Daddy’s Little Warrior by Lila Fox
Chapter Nineteen
He was quiet for a moment and then took the refrigerator door from her hand, closed it, and then turned her to face him. His hands went to her shoulders, and he bent so he could see her face.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
She tried to smile. “Nothing. Aren’t you hungry?”
His face darkened. “Tell me.”
She lowered her eyes, patted his chest, and tried to find an explanation. “I … I guess I’m just tired.”
A small smile came to his face, and he pulled her against his chest.
“Did I keep you up too much last night, baby?”
Oh, God. When she thought of the passion they’d had the night before, it made the pain even worse, and it took everything in her to not cry out. She tightened her arms around his waist, laid her head on his chest, and closed her eyes tightly. She cleared her throat. “Maybe a little. But I enjoyed it so much.”
“I’m glad. I’ll try to give you more sleep. It’s just hard keeping my hands off you.”
“I understand. It’s hard for a man to go so long without sex.”
She felt him stiffen.
He pulled away from her and held on to her shoulders. “What does that mean?”
She could feel herself flush in embarrassment and confusion. “I … I didn’t mean to offend you or make you angry.”
“You didn’t offend me, baby. I just don’t like the way you said it.”
“How did I say it?” she asked.
“Like any woman would do.”
“But that is true, is it not?”
His scowl darkened. “Fuck no. I have only felt like this with you and only you.”
God, what did she say to that? “I’m … glad.”
“You don’t sound like you believe me.”
The anxiety she was trying hard to hide was getting worse. The last thing she wanted was to upset him. “I’m sorry…”
“I don’t want your apology, baby. I want to know what’s going through your mind right now.”
“I’m trying to learn how to live here, Drake, but everything is so new to me. I’m doing the best I can, and I feel it’s not nearly enough.”
“God, baby. You’re doing fine. Give yourself a break.”
“I’m trying.” And she had been, but now she knew it wasn’t enough. She needed to go back home because she wasn’t good or smart enough to be in the United States.
“I know you are. I hate that you feel frustrated.”
“I do not want you to worry.”
“Of course, I worry, baby.”
“You have a business you are trying to build. The last thing you need is to worry about me.”
“You will always be my first priority.”
“But it doesn’t have to be that way, Drake.”
His brows snapped together. “I don’t like the way this conversation is going.”
She bowed her head. She didn’t have it in her to fight at the moment. “I think I’d like to go in and lie down for a bit.”
He sighed. “All right. Do you want me with you?”
“No. I’m fine. You have work to do.”
“Go take a nap. We’ll talk later.”
“Okay.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.
Like every other time, Drake immediately took over and deepened the kiss. She put all her love into it. The air was see-sawing in and out of her lungs when he raised his head.
She pulled out of his arms, turned, and walked away.
Aisha sat on the side of the bed. She did want to lie down and sleep, and hope to forget about her life for a little bit, but there was so much to do.
If she could, she needed to go, and the sooner, the better. She had thought about staying one more night to love him, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to get through it without weeping.
Eventually, she’d feel blessed with the time they had together, and if she didn’t think it was nearly enough, she had to remind herself that life wasn’t always fair, and she knew that firsthand.
****
Drake watched her walk away from him and felt like he was losing her somehow. He hated that she was struggling so much and decided he needed to take more time for her. Maybe they could find a house in the country where she could have a garden and maybe a dog, and she wouldn’t have to deal with the city’s rat race.
He’d make sure to talk to Devon and get his help to find a place as quickly as possible. The only thing he wanted was to make her happy. She was part of his soul, and when he’d thought she’d died, his soul had died with her. It had taken every bit of strength he had not to take his own life.
Fortunately, he hadn’t given in to those times of weakness, and she was back in his life, making it whole again.
