stories waiting to be told.

Monet glanced at me, her expression softening for a brief moment before she looked away. She redirected her attention to him, polite but clearly guarded, her posture both poised and reserved.

There was an unspoken tension in the air, a quiet mystery lingering, and I couldn’t help but feel that there was a deeper story waiting to unfold.

She was a rare beauty—a radiance about her that went beyond just appearance. Her brown skin had a warm glow, smooth and inviting, and I wondered how it would feel beneath my touch. My curiosity about her had only grown since our first encounter, her grace and resilience drawing me in.

But Mr. Jackson’s voice broke through my thoughts. "Ah, we can talk about that later. For now, let’s catch up." Monet exhaled softly, almost imperceptibly, but I noticed. Her eyes met mine, a hint of playful amusement sparking in her gaze as if she knew where my mind had wandered.

Her elegance captivated me, and I sensed layers to her that made her all the more intriguing.

"Got yourself some ink, I see?" Mr. Jackson chuckled, nudging my shoulder playfully. I glanced down at the tattoos scattered along my arms, smiling back.

Just then, a new voice breaks through our conversation. "Monet?" A man with short, brown hair strides toward our group, his gaze fixed on the woman beside me. Slightly shorter than I am, his athletic build and defined muscles make him a striking presence.

"Where have you been?" he asks, wrapping her in a warm embrace. She returns his smile, and he looks at her with a fondness that tells me there's more between them than just friendship. The ease in their connection is clear, and my curiosity is piqued as I watch, wondering about their story.

His gaze shifts, moving between Monet and me with a scrutinizing intensity. When our eyes meet, there's a flicker of recognition in his expression, quickly masked by a scowl. I brush it off, guessing he’s her boyfriend, which might explain his guarded demeanor.

A pang of disappointment catches me off guard at the thought. I hadn’t realized I was drawn to her until now, but knowing she might be taken stirs something unsettling within me. I shove the feeling aside, but a lingering spark of attraction refuses to fully fade.