Diamonds (Den of Thieves Book 1) (8 page)

"Don’t worry Daria. I am not going to hurt you," he whispered.

And she believed him.

Chapter 5

Sebastian had his arm wrapped around Daria. His emotions were tied in more knots than he knew what to do with. He wanted nothing more than to get up and run away, yet at the same time he wanted nothing more than to stay in that moment with her.

Over the last hour he had felt as if he had gotten closer to her than anyone else before him. She wanted nothing more than the simple life but all she was surrounded with was money and power. He knew exactly how she felt. He had spent a good chunk of his life in search of something that would ease his pain after his mother’s death.

No amount of money or trinkets could fix the gaping hole in his life. She was no different. She had never known the warm embrace of a mother’s arms. And knowing that made him feel sad. It was not fair. He didn’t know what had happened when she was younger but her mother had not died but had left instead and her father had raised her to think her mother was dead.

And here he was stuck in the middle. Something wasn’t right about the whole situation; he couldn’t figure out what it was but he sure as hell intended to find out.

She sighed again as she rested on his shoulder.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked

"Just how beautiful the city is at night," she answered softly the gentle breeze carrying her words to his ears.

"It is, isn’t it?"

They sat there another moment in complete silence. His mind was still trying to decipher the entire situation and trying hard to figure out a way to work in a question that would lead up the whole necklace issues he was supposed to be taking care of. That is if he even wanted to follow the mission anymore.

The thought stopped him so hard that he wasn’t even sure he had thought it.

Why was he even thinking that? He had never ever not completed a mission. Even when he was busy breaking the law to con older women out of their money he had not walked away.

What was making this whole thing different? She was no different really than any other.

"It is getting chilly, maybe we should go," he said softly.

She snuggled in closer to him.

"Just a few more moments. It’s so wonderful up here. For the first time in a long time I am relaxed."

Sebastian smiled. He was happy that she was feeling completely comfortable with him; it proved that he was still in control of the situation. That he was still the master at his art.

But the guilt welling up inside of him was starting to become more than he could handle. He had to force himself not to squirm. He did not want his actions to reveal the things that were going on in his head.

"I told you this was the perfect spot for drinks."

"You were right. I feel badly that I doubted you in the first place. I should have known that not everyone is not just out for the money or after me because of who I am.”

Sebastian felt as though he had been punched in the gut. The words rang true to him. She was worried about the very thing he was doing to her - he was only using her for her information.

And that hurt.

He was suddenly very uncomfortable and he reflectively shifted his weight.

"I’m sorry." She looked up at him with her big brown eyes.

"Nothing to be sorry about."

"I guess we should start heading back now. Before it gets too late and my father starts to worry about where I am."

"He’s not used to having you out until all hours of the night with all the dates that he sets you up on?" Sebastian chuckled trying to lighten the heavy feeling in his heart.

"No. I usually can’t stand the men he sets me up with. They are usually pompous and self-centered so I don’t tend to stay out too late."

"Well then we best be getting you home. I wouldn’t want your father to start sending out the armed guards after me." He smiled at her and she returned the smile

"Oh don’t worry. They are generally nice. They only maim their intended targets. There hasn’t been a death because of them in a good long time." She laughed as she stood up brushing the dust off her skirt. Her legs seemed to go on forever.

"Well then I am in the clear if they only maim." He quickly stood up too, trying to pull his mind back onto the conversation.

"I didn’t say how they maim though. That might be a bit of a problem for you." She leaned over and picked up the wine glasses. He found himself stealing a peek down her shirt to the perfect vee where her breasts came together.

He felt his heart pick up pace and start to pound.

"Really now?" He shook the blanket off and picked up the empty wine bottle. She was distracting. He had to focus.

"Yep. The last man who brought me back late had to sit down to pee for the rest of his life," she giggled.

"You’re making that up," he laughed nervously. She had him completely off balance. It was unnerving.

He wanted nothing more than to take her home and put some distance between them. He needed air and needed to think.

"Are you okay?" There was worry in her eyes. He clearly was betraying what was going on in his head.

"Yeah I’m okay." He smiled at her again trying his best to look like he had everything under control.

"You don’t think I was being serious did you?"

"Oh God no! I don’t think there is anything of the sort lurking about in your world. I just said that because, well you never know right?"

She nodded.

"I mean you could be one of those black widow things that goes around killing off her mates," he said trying to look serious.

"Are you kidding me?" she squealed putting both hands on her hips in mock anger.

"Well you never know. You could have the kiss of death or something that I should watch out for," he teased, holding his hands up in fear, all the while a grin spreading across his face.

"Some men are impossible to please! So maybe that is why I get rid of them so quickly. They are irritating and stupid." She turned around and pretended to storm off to the car.

Without stopping to think Sebastian chased after her, dropping the bottle and blanket as he went. The next thing he knew she too took off running around the other side of the car. It took him a couple extra steps before he caught up to her and pinned her against the car door. She still had the glasses in her hands and could not push him away.

Their faces were inches apart. He could smell her shampoo mixed with her perfume; his world tilted.

Their eyes met for a split second as they both tried to catch their breath. He didn’t think as he leaned in to kiss her.

Their lips met and his mind raced around trying to gather thoughts that kept slipping out of reach. The kiss deepened as she dropped the glasses and wrapped her arms around his neck. His heart pounded.

He wanted her so badly.

When they came up for air a moment later they were both breathing more heavily than they had been before. Their eyes met and Sebastian could see the longing in her eyes.

He had her. Or did she have him?

Either way for that one moment in time it didn’t matter to him. He knew he had to bring her back home to her father before her he got worried but he didn’t want the moment they were sharing to end. He didn’t want to have to let her go to drive her home.

He needed air.

"We better get you home before those goons start hunting us down, " he breathed pulling away from her, his heart still pounding like a jack hammer in his chest.

“Yes,” she agreed, pulling herself off the car and straightening her clothes before bending down to pick up the glasses she had dropped.

He watched her for a moment before peeling his eyes away and turning around to go and retrieve the blanket and bottle from where he had dropped them.

He opened the door for Daria taking the glasses from her as she got in. He tossed the things into the trunk and took a deep breath as he opened his door and got in.

He put the car in reverse and turned around to head back to the city.

She watched out the window as the darkness along the side of the highway passed by.

Her heart had finally settled back down into its normal rhythm and she was finally able to start thinking clearly again.

She had surprised herself when she had allowed Peter to kiss her. He had made her feel so comfortable and safe that she had been able to let go for that moment and just enjoy being a woman out with a man. She had not had to worry about the consequences or what would happen after that moment.

She hadn’t wanted that moment to end.

It was all very freeing but at the same time reality was slowly starting to settle in. She could never stay with Peter. Her father had made very clear the night before what he thought of Peter and his vague answers.

Her father liked to be able to check out the men that his daughter associated with. This way he could ensure that she would not end up on the wrong end of a scandal. There had been a few times when she was younger where she had almost had but her father had figured it out in time to spare her the indignity.

She had a bad feeling that he would not be able to find out much about the mysterious man. To her logical side that presented a problem to her but to the irrational girl who had allowed herself to be kissed none of it mattered.

She smiled, looking at him as he drove through the streets of the city wondering which of the two was going to win out.

He glanced over as she watched him.

“What?” he asked smiling.

“Nothing.”

“So what are you looking at?”

“You,” she said softly.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah just thinking.” She turned back to the road.

“About?”