Free Promise Me Darkness by Paige Weaver Page B

absolute favorite donut, I knew that I was hopelessly in love.
    “I thought something sugary might help you feel better,” he said, watching as I pulled a donut from the bag.
    I licked the chocolate off of my fingers and smiled at him. My grin quickly disappeared when I saw desire flaring in his eyes.
    “Want one?” I asked, holding the donut out to him.
    “Nope. They’re all yours.”
    I watched as his jaw clenched hard and his fingers rubbed down his thighs, making me remember them stroking me. I had to stop thinking this way. It would only get me in trouble.
    I started eating the donuts slowly, afraid my stomach would revolt if I ate too fast. By the time I was finished, my headache was back with a massive force. I lay back down on the couch, leaving my feet to dangle off the edge.
    A comfortable silence stretched between us as we watched the news. Again, war and terrorist threats were the main headlines.
    I was starting to drift off when Ryder threw a blanket over me. Reaching down, he lifted my legs into his lap. I tensed when his hand rested on my calf, warm and rough against my skin.
    “Relax, Maddie. I’m not going anywhere,” he said, quietly. "I’ll still be here when you wake up. Trust me."
    And I did.

    ~~~~

    Ryder and I spent the rest of the day lounging in front of the television. I was too sick to move and Ryder refused to leave my side. At some point, I must have slept because I woke up to a dark room and Ryder asleep beside me. His hands were warm on the bare skin of my legs, keeping me immobile. In his sleep, he didn’t appear very dangerous but I knew better. The bruises on his face, the ink racing up and down his arm, and the always–present five o’clock shadow on his jaw told a different story. This man was nothing but danger.
    I didn’t care. I wanted to crawl into his lap and wake him. Tell him to love me. But I did neither. Instead, I picked up my phone and tried not to groan when I saw the time. Ben would be here soon.
    After easing away from Ryder, I went into my bedroom to change. A simple tank top didn’t give me enough protection against Ben. I needed to be covered, every inch of my skin hidden.
    I was digging through my closet when I heard Ryder walk in. His eyes moved casually over my unmade bed, making my imagination run wild with what we could possibly do in it.
    “Feeling better?” he asked, stopping close by me.
    With shaky hands, I hurried to button a shirt over my tank top.
    “Yeah.” I paused a second, knowing this wasn’t going to be pretty. “Ben is coming over in a few minutes.”
    Before my eyes, Ryder went from relaxed to someone cutthroat, ready to battle. He flexed his fingers and tightened them into fists. The blueness of his eyes turned cold and harsh.
    “Shit, Maddie! I don’t want you around him! He almost raped you last night!”
    “Ryder…”
    He started pacing, furious. With a roll of his shoulders, he clenched his fists, reminding me of a fighter about to enter the ring.
    “I don’t want you near him.”
    “Ryder, I’ll be okay.”
    “Just like you were okay last night?” he asked, disgusted. “If I hadn’t shown up, what would have happened? Could you have fought him off?”
    When I didn’t answer, he scoffed. “I didn’t think so. Since I saved your pretty little ass last night, you owe me,” he demanded. “Stay away from him.”
    Did he just call my bottom pretty? I shook the thought from my head. That wasn’t important right now.
    “I don’t need someone to save me! I’m not a little girl anymore!”
    “Believe me, I know…” he grumbled as he ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.
    “And what about you? I pushed you away but you didn’t stop kissing me. That’s okay?” I asked, growing angry.
    He backed me further into the room, advancing on me boldly. “I would never, NEVER hurt you, Maddie!” he shouted.
    “That’s what Ben would probably say too!” I yelled back, standing my ground and refusing to