Dark Layers Volume 2: Dark Layers (12 page)

"Speak of the devil and he shall appear." I joke.

He narrows his smouldering eyes at me and smiles.

"Ah, I see. So you are referring to me when you speak of men in general?" He says impassively, pocketing his hands inside his jeans.

"Maybe." I joke, tilting my head to the side all innocent.

"Indeed, I think is more appropriate Princess." He raises his eyebrows.

We stare at one another, drinking in our own private intoxication, but not before long, Sophie breaks our spell.

"I am, um, going to have a, eh, cigarette Anile, you com, coming?" She stutters. Yes, he affects her too. Mind you, you would have to be dead not to be affected by him.

"I am." I smile while still looking at Elijah.

He has a devious smile dancing around his lips. I bite down on my lower lip unknowingly - I'm desperate to have him all over me. He looks unorthodox - oh what I would give to lay one on him!

I shake the daring thoughts free from my mind and try to gather myself. I make my way out the back with Sophie, all the while feeling Elijah's eyes on me.

As soon as the back door is open, Sophie sighs in aggravation because we are interrupted. I'm met with another blast from the past - Roman - my first boyfriend who I spent two years with! He's Leonardo DiCaprio's doppelganger - flawless and fucking hot! Tall, lean, immaculate sweeping blonde hair, and he owns a southern accent.

"Well, look what the cat dragged in." He jokes with Sophie.

"Hi Roman Honey, I thought you weren’t in London until next weekend?" Sophie asks as she hugs him.

They are - and always have been - very good friends. They still live within close proximity, so I understand why they still talk as though they only saw one another yesterday.

"I had to come this weekend; I'm starting a new job, and I saw your Facebook about you going to London, so I thought I'd surprise you, but it seems you have surprised me - Anile, you look... breathtakingly beautiful."

"Hello Roman - how are you?" I mutter, strangely uncomfortable.

"Come here and give me a nice warm cuddle. Just because we are separated, doesn't mean I don't want to feel you." He winks.

I roll my eyes, knowing exactly where he's going with this. Once his huge arms are around me, he feels his way over my back with gentle light strokes.

"You are still very lean and smell like jasmine, hmmm." He says as he kisses my cheek. His lips are warm and moist and itch my face. He has absolutely no affect on me what so ever - I need Darks flu, NOW!

"It's nice to see you. I have to go back inside, it's freezing out here." I say, turning on my heel to run away. This is not going to go down well with Elijah. I can see it now - the alpha males bitching for their territory.
You hope!

I start making my way back to the group of guys we were with - including Elijah. I'm dying to see him again, I'm like a love sick puppy! I'm filled with happiness when I look across the bar. Elijah is talking to all the guys - he's so engrossed - and from everyone's body language, they look like they are all friends. There are handshakes between them all, guy friendly elbowing, and smiles - best of all, smiles.
Checkmate.
Maybe I can get some insight about him after all - from his friends’ perspectives.

While I walk faster towards Elijah, Roman unexpectedly catches me off guard. He stops me with one firm hand on my chest, pushing me back against the wall. His other hand lays flat against the wall,
right
beside my face, caging me in. His eyes are intense, too damn intense - I cannot look at him.

"What can I do you for, Roman?" I ask clipped.

"I just want you to myself for a few minutes." He smiles and bites his lower lip, "can I kiss you Anile?"

"No!" I quickly snap and duck under his arm, eyes wide and a racing heart to match my breathing. He gently takes me by my arm but I quickly snatch it back, "don't Roman!" I warn.

I almost run back to the bar, desperately trying to create some distance between Roman and I. I stand behind Elijah. Hmmm, he smells so damn good. I inhale, allowing myself to become heady drunk.

"Is that Elijah?" Sophie whispers into my ear, making me jump.

I turn to face her, nodding with a beaming smile.

"Holy shit, he's hot! And the sexual tension between you two is something out of a book Anile." She whispers.

I put my finger over my mouth, motioning
shhh.

"I am dying to know more about him, Anile," she whispers, "but I am guessing this is not the right time to be discussing him - especially while Roman is here." Her face looks awkward and I'm sure mine does to. I have a nagging feeling that tonight is going to go from awkward to extremely bad!

Oh how right I am. Shockingly, Roman walks past Sophie and I, then shakes hands with Elijah! And they start talking business! My eyes almost pop out of my head from sheer amazement.

After ten minutes of being damned to silence, Sophie tries to find out how they know one another. Thank fucking God; I don't think I could conjure up the courage to ask a single question.

"Are you two friends?" She addresses them curious.

"Us?" Elijah says, pointing towards Roman.

She nods. Her eyes are glazed. Her mouth is open - oh dear God!
Sophie, you are not catching flies woman! Close your damn mouth!

"Roman works at my firm, or he does from Monday. I have known him for a few years. He writ his law paper based on me and I handed him his graduation certificate." Elijah talks proud.

I stand still - wondering how in the bloody hell I'm still awake! I was expected to pass out five minutes ago! This is beyond awkward.

In a croaky voice, I try to make a clean getaway. "I think I'm going to call it a night guys."

Sophie nods, agreeing that we should leave - but Roman has other ideas.

"I'll take you home beautiful." He says. He aims to kiss my forehead but I quickly and efficiently put my hand on his mouth to stop the physical contact.

"Have I missed something here?" Elijah snaps, stepping forward with his hands on his hips.

"Anile is my ex-girlfriend Elijah - the one that got away." He jokes, gently elbowing Elijah - like guys do.

"I see," Elijah says rubbing his chin, "well, she is now my girlfriend."

"Huh." I breathe in shock.

