Love Me in the Dark

KREW

What was I thinking? I should be walking out of her room. I should be putting a distance from her.  Instead, I was falling under her spell. Isn’t it what you want, asshole? Isn’t it the reason why you’d been stalking her for years aside from the promise you made?

She knew she saw and felt that I wanted her. I would never deny that fact, but it didn’t change a thing that I didn’t do relationships, at least, not anymore, and worse, I couldn’t do it with her.

Before I knew River, it was already hard, and I didn’t want to answer and explain to every woman I slept with about my own demons. It was just that I didn’t want to see that look in their eyes—the judgment or the pity when I told them what I’d been through, but I didn’t see those judgments when River managed to get through my walls, but still, I was only helping her, and the tremendous fact that I had to keep away from her. When this thing was over, she was going to walk out of my life. Would I allow her to walk away? I hadn’t thought about it.

When she fell asleep in my arms, I gently pulled away from her even if it was harder than I thought. I couldn’t and shouldn’t get used to this emotion. I couldn’t gamble my heart. I knew for a fact that I would hurt myself in return, yet here I was, taking all the risk. River was the only woman who made me feel vulnerable, weak, and strong at the same time.

I watched her for a moment as I sat on the sofa in the corner of the room. She slept soundly. Before I could turn into a creepy stalker, I walked out of the room and never looked back.

***

The sun rose, and I’d never woke up this late in the morning. I always had been an early riser, but I felt different. I felt some weight had lifted off my shoulders for some unknown reason.

Faint voices from the kitchen that I recognized were Anna and River. Yeah, I missed visiting Anna because of the weather, and she often came to my place to bring me some of her harvests and goods.

“Good morning, Krew,” Anna greeted me with a full smile on her face.

“Morning, Anna, River.” They were both sitting on the stools with cups of coffee and a plate of freshly baked pastries. “Sorry if I missed it yesterday.”

“I won’t suggest you come and visit me yesterday with that weather, dear,” Anna said sweetly.

“I won’t miss it next time.”

“It’s not a big deal, honey.” Something in her smile that I may find odd before she raised her brows, gesturing to the woman beside her. “Take River with you.”

I shook my head slowly. I knew precisely what she was doing. I poured myself a cup of coffee when River was about to slide from the stool. “I got this. Every time I visited Anna, I made a point not to treat her like a visitor. Besides, this is my home, my rule.”

“What he meant today, darling, is, he may have deep pockets, but he is not like someone who got what he wanted in a snap of his fingers. That’s what I love about him. This man has a heart of pure gold.”

“Oh, common, Anna. You didn’t see me like that when you first met me.” I sipped my coffee, grabbed a baked good from the plate, and took a huge bite. Her own version of Southern biscuits was a lot better with flaky layers, buttery, and with tender crumbs, and it was pure delight in my mouth.

I exactly told River earlier before you appeared.” So they were like old buddies now. The

impression, but what they didn’t know was that I was a softie inside.” I grinned at her. At my peripheral vision, River bit her bottom lip

River agreed with

back.” Anna slid from

“Already?”

on my favorite person in the world.” She walked closer to me to kiss my cheek, and she had to tiptoe to reach my face. She was a short old fella, but I loved her like my own mother. “She’s a keeper,” she whispered

walked side by side after she bid goodbye

she asked when we reached the living

about her aside from

saw when she talked about you as if you two have

last week she came to my sister, asking for

the vital information, Krew. Why did she come to your sister when you only met her once?” She stopped and looked me in

kind of a long

not up for gossips. What I wanted to say is, there’s something more between you two than River

did River tell her about me?

was about to tell Anna that she misread everything, but did she though? I clamped my

sexual tension in the air the moment you came to the kitchen. There must

and me. I’m not up for a relationship at this moment, and she, on the other hand, is not into one-night stands. So, don’t

noticed it on my face?” She hit me on my arm. “See? That’s exactly how obvious her reaction was when she saw you. And you have to believe me, Krew. True love comes only once. Don’t miss the

out laughing with her one-night

out somehow. If she still sees you the same person as you are, there’s no reason she’s not worthy of a rule to break. Trust me, Krew, I know when

in mind. Take

I came back to the main door, River was already leaning against the wall. I looked around to make sure no

with you once, and nothing

whereabouts. You don’t wanna validate it to that lunatic that you’re

it about your secret lair or the possibility of the paparazzi would

of some sort, River. I don’t care about them anymore.

the safest place

over your stubbornness. Now, let’s

at me before she