Mated To Sins

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

I like him

Zima's POV

I slammed the door open and stormed into the room, my heart heavy.

“Why would he even do that?” I muttered, pacing around the room. The dorm was empty; everyone was outside…including Betty. I could already imagine the scorn twisting her face after that announcement. Damon had done it with his whole heart, I could feel it.

“s**t,” I breathed out, running my hands through my hair as I sat on the bed. My head spun. Darius was the only person who ever treated me with real love. He’d always been there, making sure I never felt hated. Darius would burn the world for me. So why… why would he do this?

The door creaked open. I turned, and there he was…standing in the doorway. My chest tightened. I hissed and turned away, shaking my leg fast, anger bubbling under my skin.

“Zee, I’m sorry.”

He rushed toward me and crouched down, trying to meet my eyes.

“Come on now,” he said gently, lifting my chin with his hand. “Look at me.”

“I just have one question for you,” I said quietly.

“What is that, Zee?”

“Who exactly are you? Who are you?” My voice broke at the end, the words sharper than I intended.

“I needed to earn your trust.”

“So you created chaos for me? Who even thinks like that? Who tries to pin something like that on their own brother?”

“I needed you to see Damon for who he really is. I’ve been telling you, Damon is a demon. He’ll ruin you.”

My heart skipped. Maybe Damon would ruin me, but if what happened between us at that event counted as part of the ruin… then maybe ruin wasn’t all that bad. I shook the thought away before it could settle.

“I can’t let you get hurt,” he went on, his voice low. “I just needed you to see that you can trust me. I don’t want all this tension between us, Zee.”

“Take your hands off me,” I said.

“Well, I have nowhere else to keep them,” he replied, a smug little smirk tugging at his lips.

“I don’t like that we’re starting this whole thing with lies.”

“You lied too.”

“Don’t twist this around.”

“But you did lie to me.”

“When?”

“You said my brother wasn’t your mate. You hid everything about my father too. Why would you hide that? We should both admit what we did wrong and start fresh,” he said softly, his thumb brushing over my chin.

“We need to trust each other, Zee. It’s just us now. Nobody else. Just me and you.”

His eyes softened, and for a moment, all I could see was the boy who ruined an entire party just because his father announced his plans for me. Nobody else would have done that.

I lifted my hand, covering his where it rested on my face. “Please… stay real with me,” I whispered.

“Yes,” he said quietly. He rose, guiding me up with him until we stood nose to nose, his eyes searching mine as if trying to read every thought I hadn’t said aloud.

“You know,” he said, his tone half playful, half serious, “if I have to choose between losing you and being the villain again, I’ll gladly be the villain. At least villains get to keep what they love.”

“You can still keep me without being the villain,” I said softly.

His right hand rested on the back of my neck, pulling me close until our breaths met. He bent his head, his lips brushing against mine.

“Don’t be the villain, don’t,” I whispered against his mouth.

His left hand moved to my waist, drawing me closer. Then he kissed me, slow at first, then deeper. His tongue traced my lower lip, gentle but certain, like he wanted to memorize the taste of me. The room filled with the soft sound of our kisses, warm and unhurried, like time had stopped for us.

He pulled away just before I could savor the moment. His right finger traced a slow line down my jaw before he stepped back.

“Why did you stop?” I asked, my voice barely steady.

“Because we’re not in a rush,” he said, calm and teasing.

“Whatever,” I muttered, sitting back on my bed. Who gets you hungry and then leaves you unfed?

He chuckled under his breath, but I ignored him. “What do you think about my father’s proposal? How do you plan to handle it? What do you need me to do?”

“Just leave it to me, Darius. I’ll handle it.”

He came to sit beside me, pulling me gently against his chest.

“Don’t keep secrets from me,” he said quietly. “We shouldn’t do that.”

“I won’t keep secrets from you,” I said. “But I’ll handle this one.”

He tightened his hold on me. “Then make sure you keep me updated, because I’m ready to fight anyone who stresses my princess.”

I smiled a little and nodded. He pressed a kiss to my forehead.

“I won’t hesitate to kick my father if he tries messing with what’s mine,” he said, nudging my shoulder playfully.

“You don’t look like you’re a match for your father,” I teased.

“What? Are you joking right now?”

He stood up, tugging his shirt off in one motion. His abs flexed under the light, his trousers hanging just low enough to show the sharp line of his groin. I stared a second too long before forcing myself to look away.

“Okay fine, you win, big wolf.”

“Yeah, big wolf,” he said, laughing loudly, his grin wide and proud.

“I need to do a few things, Zee,” he said. “I better be on my way, but I’m coming right back to show you a few things.”

“To show me more abs?” I teased.

“No,” he said, rolling his eyes, then smiling. “But I know you love seeing them.”

“I don’t.”

“Liar.” He winked at me before walking out.

I closed the door behind him and leaned against it, a smile tugging at my lips. I really like Darius. The Moon Goddess did right by bringing him to me.

A sharp clap echoed through the room, making me jump. Betty stepped out of the closet, grinning. I hadn’t even noticed she was there.

“That kiss was hot as hell!” she said, fanning herself dramatically as she came closer.

“I hate having you around,” I muttered, brushing past her.

She laughed. “You’ll be the easiest meal he’s ever eaten.”