44

"I can! I'm not some little kid that needs to be looked after! I'm twenty-one!" I yelled.

"Then act like it! I shouldn't have to be looking all over town for your ass because your damn parents don't know where the fuck you're at! And I damn sure shouldn't've found you at a party getting drunk and felt up by some prick!" Daimen shouted at me and our eyes met as we stared each other down.

"You don't have to look after me!" I yelled in annoyance and exasperation.

"If I don't protect you, who is?" He spat.

"Protect me? You? Protect me? You don't do shit, but fuck with me!"

"River-"

"And what makes you think I want your protection? I hate you!" I yelled and I swallowed painfully. Daimen paused and clenched his jaw.

Tears were beginning to well up in my eyes and I looked down as they slid heavily down my cheeks.

"Here." I glanced up and saw Daimen holding out a handkerchief.

I took it from him and wiped my eyes. His hand brushed my hair back and I let out a sob as he spoke the words I feared he would, "I love you River."

"Daimen I-" I choked on my words.

"Yes?" He asked and his voice sent chills down my spine.

"Can you just take me home?" I sighed and the man huffed as he sat back in his seat.

"Sure." He sighed and placed his hand against my leg briefly before pulling back and starting the engine again.

"Did you hear about Christen? How he killed himself?" I asked and Daimen gave a nod after a pause. I watched him closely.

"Why are you staring like that?" Daimen asked and I felt goosebumps run over me.

"You didn't have anything to do with it, right?" I asked and he clenched his jaw.

"Now how could I make a man kill himself?" He countered staring ahead. He didn't look at me and I frowned.

"Don't lie to me." I said softly and he gave a soft smirk and my blood chilled.

"Maybe you should be a detective Princess. I was just going to talk to him, but I snapped. He hurt you; he deserved it." Daimen said finally looking at me and I looked away from him.

Words bubbled at the back of my throat and my heart pounded.

"You're a murderer." I said and trained my eyes on Daimen. He looked taken aback as I finished with, "You may've got away with it, but you still killed a man--two men. We can never happen. You can't love me. I can't love you." I watched as the boy frowned and ran a hand over his face. Suddenly his eyebrows raised and he snapped his eyes to mine.

"Do you love me?" He asked and my nose wrinkled up. I ripped my eyes away from his hurriedly and ignored the pounding of my heart as I glanced out of the window.

"Daimen pl-"

"You didn't say 'I don't love you.'" Daimen pointed out and I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"You said can't. You said I can't, but you know I do. So if I do, and you say can't, does that mean you love me too?" Daimen said and I scowled as my brows frowned. My heart began beating more rapidly.

"Don't overthink it; just take me home." I sighed.

"But I-" He started and I covered my ears briefly.

"Take me the fuck home!" I yelled and for a minute all was quiet.

Daimen shifted in his seat and reached out to me, his hand gripping mine lightly. I closed my eyes as he brought it up and my stomach churned as I felt his warm lips kiss my hand. His breath from his nose blew out onto my skin before he pulled his lips away. For a moment he held my hand against his cheek and for a moment all I wanted to do was fling myself at him and capture those lips with my own, but I didn't. Finally, he released my hand and I put it in my lap, my other hand laying over it protectively. My eyes opened slowly and I avoided his gaze.

"I would do anything for you." Daimen sighed and with a lurch the car began rolling forward. My jaw clenched and unclenched as we made our way down the road once again.

"Don't." I said softly.

"Don't what?" He grunted and I stared at the trees and houses as they passed by.

"Don't say that. Don't say anything like that to me. Just take me home." I said and Daimen let out an exasperated sigh.

"I love you! I fucking love you!" The man yelled and I frowned.

"Well don't love me!" I shouted and he gave a bitter laugh.

"That's like telling me not to eat or sleep or fucking breathe. I can't not love you. Baby, I'm in love with you!" Daimen shot back and I shook my head and tried to ignore the fact that him calling me baby made my body run rampant with chills.

"Do you want me to sit here and act like you're not killing me? Because you are killing me dammit..." Daimen sighed and my heart felt like it skipped over itself.

Like this isn't killing me...

"Remember that day I was fighting this boy in the hallway and you made me stop, so I punched the locker and left?" Daimen asked suddenly and I glanced over to him. His eyes were trained on the road ahead.

