Chapter 27: Chapter 27

River

I almost forgot how to breathe as I recalled how close Daimen's lips had been to mine. How he'd held me like he really needed me, but I couldn't dwell on it. After all he was drunk.

I sighed and pressed my foot against the gas trying to get home as soon as possible. Daimen was pretty quiet as he sat in the passengers seat, his fingers were wound together while he stared out of the window.

We made it to my house without trouble and I let out a breath as I parked my car.

I got out and shut the door firmly behind me. I was making my way to the front door when I heard the passenger door slam shut and footsteps hurrying after me.

"Wait." Daimen's voice said and his hand grabbed my wrist.

I looked at him in surprise and he let me go.

"Are you sure you're not mad?" He asked and I resisted the surge of annoyance as I nodded.

"It's fine. But I'm really tired and its freezing out here." I said and the man nodded.

"Okay... sorry." He said

I gave a stiff nod and we walked inside after I unlocked the door.

I made my way to the kitchen and Daimen leaned against the counter as I rummaged through my cabinets. With a satisfied smirk I grabbed the pill bottle and turned back to Daimen.

"Here." I said handing him some Tylenol and he took it with a sigh. I grabbed a glass and put some water in it and handed it to him. He popped the pills in his mouth and swallowed them down with the water.

"Thanks." He said in a husky whisper and I nodded.

"Sure." I said going back towards my room and the boy promptly followed me.

We made it back in my room and I sat on the edge of my bed with a huff. Daimen stumbled in and I rolled my eyes as he plopped down beside me.

"Oh shii-- I shouldn'ta done that." Daimen groaned and I looked at him with a frown.

"Wha--no! Not here!" I yelled as I saw him start to gag, but I was too late.

I leapt from my bed as Daimen began to get sick and I grimaced as the foul stuff got on my bed. Not a single bit got on my floor; all on the bed.

"Daimen!" I yelled in disgust and exasperation. He gave another heave before looking over at me with a tired, wary frown.

"Tried-to-hold it-back." He croaked between breaths and I shook my head, my nose wrinkling up. I let out a deep breath and calmed myself. Well at least it wasn't the chunky kind.

"Just help me get my covers and stuff off." I said and began quickly removing the sheets. Daimen grunted and helped and soon we were holding the soiled comforter and sheets. My pillows lay tossed on the ground and I let out a sigh.

"I'll take these to the washroom, you..." I paused as I took in Daimen's dirty appearance, "get cleaned up." I finished and gripped the covers cautiously before leaving the room.

Nasty ass. Throwing up on MY bed.

I tossed everything in the washer and after putting in the detergent started it up. I frowned slightly before shaking my head and starting back for my room.

I walked into my bedroom and paused as I saw a shirtless Daimen in his boxers just about to slip on a clean shirt. A very familiar shirt. A shirt that I'd forgotten I had.

"Oh hey." Daimen said turning back around to face me and I felt my chest tighten. My eyes were glued to the shirt. The shirt with a small hole in the right sleeve, along the stitching. The faded black t-shirt, with the now gray-appearing once stark white open-mouthed skull. The shirt that I loved to run my hands along.

The shirt that had once belonged to my father, who'd given it to me, who'd let Christen wear it.

"You okay?" Daimen's voice asked, but he sounded far away. I nodded numbly.

"River, look at me." Daimen said and I blinked and realized he was now right in front of me.

"Yes?" I breathed and he hooked a finger under my chin. I felt a chill run down my spine as he tilted up my head and my eyes met his.

"What's wrong Princess?" He asked and I pointed at the shirt.

"Christen wore that shirt a lot." I said softly and the man was quiet for a while.

"Well now I'm wearing it. So fuck Christen. He's never going to wear this shirt again or be in this room again. He's not going to get to touch you or see you smile or hear you laugh, know why? Because that's what I'm going to be doing. So when you see this shirt, think of me." Daimen huffed and ran a hand through my hair.

I nodded softly and he pulled me into a hug. His arms wrapped tightly around me and he laid his chin on top of my head. I closed my eyes and relaxed against him.

"Thanks Daimen." I sighed beginning to feel better.

"No problem Princess." He said softly.

"You're so short." Daimen said after a while as I leaned against him and I pushed off of him.

"Shut up." I huffed crossing my arms and he chuckled.

"Nah, it's adorable." He smirked and I felt my cheeks heating up. I cleared my throat and looked away from him.

"I'm gonna go back to bed." I said grabbing my extra blanket from the chair in the corner of my room. Daimen watched as I grabbed my pillows from the floor and threw them on the bed before climbing in. He stood there for a bit before I sighed.

"You can get in if you want." I said patting beside me.

Daimen smiled and laid down next to me. I tossed him part of the blanket and he covered himself.

For some moments we lay there not speaking, just breathing in and out on the verge of sleep.

"I seriously can't believe you threw up on my bed." I sighed sleepily breaking the silence and the man beside me yawned.

"Yeah... sorry about that." Daimen huffed and I just nodded.

He shuffled closer and pulled the cover up over him a bit more.

"I'm gonna sit this right here." Daimen said reaching over and setting his watch down on the dresser by the bed. He huffed and settled back down.

I pulled the cover back over me some more and tucked my legs closer to myself. I shuddered at the sudden cold and hugged myself. I frowned at Daimen's back before closing my eyes. This blanket wasn't the largest and between two people, well, you can see the dilemma.

"You cold?" Daimen's voice made me jump a little and I shook my head.

"I'm okay." I said and let myself relax against the mattress. I felt Daimen shifting in the bed and some of the cover went over me more.

Daimen's arms abruptly wrapped around my waist and I gasped as he tugged me to him. Our bodies pressed together and he laid an arm over my waist before slipping the other under my pillow and propping it up. My head was now in the crook of his neck and he laid his chin on top of my head. My hands were settled against his chest.

My heart was beating like crazy. This felt awfully intimate.

Umm I don't know how to feel about this... My mind said. He's too close. But he's warm and he smells oddly good.

Daimen combed his fingers soothingly through my hair and instantly my eyes shut and I snuggled more into him and his touch. I was definitely warmer now.

His words from earlier echoed in my head.

"Goodnight River." Daimen said softly, tiredness evident in his own voice.

"I hate you." I muttered barely hearing my own voice. This was stupid.

Why did he have to be such a charming fuck-up and why the hell was I fine with this? Why was he sleeping in my bed and why was I allowing him to? Why were we so close?

I faintly heard Daimen chuckle.

"I know." His voice was fading as I started to fall asleep.

"I love you Princess."

"Hmm?" I sighed questioningly not catching what he'd whispered.

"Goodnight." He replied and I fell asleep.