Their Confession Page 4

  Shoving it back in the drawer, his face heated as the blood rushed to it in rage. Why the fuck did she still have her engagement ring from Lawrence, whom she not only split up with months ago, but also kissed and cheated on him with? He fell back on the bed. His brain ached with information overload. Gabi had previously told Darion she had kissed Lawrence behind his back because she had been feeling insecure, lost, and unloved by him as he hadn’t declared his feelings enough, and she hadn’t known where they were headed. Perhaps she had kissed Lawrence because she’d been having second thoughts, and still loved him. Why else would she keep the ring?

  Was she having second thoughts about their relationship? Maybe that was why she had brought up the compatibility bullshit. Maybe she wanted out of it. If she still had feelings for Lawrence, then he needed to know. He rubbed his palms up and down his face with a long, exasperated sigh. He had given up everything for Gabi.

  You’re not so innocent yourself, his brain reminded him. Could Gabi be lying and hiding a big, dark secret just as he was?

  Chapter Seven

  Gabi

  Gabi turned her head to the sound of giggling. Darion was standing at the bar ordering drinks. She picked up her menu and tried to distract herself from the woman who was clearly flirting with him. Yes, so Darion was hot with his tall, broad physique, luminous green eyes, sleek dark hair, and dazzling smile. She got it. He was stunning to look at, and the sound of his seductive voice made women delirious with lust. She noticed Darion duck his head with a chuckle and was relieved he never ever flirted back. He politely accepted a stroke to the ego and moved on.

  “White wine,” he said, placing two glasses on the table. His was a beer.

  “Thanks.”

  A waitress approached them and took their orders. Gabi waited for her to leave before she took hold of Darion’s hand. He was sitting at her side of the table, as he always did, rather than opposite. She shuffled closer and nuzzled his neck, inhaling his cologne. He turned his head and pressed his lips against hers firmly. She parted her lips to allow his tongue to sweep in and massage her own. Her lids closed in pure pleasure, as she got lost in the kiss. As Darion’s hand stroked tenderly up her leg, leaving tingles in its wake, her insatiable need for him increased. Then he pulled back on a long, drawn out moan.

  “I love you,” she said breathlessly and bravely, hoping he was now comfortable to express his feelings. Their relationship had reached the next level. They had met one another’s families, and she had made it clear he never had to hold back on his feelings. She would never betray him again, nor would she leave him.

  A dark hunger passed over Darion’s face, and he slowly licked his lips. “I love you too.” Holding her face in his hands, he dotingly planted a kiss on her forehead.

  Gabi melted at his touch. Her heart was so full of love she felt it would explode. If she had to spice things up a tad and keep her man on his toes then so she would.

  “I’ve got a surprise for you,” she whispered in his ear with a little giggle.

  “What is it?”

  “If I told you then it wouldn’t be a surprise,” she teased.

  They were interrupted when the waitress brought over their food. Gabi hungrily dug into her starter, a tomato and ricotta bruschetta. Darion had taken her to a new fancy Italian restaurant in town. It was a small, intimate place with soft music playing, and candles glowing on the tables. There were only a few other couples present, fully engrossed in one another and also enjoying their meals.

  “Thanks for bringing me here.” She placed down her fork and picked up her wine.

  “You’re welcome.”

  Taking a sip, she stared at Darion inquisitively when his mobile bleeped and he showed no intention of checking it. “Don’t mind me.” She smiled warmly.

  Darion retrieved his mobile from his pocket, glanced at the screen, and then put it away. As he continued eating, she noticed his face was devoid of emotion.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah. It’s Carl. He has a couple of questions about the club.”

  “Oh.” Curiosity niggled away at her about his recent visit. Had Eva been there? How did he feel about selling it? “How were things at the club?” She casually swept a strand of blonde hair out of her face, and began eating.

  “Good.” Darion swallowed his food. “Carl can’t wait to get it up and running.”

  “So we’ve seen the last of Eva then.” Her tone came as a little too excited.