Chapter Eight

HE SNAKES HIS
alpha arm around my waist, staking his claim.
Wow
, the static is there - it's clouding my judgement! I need to tell him off but I cannot manage words. I swallow, hard, hoping this will not go the way I'm imagining. Roman is a hot head at the best of times but he is no Menelaus - Elijah will kick his arse.

"Are you his girlfriend? Since when?" Roman says clipped.

"The fine details are not your business. I will see you Monday Roman." Elijah snaps at Roman. "I will take you home Anile." He says sweetly, peering down at me - his gaze is dangerous.

I want to tell him, 'no he bloody well is not taking me home', but it seems I have forgotten how to speak - luckily! I lost the battle against Elijah last week and I'm in no way ready for the war. I lower my head and walk in motion with Elijah as he pulls me to his stride.

"Sophie are you coming?" I ask.

"I think I will stay out Honey. I will be back later."

"Are you sure?" I ask worried.

"Yes. Have fun." She jokes.

Elijah smiles triumphant, nodding his head. Roman looks totally pissed.

We make it outside, thankfully, and my chest deflates.

"It's freezing, here, take my jacket Anile before you get ill." He says.

He slips out of his blazer with ease. He holds it open for me to slide my arms in. I move fast, desperate to have a resemblance of him on me. Hmmm, it smells exactly like him - musky and spicy.

"How long did you date Roman for Anile?" He questions.

It seems I'm being caught off guard at every turn tonight.

"Elijah, that is none of your business and I cannot believe you have stated that I'm your girlfriend when you know it isn't true."

He stops us both from taking another step, "how is it not true?"

"Are you actually crazy?" I gasp. I feel like I'm literally going to faint at his failure to read our situation. He looks down at me as if to say, 'well, elaborate'. His eyebrows are raising, his lips are pouted.

"This is too much, and confusing! I'm not your girlfriend -
yet.
You sacked me because I'm a virgin; you told me to leave and never come back; you are married - which I might add is a huge problem - and you are too complicated. We have not known one another long enough to be a couple Elijah."

Jeez! Yes I fancy the bones off of him and I have missed him like crazy, but I am in no way ready for a full on relationship with him - not yet!

"Anile, I intend on making you my girlfriend. I told you I just need to iron out the fine details."

"Fine details? I am not one of your defendants Elijah! Things should not be this complicated between us," I *sigh*, "can I not just work for you, and we could maybe, be friends - for now?"

This is not what I signed up for - I don't really want to be friends - buddies - and I also don't want to be in a relationship with him yet. I want to be in the middle faze - the merry head drunk faze.

He scoffs loud and shakes his head, "come on. Let's get you home Princess."

“I have no idea what planet you are on but I am not going home with you! You have been gone for an entire week without so much as a flipping e-mail and you expect me to just hop in the car and go home with you?”

I have no idea why I'm going nuts. I think it's because of his staked claim on me, and his absence, and his ignorance - okay, I do know why I have the hump. Even after promising myself I would let this go, I just can't.

“Things are always complicated with you, Anile. Things are not always so black and white - just trust that I have been taking care of things, please.”

“Things are complicated with me! Is that a joke?" I scream wide-eyed. I tense my fists, I sooo want to punch him right in his face!

He laughs and covers his mouth because he's dying to belt one out.

"Well you have confirmed my question; you are fucking crazy.”

He stops laughing. He sighs while staring down at me with his dark glazed eyes.

“You can either come willingly or I will just pick you up, put you in the car and take you home. The choice is yours Anile.”

He leaves his threat lingering in the air between us. Ugh! He's so annoying!

"If you lay one finger on me, I will not be responsible for my actions!" I snap, pointing a long finger almost in his face.

"What is wrong Anile? Why are you being this way?" He asks utterly confused.

Are all men this fucking stupid?

"Elijah -" I breathe. I'm so exhausted by him.

He stands right in front of me and places his hands together as though he's praying. "Please, please stop this, stop making this hard situation harder, please."

I actually growl. “Grrr - fine Elijah, but things are going on my terms otherwise you can just do one!”

“Very well Princess.” He says, curbing a laugh - I can hear it in his voice.

God I gave in to easily!

"Where is your car?"

"There." He points a long finger towards his Bentley and I wonder how I missed such a grand car. I quickly and swiftly cross the road to the car but he keeps up with my small strides. He opens the back passenger door for me and I slide into the familiar leather and intoxicating smell.

"I'm not talking to you, Elijah. So be quiet and do not speak to me." I warn.

"Very well Princess." He jokes as he slides in next to me.

Being in such close proximity of him is doing strange things to my insides. Also knowing it is just us - minus his driver - sends an overwhelming sensation to course through my body. I have to squeeze my legs a thousand times just to curb my excitement!

We drive back to my apartment in complete silence. The Bar is only a five minute drive away, so the silent treatment is indeed affective - but not overdone. Elijah does try to make small talk but I refuse to entertain him - I want him to know that he cannot bully me! Every time he asks ‘are you okay’, I look at him with a pout, and he laughs but backs off.

As we pull up to the curb outside of my apartment, he tries to speak once more - this time I allow it.

"I am coming up, Anile." He mutters as he gets out of the car.

I try to fight him back into position but fail miserably.

"No, no, no," I say shaking my head, "I am too emotionally drained to deal with you tonight."

"I will be on my best behaviour." He smiles and again, I fold; it's his eyes, they haunt me and possess me. They make me do things I would not normally do. I steadily get out of the car and walk at least five steps ahead of him. Thankfully, he gives me the space I need, he knows if he doesn't, I will tell him to bloody leave.