"Yes." I answered softly and he blew out a breath.

"He'd called you a whore and was saying you'd fuck for money." Daimen gritted out and shook his head softly.

I didn't know what to say so I stared at my hands in my lap.

"I know I'm not the best guy out there, I've done some shit, but I love you and I'll do everything I can to make you see that." Daimen sighed.

"I'll turn myself in for you." Daimen said suddenly and I looked at him in shock.

What? No. He can't.

"No. I know why you did it... don't." I replied and felt my heart racing.

"Well what do you want me to do? I can't lose you River." Daimen sighed and I felt my heart breaking.

We arrived at my house and walked inside to a silent home.

"Mom? Dad?" I called but got no answer. They weren't here.

Daimen followed me to the kitchen and tension was thick in the air.

I chose to ignore him.

"What are you doing?" Daimen asked as I got out my phone and scrolled through my contacts. After finding his name I texted him and pressed send.

"I'm checking on Mike." I sighed staring at my phone as I saw Mike read it and begin to reply.

"What for?" Daimen scoffed and I looked up at him with a frown.

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because you just beat him for no reason?" I said with a shake of my head.

"It's not my fault his dumbass didn't fight back." The man huffed and anger was growing in me.

"Shut up Daimen." I spat and he looked at me with angered eyes, but then the angry look changed into that of mockery.

"He's a bitch." Daimen said.

"Whatever." I said trying to be the bigger person and the mockery left.

"Why the hell were you even talking to him?" Daimen huffed now glaring at me.

"Why is it any of your business?" I asked and he only shook his head and ran a hand through his disheveled hair.

"So what? You're gonna get back with him?" Daimen asked in a straining voice. I looked away from him and shrugged.

"I've thought about it." I said softly.

"Why?" Daimen snapped.

"He's kind." I pointed out.

"I can be kind." The man in front of me said with a what-the-fuck look.

"And sweet." I said and he crossed his arms.

"I can be sweet." Daimen huffed and I looked him over.

"Sure Daimen, I'm not talking about this." I said softly and walked towards the living room, but Daimen stopped me as his hand grabbed my arm and pulled me back against his warm, hard chest.

"Why have that boy when you've got me?" Daimen huffed and held me against him.

"At least that boy hasn't killed anyone." I spat wrenching out of his grip.

I stomped toward the living room, but Daimen quickly grabbed me again and turned me to face him. His jaw was clenched and an angry storm swirled in his eyes.

"Let go." I said and tried to pull out of his grasp.

"Walk away from me again and I'll fuck you so hard you won't be able to walk right for weeks." Daimen spat.

"Get off." I snapped wrenching away from him.

"You're my girl. Fuck your exes. I can treat you better than anyone else." Daimen said.

"Just leave me alone." I breathed and he grabbed my wrist.

"I'm not leaving you!" Daimen yelled tugging me to him. He loosened his grip.

I whimpered softly and stumbled away from him. His breath was shallow and mine was tattered and raspy. His eyes were fiery and mine were glossy with tears.

"River?" He said to me and I looked away from him. I shook softly and hugged myself.

"Leave me alone. I hate you." I managed to shoot at him and he stepped toward me.

He gripped my chin in gentle fingers and tilted my head up to look at him. He looked into my eyes and sighed. His eyes still swirled with storms and it caught me off guard a little. God his eyes were beautiful.

"I'm sorry. I just hate seeing guys look at you how I look at you. I love you and they don't get to do that; you're mine." Daimen huffed.

Snap out of it River, he shouldn't even be here. He killed Christen, he's killed two people. I thought and tried and failed to look away from his eyes.

"You know you don't hate me." He said softly. He stared at me and I saw his eyes glance at my lips for a second before returning to my eyes. Please don't do it. I felt my heart starting to pound harder. He was going to kiss me.

"Daimen don't." I breathed and his grip on me tightened a bit.

He leaned closer and his breath fanned my lips as he said, "Stop me then." He pressed his lips to mine and I gasped.

His lips were warm and soft and... Drugging. I was frozen. I stood dumbfounded and in complete and utter shock as he kissed me. His hands grasped my waist and he pulled me roughly toward him. He groaned when I didn't respond to his kisses and pressed against me in what I assume to be frustration.

