The Handsome Devil

Chapter 23 - Awaken

Deya slowly opened her eyes, sighing in relief upon seeing the familiar surroundings. My bedroom.
Her eyes, however, widened in shock once she noticed  the two muscular arms wrapped around her waist.

She didn't even have to look back to realise they belonged to Max. She was way too familiar with all of his tattoos by now.

The events of yesterday finally dawned on her. Being assaulted by Thomas. Seeing Thomas die. Hanging out of the window. Yet, the thing that seemed to be the most terrifying was the memory of hugging Max. The one thing that ultimately led her here.

Why would I do that?

She had no explanation other than she just longed for human touch, be it that of the devil himself. It's been weeks since she's been isolated from the whole world, so that must have been it. That, and the fact she was scared shitless of heights.

Mustering all of her strength, she pried his arms open and hastily rolled out of the bed. The dissatisfied groan that followed made it clear he has woken up in the process.

Damn.

She ducked without hesitation in a childish attempt to hide.

"What are you doing?" His sleepy voice made her jump up a bit.

"Nothing" she whispered as she stood up and took a few steps back to create distance between them. He was still wearing his clothes from yesterday and his hair was roughed, giving him almost a childish look.

For a second, he was staring at her in confusion before his expression hardened again. "Come here." He ordered impatiently, but the girl just shook her head from side to side. She knew better than to get deceived by his pretty face.

"I won't ask you twice." It was hard to miss the anger underlying his words, but the girl's feet remained glued to the floor nonetheless.

Suddenly, Max jumped out of the bed, making the girl shriek and bolt for the bathroom door. However, before she had a chance to shut them, his hand appeared out of nowhere and pushed them wide open.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" He shouted at the top of his lungs once their eyes met.

The girl just stood there in astonishment. What the hell is wrong with ME?

"How dare you! What is wrong with YOU? You... You.." She shouted in rage trying to come up with the right word. And she did, indeed.

"You murderer." She spat with venom, her chocolate eyes staring at him coldly.

For a second, you could see Max's eye twitch as he fought to recompose himself. He took a few steps towards the girl, making her raise her arm in a protective manner.

"Get away from me!" Her voice was now trembling with fear, but her words fell on deaf ears as Max closed the distance between them entirely.

"A murderer?" he whispered with amusement. "So this is all about what you saw yesterday?"

The girl was in loss for words. Yes. It was about the gruesome picture of Thomas's body that she'll never be able to get out of her head. Yet, in the same time, she felt it's about much more. In the end, Max never tried to hide his evil side from her. On the contrary, he kept deliberately putting it on display since the day they've met. Deep inside, she knew it was all about how vulnerable she allowed herself to be with him yesterday. That's, however, something she would not admit to him.

"Mateo promised you won't kill him.." She said instead, desperately trying to avoid his gaze. At least she didn't have to fake the betrayal in her voice.