Consume Me (A Burning Desire Novel) (43 page)

“Do you have any idea what I’ve been
through after what Jude had revealed to me?”

He was definitely angry.

I shook my head yes.

“I know you must be disappointed; I’ll
leave.”

I pushed back the tears.

He swore under his breath. His eyes blazed
with exasperation and stilled me disabling me from any movement.

“Disappointed?”

He shook his head and took a calming
breath.

“You’re very ignorant for such a smart
mouth like yourself.”

I stared at him blankly.

“It took every fiber of my being not to
kill the bastard tonight; after what he’d put you through, what he said to
Jude.’

He shut his eyes as if he was in agony. I
was just processing the words coming out of his mouth.

He wanted to hurt Caden. No, he wanted to
kill him. All that anger I saw in his eyes, that disturbing grievance, it
wasn’t aimed at me, it was all against Caden.

I stared at him, unable to hide my
surprise.

Landon took another calming breath. When
he looked at me; his eyes were soft and reassuring.

“But I can assure you baby; from now on he
will never, ever get near you or your friends again.”

He pulled me to him and wrapped me in a
bone-melting embrace.

“What did you do?”

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know; the way
he’d strode out of the car and inside the Emergency Room announced nothing but
pure pity for the receiving part of that the conversation.

Caden Blye deserved no pity.

“Don’t worry about it; I just made sure
that you are safe; and so will be Jude when the asshole drops the charges
tomorrow.”

I couldn’t help but grasp him and
extirpate the life out of him.

“Thank you. I’m sorry.”

Landon pulled from me.

“Never apologize for something you had no
hand in.”

He ordered softly, his eyes turned
unreadable.

“But that won’t stop me from adding a new
rule.”

His mood was suddenly playful; but still
serious somehow.

“Just to be safe from any further
surprises.”

He winked smiling.

I returned a weak smile; still recovering
from all the bad thoughts that had went through my shattered brain.

“What is our new rule?”

“Rule #7; No keeping secrets. I think it’s
pretty simple; everything you think would be best left hidden in your life; I
want you to think better of it and just tell me about it.”

He was serious and maybe a little… amused.

“What about you?”

His face sobered.

“It goes without saying; but just give me
some time Clea.”

I nodded slowly.

“Is that a sign to acknowledge the new
rule or to tell me that you’ll be patient?”

“Both.”

I smiled.

“Good.”

He sealed our lips together in a
passionate kiss. It breathed the life back inside me; his kiss suggested that
nothing had changed for him, that all my fears were just that; fears. I returned
his kiss with relief and eagerness; all my bad thoughts flew away and left me
with a renewed hope and joy.

He cut it short and gave me another
squeeze.

“So you didn’t tell me what you think?”

Landon gestured to the general direction
of the closet.

“I don’t understand.”

“It’s yours.”

He announced

I frowned.

He nodded slowly and grinned.

“Happy birthday baby. The clothes will
fit, Melinda chose them; she had some help from Ryan, since he knows your
taste.”

I couldn’t believe it.

“It’s way too much; I really need a veto.
I can’t possibly accept this Landon.”

His smile faded.

“I told you there’s no veto; and you will
accept and wear these clothes Clea; and that is final.”

I opened my mouth to object but he
silenced me with his thumb.

“No discussion. It’s yours.”

I nodded, not really convinced. But he was
probably going to be in Chicago most of the week; he’s not going to be leaving
his work to stay with me so I wouldn’t be wearing any of them other than when
he’s here.

I didn’t need him to do any more than he’d
already done for me; he’d paid for the spa treatment; although the most
impressive and beneficial one had been his massage. He’d planned an amazing
party for me in his majestic penthouse.

But most importantly, he got Jude out to
sleep in his bed; and didn’t leave me even after uncovering the truth about
Caden. I had absolutely no need for the extra clothes; I had enough to last me
a lifetime. Ever since Ryan had gotten to my head about them; I’d been an
unconventional shopaholic.

I’d apply some of my mother’s rules for
buying apparels; then I had all the dresses from Ryan and my rare vintages.

The closet would’ve given shame to the
best shops; it was beautifully and neatly organized from his side to what was
announced to be my own.

I’d seen lots of tags that made my heard
just by imagining what two or three of them might’ve cost.

Probably my first paycheck, and then some.

I got
inside the shower and washed off the night’s bad events. Landon refused to come
inside with me; he called me greedy and it made me laugh. The way he’d just
made love to me gave another kick to my worries. He was gentle and amorous. His
gaze never lest mine; and every time I witnessed the moment he unraveled in me,
I got even more in love with him. It made my heart leap in my mouth.

After I
got down from my trance, I realized it was close to five. The sky started
showing some light far behind the park trees. I wasn’t tired, despite all the
events. We talked a little and I told him that what had disappointed me the
most was that I didn’t hear him sing. He promised to make it up to me and then
suggested I take a shower and join him to have my birthday cake as breakfast. I
agreed happily and hopped in the master bathroom.

I
walked to his part of the closet, took out one of his tees, and slipped it on
with his boxers. I wasn’t comfortable with the clothes he’d bought me and I
preferred his scent. I sent some texts to Jude, Ryan Jenna and my mom to
reassure them. I didn’t want them to keep worrying when they woke up, and since
I hadn’t seen them, I was sure they would be.