  “Unfortunately not.”

  Gabi held her fork in mid-air, waiting for him to continue.

  “She’ll still be managing the place. Carl’s agreed to take the dancers on too.”

  Gabi’s shoulders dropped as she deflated. Was there no getting rid of Darion’s past? She sucked in a lungful of air, and was just about to blow it out in annoyance when she caught Darion’s expression. He was focused on the window, his clenched jaw twitching and his free hand tapping on the table. He was just as displeased about the news as she was.

  “Oh well,” she said cheerily, feigning happiness. “You’re out of that place and on to something new.”

  He nodded. “I’m certainly on to something new,” he said. She didn’t miss the icy tone of his voice.

  “Mr. Milano, your main courses.” Oblivious to her, a waitress had approached and was placing hot plates of food before them.

  “Thank you.”

  Gabi leant back slightly so the waitress could collect the empty plates of their starters.

  “Can I get you some more wine?” she asked.

  “You can bring a bottle over if you like.” Gabi beamed.

  “Celebrating something?” Darion asked with a lift of his brow.

  “Yes.” She planted a chaste kiss on his lips. “You.”

  “Aren’t I the lucky man?”

  “Yes, Mr. Milano, you certainly are, because I’m going to ensure you’re the happiest man alive.”

  “Sounds like you’ve got your work cut out for you.”

  “I’ll enjoy every challenging bit of it.” She ran a hand through his hair and stared straight into his eyes, which were filled with love and longing. His features softened and he appeared relaxed. That was what she liked to see—Darion happy. He’d been neglected by his parents, cheated on by his ex-wife and other ex-girlfriends. He’d never been praised for anything he’d achieved in his entire life, and it seemed he’d gone without a lot of things growing up. Gabi wanted him to know things would be different. He was a little damaged and secretly insecure. She made a promise to herself she’d make everything just right.

  “I’m so proud of you,” she told him. “It’s not easy turning your back on something you loved, your business. But I know things will only get better from here.”

  Darion bowed his head, as if uncomfortable at taking a compliment.

  “Let’s eat.” He grinned. “Our food will get cold.”

  It was midnight when they fell into Gabi’s double bed. She was tipsy and her stomach was completely full. Usually they’d watch television or a movie, however Darion was exhausted too. Stripping her clothes off, Gabi dived under the covers. She wrapped her body around Darion’s smooth, firm nakedness and closed her eyes on a soft sigh. She could hear the pounding of his heartbeat against her ear. As she stroked his chest slowly, working her hand in circles, the pace of his heart slowed down. Minutes later his gentle snores filled the air and she drifted into a peaceful sleep not long after.

  ***

  Darion

  Darion spun around, his eyes searching frantically for an escape. He ran his hands along the walls and floor, yet they were smooth, without a single dent. Lifting his head, he spotted a small window in the ceiling. He stretched his arms above him and jumped, but then scolded himself for being ridiculous. It was way too high. The room was completely bare with nothing to use to make an exit. His chest expanded as his breathing became heavy. His stomach churned. Feeling a hot flush spread through his body, and getting light-headed, he
tore off his top. It seemed as if the walls were closing in on him. He was trapped and there was nothing he could do about it.

  He screamed out for help, but the only sound he heard was his echoes. The silence after that was eerie and unsettling. The loss of control made his heartbeat increase. As his breaths became shallow, he feared he’d have a heart attack.

  The walls were definitely closing in on him, making the space he was in even smaller. As his freedom slowly began slipping away, he slid down to the floor. Burying his head in his hands, he squeezed his lids shut. There was nothing he could do.

  Darion jolted upright. His whole body was shaking and drenched with sweat. He clutched his chest and gasped for air. It was pitch black and his eyes failed to make sense of his surroundings. Shooting to his feet, he crossed the room, his arms outstretched. He felt before him until metal came into contact with his hand. A door handle. He pulled it open, and was relieved to see it was lighter beyond the door. As familiar objects came into focus, he remembered he was in Gabi’s apartment. He’d obviously had another nightmare, although it had seemed more like a panic attack.

