Beating Hearts [Knight's Rest #1]

34

"You ready to head upstairs?" He asked and when she turned to look at him, she was met with a barely-there, wicked smile played on his lips which gave no doubt regarding his intentions which caused anticipation to flush under her skin.

Desire pooled between her legs at his heated look. "Let me grab a bottle of water first."

His smile grew. "You're going to need it for what I have in mind."

She gave him a light, playful shove. "Head up without me. I'll be up there soon."

Placing his hands on her hips, he pulled her in for a slow, tantalising kiss which had her following his mouth as he moved his head back. He chuckled against her mouth as he kissed her again before turning her around in the direction of the kitchen and nudging her slightly.

His hand reached out and slapped her ass for good measure, only smirking when she protested with a mock frown.

Rushing into the kitchen, she grabbed a water bottle from the fridge with the intention of heading upstairs to spend some quality time with her sexy boyfriend – hopefully, naked and sexy boyfriend by the time she got up there.

But before she could leave the kitchen, her eyes wandered over to the light which shone underneath the door to the dining room. It made no sense for anyone to be in there at this time, especially since it was nearly midnight and the kitchen was closed until 7am.

Darcy's curiosity got the best of her as she found herself walking towards the door.

"Ryland?" She called out to the man sitting exactly where she had last seen him at breakfast that morning. He remained slumped over the table, his head bowed over what appeared to be a bowl of ice cream, not having seemed to have heard her so she called out to him again.

His head whipped up at the sound of her voice. "Darcy? What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

"I can't sleep." He admitted honestly, something which she had not anticipated from him since she barely knew the man but it appeared that perhaps, he needed someone to talk to.

She pursed her lips and held back her tongue, unsure if it was okay to probe further, not wanting to make him uncomfortable. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really," he shook his head. "But I think it would help."

A small smile graced her lips and she slid into the booth, sitting in front of him. She slid the water bottle across the table, leaving it directly under him.

He nodded his thanks and uncapped the bottle, chugging back some cool, refreshing water.

"What's on your mind?" She asked.

He lifted his head and gazed at her, his brown eyes piercing into her soul. Ryland Oliver was a handsome man with his bronze copper hair which he chose to wear short, a straight nose and sharp jaw. He was a little shorter than Thelonious but had a more muscular and athletic physique, the result of many hours in the gym. He was the kind of man that you would do a double take for when you passed him on the streets but with the way he was now, wallowing away in sadness and in his own misery, it was painful to watch.

Thelonious had spoken very well of his friends a few times during the time that they had been together and she was excited to meet another one of her boyfriend's best friends, but it hurt to watch him this way. It was like Ryland was the shell of the man she had heard so much about.

"I tried to win her back and she didn't want me."

Darcy reached over and placed both her hands over Rylands. She was afraid that he would refute the sentiment, that perhaps he would feel uncomfortable, but was glad when he let it be. She felt like he needed the reassurance, even if it was just holding hands.