At the sound of his groan wetness pooled between my thighs and my body seemed to jolt awake as I began kissing him back. I had no idea what I was doing. No, I shouldn't be kissing him, I should be pushing him away and running. But no, instead I was kissing him back with a hunger I didn't know existed.

Daimen's lips smiled against mine and he gripped my hips and pressed against me hard... But the roughness of his hands didn't match the sweet gentleness of his passionate kiss.

He was slow and tentative with his lips as I found my lips moving along with his. I fought to keep my eyes open. Daimen lifted me up in his strong arms and sat me back on the kitchen counter. His hands wrapped around my midsection and he groaned into the kiss. My eyes closed in defeat and my bodily hormones seemed to take over. Arms snaking around his neck in some crazy instinct, I pulled Daimen closer to me. My heart was pounding in my chest and I moaned.

"Daimen..." I breathed and he paused for a second before sticking his tongue in my mouth. His tongue wrestled and dominated mine. I couldn't help moaning again and Daimen pulled his lips from mine and kissed my neck. My hands were in his hair and he groaned into my neck. I gasped as his tongue suddenly pressed against my sensitive skin and he licked his way across my neck.

I moaned and tugged at his amazingly, soft hair. Daimen let out a grunt and started sucking and biting my skin making hot liquid fire erupt inside of me.

"Fuck." I gasped and my nails scratched against his scalp.

"Stop it or I'm going to take you right here and right fucking now." He growled as he pulled away and placed a fervor kiss on my lips.

It was like my body was on autopilot; I couldn't help what I did. I latched onto his shoulders and pulled him to me so that his lips pressed against mine again. God his lips were so mesmerizing. I wanted more. Never had a kiss made me feel so alive.

"River." There was a warning in his voice as I kissed him again. He suddenly let out a deep, aggressive, growling noise and I pulled away shocked and turned on even more I might add. Daimen panted and his hands were still on my waist whereas mine were pressed against his chest.

I slowly started to come out of my daze. As soon as I'd calmed down I gasped and pulled away from him. What the hell was I doing? Kissing the man who I was supposed to be avoiding, bravo River bravo.

"You kissed me back." Daimen said softly with a smirk.

"So what?" I said glaring at him. He chuckled darkly and shrugged.

Suddenly he grabbed me and pulled me to the edge the counter. His chest was pressed against mine and he leaned down and kissed my neck.

"Mmmm." I moaned and soon we were kissing again. I threw my arms back around his neck and the kiss gained passion. His hips rutted into mine and I hummed in longing.

His hands slipped under my thighs and with a grunt he picked me up and carried me into the living room. We landed on the couch and I moaned as he kissed me harder.

I climbed into his lap and he grasped my hips in a firm hold.

With a grunt he pulled me closer and laid down against the couch. My legs wrapped around his waist and I deepened the kiss as his body moved against mine. My fingers tugged at his shirt before slipping under it and feeling his warm body.

"River... do you want to have sex?" Daimen asked with lust coating his words.

"No." I gasped, but moaned as one of his hands slid under my shirt as well.

"Really? Because the way you're grinding against me tells a different story." Daimen said and I sucked in a breath and stopped the involuntary movement. I glanced at the rise in his jeans and was tempted to place myself on it again.

My cheeks burned as I blushed and I looked away.

"It's okay baby girl." Daimen sighed and kissed my neck. My eyes fluttered shut and I hummed in content. He moved his lips to my collarbone, "You want me, that's not a bad thing." He sat up a bit and pulled up my shirt, his hands running along my back as he kissed just above my breasts. I tilted my head back as he pulled me closer and slipped his aggressive kisses down my stomach.

"We can't." I gasped and Daimen pulled away a bit. His eyes met mine and he frowned softly.

"Why not?" He groaned and I felt my eyes beginning to burn.

"Daimen please, we've already talked about this." I said and heard my own voice waver.

"Don't cry." The young man said and brushed under my eyes.

"You have to leave." I sighed as I started to get up, but Daimen grabbed my hips and held me steady. His amber eyes searched mine and he let out a long sigh.

"Dammit River, please just--" I shook my head and he stopped.

"No, we can't be anything. You know what you did, you killed people and you hurt me--"