  Heading for the kitchen, he needed something to ease his dry, scratchy throat. At the sink, he filled a glass with water, and drained it back hurriedly. When he finished, he leant against the counter, trying to steady the pace of his heart and breathing.

  Glancing at the clock on the wall, he noticed it was early hours of the morning. It was still dark outside. Gently placing the glass in the sink, he then made his way back toward the bedroom. Gabi was still sound asleep and he didn’t want to disturb her. She didn’t flinch when he crept in beside her. He desperately wanted to wrap his arms around her petite body, seek comfort in her. Instead he remained lying on his back, his stare fixed firmly on the ceiling.

  An hour of trying to block out worrying thoughts, and trying his hardest to sleep, he was finally able to drift off.

  Chapter Eight

  Gabi

  Gabi woke with a smile, luxuriating in the soft, warm bed covers. The sun was beaming through the small gap in the white curtains, flooding the whole room with light. She stretched before rolling onto her side and meeting a sleeping Darion. He was breathing gently, his bare, smooth chest rising and falling slowly. She had a desperate urge to press her lips against his, to wake him up and take full advantage of his delicious body. However she managed to control herself and let him sleep.

  Climbing out of bed, she scooped up her nightie and slipped it on. She quietly tiptoed out of the room and closed the door behind her. It was Sunday morning and she wondered what to do with her day. She was full of energy, her mood at an all-time high. As she made a coffee, she contemplated giving the apartment a spring clean, although in all fairness it was pretty immaculate. Gabi had tons of stuff: books, ornaments, souvenirs she had collected on family holidays when younger, an endless supply of clothes, shoes, and make-up, although everything had its perfect place.

  Cradling her hot cup, she strolled into the living room and peered out of the window. She spotted a young child running before her garden. The blonde-haired little girl giggled and babbled away. A woman who must have been her mother scooped her into her arms, and spun around, causing the girl to laugh loudly. Gabi couldn’t wait for the day when she had children. She already had boy and girl names stored in her brain from the times she had heard them on TV, or read them in a book, and liked them. Then there were the outfits, little matching clothes and shoes. Feeling warmth spread through her body, she couldn’t help but shake her head in amusement. The idea of someday having a tiny little person to love, and to love her in return, filled her with joy.

  Settling on the sofa, she grabbed the television remote and scrolled through the shows she had stored in her favourites. She didn’t know whether she was in the mood for Blair and Serena, or Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda.

  “Gabi.”

  She inhaled sharply, almost spilling her coffee. With a low giggle, she sipped some of the liquid, placed it on the table, and looked up. Darion was leant casually against the doorframe, wearing nothing but black jeans, which hung low on his waist. Ground rules needed to be set. Darion Milano could not parade around the apartment with his impressive biceps, washboard stomach, and tight abs, and not expect Gabi to instantly become aroused. He raked a hand through his brown, sexily dishevelled hair, and sat beside her. Gabi scooted closer, taking hold of his hand. It was weird Darion not having plans to visit the club come Monday morning.

  She was on cloud nine. Maybe they could have a normal relationship after all: security, stability, but with all of the fun parts included. Had she really tamed the bad-boy beast? Was he really all hers? She hoped so.

  “What are you smiling at?” Darion asked, with a lift of his brow.

  “Nothing.” She chewed her lower lip. “Do you fancy doing anything today?”

  “Yes. You.”

  She laughed. “Darion, I know there is more in that pretty little head of yours than just sex.”

  “There is,” he began, stroking her fingers gently. “But it gets clouded by the sex.”

  Gabi tried to keep a straight face. Darion had a way of being funny, but doing so in a cool and collected manner. She leant forward and pressed her lips against his.

  “Fancy breakfast?”

  “I’m not hungry.” He stood up and peered out of the window. “I don’t know what to do with myself. The club was a big part of my life.”