I walked back downstairs to find Landon.
The penthouse was truly gorgeous. To the left of the stairs; a beautiful glass
door opened on a beautiful kitchen. Ultramodern and fully equipped in Payne’s
gray glass and timberwolf. It was gigantic and the minimalistic décor made it
look even bigger. A tray with two glasses of milk and two plates with
mouthwatering pieces of chocolate and red velvet were positioned on the
counter; but Landon wasn’t inside.

It was Uncle Keith’s recipe; it was my
utmost favorite cake. When I’d visit Jenna’s family in San Diego, Uncle Keith
made me one of those almost every day during my stay. I had to bribe Jenna to
make me one when I was in Paris; but her father’s mastered it.

I picked up the tray and walked to the
living space. The room was a complete open space that gave on a large deck
where we sat yesterday. I blinked at the image of the man lounged on the sofa
and hugging a guitar.

When he saw me; his grin broadened and he
straightened himself. I was mesmerized and chose to lay the tray on the nearest
table before I’d let it fall.

I walked slowly towards him; I knew that
he was wearing boxers, but he looked as one of those singers who posed naked with
their guitar; I wanted to snap a picture and make a poster out of it.

Landon
motioned to the sofa facing him and I slipped on it. I had probably the most,
unique, view known to humankind. Landon Davis hugging a guitar, his hair messed
up and unruly.

Bedroom-hair.

Behind him; a view on a deck strapped with
wood that gave on central park; the city’ skyline, under red shades announcing
the sunrise.

Breath cutting…

“So Miss Dane; what do you want to hear?”

He straightened the guitar. I remembered
the musician that had congratulated him about it. It was in light and shining
Brazilian Rosewood.

I swallowed.

Frankly, I didn’t want to hear anything, I
just wanted to launch myself onto him and have wake-up sex without the sleeping
part.

It was that time of the day anyway.

However, Landon didn’t want to disappoint
me; he was only doing it because I pouted about it earlier.

“Cat got your tongue baby?”

He was amused by my reaction; the sight of
him had rendered me speechless.

“I guess I’ll just play what I’d
originally planned.”

He nodded and hummed the strings twice.

I was hypnotized, motionless and full of
pure anticipation.

Landon started playing the first notes; I
was so taken by him. I couldn’t believe that he was doing it. He was Landon Davis.
I’d learnt to accept what he was and who he was.

I’d never expected him to play some
guitar, not even in the confinement of his own home and just for me.

When he started singing, I couldn’t figure
whether to grin my happiness or just let my jaw drop, as it wanted to.

His eyes were focused; the way he moved
his shoulders with each note was bewitching.

“The strands in your
eyes that color them wonderful
Stop me and steal my breath.
And emeralds from mountains thrust towards the sky
Never revealing their depth.
Tell me that we belong together,
Dress it up with the trappings of love.
I'll be captivated;
I'll hang from your lips,
Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above.”

I knew the song; it took me a moment to
recognize it. I was too focused on him to concentrate on what he was singing.

He captivated me…

His voice was like the gentle snow on
Christmas evening; when you get out of your house and just let it fall to melt
on your warm skin. It was soothing, warm, and sexy. It sent shivers through my
spine.

He closed his eyes for mere second; he
felt passionate and intoxicating.

“And I've dropped out,
I've burned up, I've fought my way back from the dead.

I've tuned in, turned
on, remembered the things that you said

I'll be your crying shoulder,
I'll be love's suicide
I'll be better when I'm older,
I'll be the greatest fan of your...
I'll be your crying shoulder,

I couldn’t be more in love with him than
that exact moment. I didn’t know if the words were addressed to me; or why he’d
chosen that song. All I knew was that Landon Davis was with me; he was mine and
I belonged to him.

He
finished the last chorus and moved the guitar swiftly to the side. He moved to
kneel in front of me; his expression was dark; full of lust.

“Say it.”

He ordered sliding his hand up my thighs.

I frowned.

“You were amazing. Thank you.”

I kissed him lightly on the cheek.

“That goes without saying; but that’s not
what I want to hear.”

I really didn’t understand what he was
asking for.

His gaze was searching, insisting.

“Just say it baby; I can see it, but I
need to hear it.”

I swallowed the lump hanging in my throat.
My heart lurched and skipped several beats.

He nodded slowly with a knowing look.

He knew…

“I…”

Landon smile broadened with anticipation,
but I couldn’t say the words yet. I still didn’t know everything about him.
We’ve been together for barely a week; I could barely admit it to myself
without shrieking with fear and confusion.

It was one thing to offer myself to him
even after a short time, but I’d decided to do it, on my own terms. Not only
because I was bored and frustrated with self-satisfaction; but to find a way
and erase the memory of that night with Caden.

I waited long enough for it, it was
amazing, and I do love him. However, something in my gut told me that saying
the words would be a commitment I wasn’t sure he was ready to take. It would
feel better if I kept them to myself, so that, when our relationship failed,
I’d feel somehow dignified – even though broken- but still mendable.

I’d said those words before, to no other
than the man who tried to rape me and destroyed me. I realized that I was more
impressed with the idea of the man than the man himself. I’d fell in love with
a cliché. But I wasn’t a girl with some daddy issues that sought affection in
any man. I had to be sure of my feelings for him, and it was way too early for
me to say them to him, especially when I’d no guarantee that he’d say them
back.

It killed me to see the anticipation in
his eyes; and to be the one who would crush it.

“I’m yours.”

My heart leaped into my mouth, it was all
I could say, that was close to what he wanted me to say.

He really had a way to read into me. He
saw it in my eyes and I hoped he’d settle for just it for a moment.