A Way Out

Chapter 13

His eyes grew distant as they drew in the light of the orange sun, the rays warming his features. "The core of it all is made of passion. The passion my mom had for the same craft that is dear to your heart." His eyes found mine, demanding my attention. Every single time he trapped me with his gaze and made me a temporary prisoner of his look.

A content smile appeared on my face as Donovan continued with his story, gazing back at the sun. "My parents met at a library. My father was a lover of literature. I can't name a book he hasn't read. My mother visited the library to regularly spark her inspiration. When they met, they got into a conversation and soon enough, before they could even realize it, they lived together. I guess you could say they were meant to be." The loving smile and the softness in his eyes showed that he loved his parents very much, and all I saw was pure fondness.

"My dad was a man of perseverance. He stopped at nothing to make my mother's dreams come true. He took it to the next level and created his own publishing house. It didn't have to do with money, but with pure passion. Passion for the love he had for my mother," he sighed as he took some sand in his hand and gave it to the wind. The wind lifted it to another secluded part of the beach.

I couldn't help but feel honored that he would share this with me. Donovan didn't seem to be quickly comfortable around people, because the 'cold' would be present at those times, but the fact that he told me this story made me believe that he felt slightly at ease with me. That my presence had some effect on him.

Donovan turned his attention to me and seemed in thought at the same time, a frown gracing his eyes. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, warming me with his simple action. Everything he did had such confidence to it, which I wasn't used to. We were so different in that respect.

"I didn't have to take over my dad's publishing house," he told me as he brushed his fingers along my jawline, forcing the air that left my lungs to hitch in my throat.

"But I wanted to. What my dad did for my mom made her happy. I want to make people with that same passion happy, people like you," he said as he retreated his hand. "It makes me feel like I can make a difference, even if it's a small one."

God, had I been wrong. The first time I laid eyes upon this man, I took him for nothing but a successful businessman. Someone successful without even trying. I had been so unfair in my opinion. There was so much more to him than meets the eye. He was kind, compassionate, ambitious, and even humorous at times.

"I appreciate you saying that I really do," I told him as I buried my bare feet in the sand.

Donovan let out a relieved breath. "I don't want you to think of me as one that is in it for the money," he said as he averted his gaze to the ground. "I hate for you to think of me as that shallow."

Never had I been the first to initiate a touch, not even with Jake, but I wanted him to know that I was telling the truth, so I placed my hand against his cheek and he looked at me. "Shallow wasn't the word that came to mind when I thought of you."

He let out a ragged breath as he placed his hand over mine. Donovan closed his eyes and leaned into my touch, surprising me with his vulnerability, with his way of letting go. That was until he opened his eyes and that wickedness was laced within them once again, accompanied by a smile.

"So, you've been thinking of me, huh?" he asked with a teasing grin on his face.

I quickly took my hand back and looked down, my cheeks glowing with embarrassment. I couldn't believe how easily I freed my thoughts around him, but I hadn't lied. My mind had been on him quite a lot.

He placed a finger underneath my chin and moved my gaze back to him. His touch was becoming addicting as I easily let myself be guided by him. "Nothing to be ashamed of gem. My mind has been in a wonderful place for these past few weeks as well," he said softly.