  “I know,” Gabi soothed.

  She stepped toward him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She got a whiff of his cologne and his natural, clean smell. As she pressed her head against his chest, she could feel the heat radiating from him.

  “Have you decided what you’ll do instead?”

  “I might check out some bars in the centre. See if anything is up for rent.”

  “What, like a normal bar?”

  He smiled softly, and smoothed her hair back with his hands. “A normal bar, Gabi.”

  “A cocktail bar would be nice,” she hinted with a laugh.

  “Then I definitely would be surrounded by nothing but women.” He planted a kiss on her lips. “You know, I’ve always wanted to own a nightclub.”

  “Westhaven is short on clubs. It only has the one, doesn’t it?”

  “Sky Bar, yeah.” He was silent for a moment and Gabi knew the cogs in his brain were going into overdrive. Darion had always been an ambitious man. “I think it’s about time there was a new bar type club in town.” A slow, lazy smile surfaced on his face, his luminous green eyes shimmering.

  “Well, whatever you decide to do, you have my full support.” Gabi clasped hold of his hand and squeezed it.

  He nodded and rubbed his neck, as if to alleviate some sort of discomfort. Gabi linked her hands together, stunned by the rejection. She hated that an uncomfortable silence hung in the air. What was going on? She turned her back on him to hide her confused expression. Something was on his mind and she had a feeling it had nothing to do with the club. She made a mental note to find out what it was pronto.

  ***

  Monday morning came quicker than Gabi had hoped. She hated how the weekends always seemed to fly by. Tapping away on her computer, she responded to a few queries, and then shimmied to the kitchen. As it was a colleague’s birthday, the counter was lined with delicious smelling cupcakes. Unable to resist, Gabi picked one up. She groaned in delight as the cream sponge went down her throat. After she’d finished it, and drained back a glass of water, she went to print out some documents. She spotted Mallory chatting and giggling away, the phone balanced in the crook of her neck. It was obviously a personal call.

  Gabi waited patiently as pages began to pour out. She scanned the rest of the floor. Everyone was fixated on their computer screens. There was a lively buzz about the place, though. People were gossiping at the same time as working. Smoothing down her grey knee-length dress, which matched her stilettos, she snatched up the papers, and returned to her office.

 
; She read five pages of a manuscript before she became restless. Her hand hovered over her mobile as she contemplated ringing Darion. Deciding against it, she kicked off her heels and tucked her feet up underneath her. If he was distressed about something, then surely he’d tell her.

  Chapter Nine

  Darion

  Darion switched off the television. He remained lying on the sofa for a moment, staring at the ceiling. He had already watched a few episodes of Dexter, showered, cleaned the apartment, and now had nothing to do. Visiting the club didn’t seem appealing. He wasn’t ready to face the changes Carl had made yet. Not being able to recognise The Black Door anymore affected him more than he’d thought it would.

  Visiting his parents definitely wasn’t an option either. He considered calling Lennie and Travis to see if they fancied a beer and a game of cards, then decided against it. If he so much as touched a glass of whisky, he knew he’d never stop. Plus, with gambling, he’d probably end up losing a load of money. He needed a distraction though, that much was certain. He needed to rein in his worrying thoughts about the changes his future would bring.

  Rolling onto his side, he closed his lids. After five minutes of controlling his breathing, trying to block everything out, he sat up. It was no use.

  Dragging himself to the kitchen, he decided to cook up a beef lasagna. His stomach hadn’t stopped rumbling for the past hour and he now actually had time to cook. Opening and closing cupboards, he took out everything he needed and set it on the counter. He used to eat out regularly or order in, but ever since Darion had begun a relationship with Gabi, he’d ensured his cupboards and fridge were stocked up. He wanted her to be comfortable when she stayed at his apartment, and to have everything she would need. He was impressed he was doing quite well without having Gina around to help out. Little by little his bachelor pad was becoming a proper home.