Black Angel

Chapter Six

Zola

    "Could I stay here for a while?"
    What the fuck are you doing here, Zola?
    My inner voice was right. What the hell was I doing?
    He could be a serial killer or God knows what else, yet I was sitting here. Next to him, in his living room, asking him for something like that.
    Well, somehow, I didn't feel like I was in danger when he was around, but...
    I still should at least be careful what I was asking him for. This – kind of – stranger and man I felt an immense attraction to.
    It felt weird, opening up like this to someone – anyone – since I didn't even open up to Macy or Ruby about my family and my past.
    His expression was unreadable, but in his eyes was... relief? Or was it more like happiness? Jesus, I didn't think I would be this correct with his nickname 'Mr. MuscledMystery'.
    He took the glass out of my hands and placed it on the table. Taking my hands in his, he nodded. "For however long you want to." Then a hint of concern flashed across his face.
    I understood without him asking.
    "My father summoned me to the living room and when I got there, mom was crying. When I asked for the reason – because mom doesn't cry – he yelled at me, asked what I had done and slapped me. For the first time in my life, my father hit me. They accused me of stealing her fucking jewelry." An angry tear escaped my eye which I wiped away just as angrily with my index and middle finger.
    "Her jewelry, Derrick, for God's sake. But do you know what made me snap the most? Not that he asked if I needed that jewelry to pledge them or to use them for my car. It was his last question about the purpose. 'Is it for your new boyfriend? Did he tell you to steal it so you two can spend the money on whatever you have in mind?' That was his question." After those words left my mouth, I could see his body stiffen and that he set his jaw, his jawline sharpening and his eyes growing dark.
    "What boyfriend?" He asked, his voice low but its concern still remaining and I could swear that I heard a hint of jealousy in it too.
    "Exactly." I said. "I don't have one! The only guy I am seeing, or rather talking to, are you. And even if they saw us or our messages, we didn't do anything that could've been suspicious or wrong to them, did we?" He shook his head, his face softening again and his lips tugging up in a weak smile.
    "Whatever," I said again. "And you're sure I won't bother you or disrupt your privacy?" Silence. His pupils grew slightly before they turned to normal again.
    Stand up and go! Leave the man alone! You're invading his personal space! My thoughts and I agreed for the first time.
    Suddenly, he chuckled. "Yes, of course. I'm sure." Silence again as his demeanor changed into one of seriousness. "I prefer you stay here with me where I know you're safe instead of you stay in some hotel where everybody can go in or out easily." A smile made its way on to my face when he squeezed my hand one more time for reassuring. I didn't even realize my hands were still in his. It felt so good, so ordinarily. Like my hands were always supposed to be in his.
    I took my right hand out of his and placed it on his cheek. "Thank you. Really." I said smilingly, before I chuckled and added "You're saving my ass." He joined me with a chuckle of his own, those delicious dimples appearing one more time.
    I took my hand back down and placed it on my lap, but he took it back in his. He caressed the back of my hand with his thumb and the air got heavy, tension thickening it.
    We stared into each other's eyes for a while until his eyes darted between my eyes and lips. We were both breathing heavy with the electricity lying between us.
    Finally, after what felt like forever, I reluctantly broke the spell by clearing my throat and taking my hands back onto my lap. "I gotta get my bag and suitcase from the trunk. I'll be back in a second." I said, but I couldn't even make it to the front door, because he reached me within four strides.
    Seriously, why have men to be that tall? I was five-foot tall, and he was most likely Melman from Madagascar. No, seriously, he seemed to be like six foot something for sure.
    "I'll help you real' quick, show you your room and later we could eat something or watch a movie?" His voice was so soft, I felt that he wanted to comfort me.
    My heart fluttered at the thought.
    I smiled and nodded. "Thank you." He placed his hand on my cheek and said "You don't need to thank me. I want you to be safe and happy. If you'll be so here, I'd never let you go." He laughed and my smile only grew.
    Shouldn't I be freaking out? He's literally saying that he won't let me go.
    But I am not. I don't know why I am not.
    I just know that I feel safer and more like at home here than I ever did while living with my family.
    I've always valued family. Even if mine didn't treat me like their daughter. And I really thought we could solve our problems and would be a real family one day. But apparently, that wasn't the case.
    I walked towards my car and unlocked it, while Derrick was already waiting by the trunk. I walked to the trunk and opened it, Derrick took my suitcase and – after a discussion and me using my puppy dog eyes – I took the other bag.
    I locked my car again and together, we walked back inside and down a hall until we stopped in front of a huge white door. Despite the door being huge, Derrick still needed to duck his head while entering the room which I assumed would be the room I was staying in.
    "This is the guest bedroom. I'll quickly check the guest bathroom on anything which needs to be handled. You'll stay here, but my bedroom is directly above this room. If you need anything, just text me and I'll be right here. And if I'm not, feel free to come in my room." Derrick said. There was a sincerity in his voice I've never heard back at home.
    "Thank you very much, Derrick. Really. I owe you." I said smilingly and a tad embarrassed.
    "You like that word, don't you?" I frowned, a questioning look on my face. I guess he understood that I didn't get it because he added "You're thanking a lot. It's cute, but you don't need to thank me for everything. Don't get me wrong, I'm not annoyed or something. I just do really like helping you. That's why I said this."
    Tears welled in my eyes, and I tried blinking them back, but in vain. Never, and I mean never ever, had anyone cared enough to explain themselves so patiently while also being careful with their use of words. Never. He is the first person in my life who cared enough about my feelings that he explained himself and even made sure I understood everything like he meant it.
    Once again, I smiled, a tear escaping my eye. "Thank y- Oh, um... sorry. I mean..." Wow. I really was a mess when I was talking to the opposite gender. He chuckled, wiped that single tear away with his thumb and let his hand linger a bit more on my cheek, with me – instinctively – leaning into his touch.
    There was this eye contact again. My pulse raced and my lips parted slightly. His gaze fell from my eyes down to my lips and there was a hint of desire in them. Slowly, he leaned down, our faces mere inches apart so I could feel his breath fan my face, when suddenly my phone started ringing, the noise breaking the spell we were trapped in.
    He took his hand down, cleared his throat and said "Um... I'll go check your bathroom." And so he did.
    What was that? Were you about to kiss him?
    I don't know if, but hell, I wanted to.
    Producing my phone out of my pocket, I checked the caller ID. Macy. I guess she landed finally.
    "Hey Mace. How's the weather in Italy?"