Darius placed a hand on the small of Peyton’s back and escorted her from the room. She smiled up at him. Her caramel eyes were clear and bright. Had he imagined those earlier clouds? He was probably once again allowing the trouble in his parents’ marriage to poison his relationship with Peyton.
After all, why would she need to keep secrets from him?
CHAPTER 21
Darius’s pulse jumped when he found Peyton waiting outside his apartment after work Friday evening. “I thought we were getting together later. Have you been waiting long?”
He crossed the upper-level landing with long, swift strides. Darius caught Peyton around her waist and lowered his head to hers. He’d intended to give her a quick kiss on her luscious mouth, but his lips wanted to linger. Peyton’s eyes opened slowly.
“I finished packing sooner than I’d expected.” She was breathless.
Darius waited a moment for his mind to clear. “I’m glad you came.”
“I can tell.” Her lips curved into a seductive smile that made his pulse jump again.
Darius unlocked his apartment door. As he stepped back to let Peyton enter first, he noticed the object on the ground beside her feet. “What’s that?”
“It’s my Christmas tree.” Peyton lifted the sad, little thing from the ground. “It’s my gift to you.”
She waited for Darius to lock his front door before thrusting the fake plant at him.
“Um, thank you?” Darius gave her a dubious look.
Peyton chuckled. “Stop holding my tree like a baby with a dirty diaper.” She took back the fake plant and looked around for a place to set it.
“Sorry.” Darius removed his coat, hanging it in his coat closet and waiting for Peyton to give him hers. What was he supposed to do with a fake plant?
“I realize you aren’t excited by the holiday season, which is a completely foreign concept to me.” Peyton crossed into Darius’s living room and positioned the plastic evergreen on his coffee table. “But my tree needs someone to watch it while I’m gone.”
“What’s to babysit?” Darius took her coat and hung it in the closet. “The tree’s not real.” Was this tree conversation a test or some sort of coded message? How do you care for a fake tree?
He watched as she smoothed the white cotton skirt across his table, then centered the plastic evergreen on top of the material.
“I don’t want you to babysit my tree.” Peyton straightened to observe her handiwork. “I want you to watch it so you can benefit from its Christmas spirit. I don’t want it going to waste in an empty apartment while I’m in New York.”
“I appreciate what you’re doing, but I’m never going to be the kind of person who makes a big deal about the holiday season.” Darius dragged a hand over his close-cropped hair. “I’ll say ‘Merry Christmas. ’ I’ll exchange gifts. But beyond that, what’s the point?”
“How can you say that?” She spread her arms. “That’s like saying, ‘I’m never going to fly to Paris.’”
“No, it’s not.” Darius arched a brow. “I can see myself going to Paris. It’s more like my saying, ‘I’m never going to the moon.’”
“Everyone enjoys the season, whatever holiday they observe.” She gave him the stubborn look that signified the demise of any argument he tried to put forward.
Darius tried anyway. “Apparently, everyone doesn’t.”
“I understand Christmas isn’t a joyous occasion with your family.” She crossed to him, placing her small hands on his forearms. “You may not have happy memories from your childhood. But you can change that by making better ones now.”
“How am I supposed to do that when you’re leaving for New York in the morning?” His words were husky.
Peyton offered him a soft smile. She raised her arms to his shoulders. “I’m here tonight. Let’s make a memory.”
Darius lowered his head to Peyton’s for a kiss that needed to satisfy them both for seven long days. He pressed his lips to hers, coaxing her to open for him. She did and his tongue swept inside. Her taste was as warm and sweet as hot chocolate on Christmas morning. Darius deepened the kiss, stroking her, caressing her, showing her what he wanted: him loving her and her loving him. Peyton drew his tongue deeper inside her mouth, giving him a taste of what she desired. Darius groaned.
He held her body closer to his. It was as though he’d waited forever just to hold her in his arms. He wanted her closer to him. Her soft curves pressing into his body filled the emptiness inside him with her warmth and light.
Darius slid his hands beneath Peyton’s pale purple sweater. Her supple skin was warm and inviting beneath his palms. He broke their kiss, pushing the garment up and over her head. Her copper curls bounced free as he pulled the sweater away from her and tossed it onto his sofa. His gaze dropped to her flesh-colored, silk demi-bra.
Darius swallowed, tracing the curve of her right breast. “I think I had a dream that started with you wearing that.”