Sara looked at him with surprise. “Y...you mean it?”, the realisation hitting her that staying with him was far more appealing than moving back in with her mother till she found somewhere of her own. Darius nodded, “But...” Her eyes narrowed as he continued, “If I am still here when you get settled then I would want you still to be my date for events. I have neither the time nor the inclination to find somebody else to replace you, especially as I have no idea how long I am going to be here”
The happy bubble which had been swelling within her popped at the realisation that he was solely interested in losing his date for events, she not understanding what more she expected. Giving a shaky smile she nodded softly. “As compromises go...I think that I can work with that” Darius was not sure why he felt such relief as he pulled her into his arms, the two hugging the other as their new terms had been settled.
For the next week Sara searched for a job. The process was slow, and despite having a degree in business, her lack of experience was proving a stumbling block. She saw several apartments which would be suitable for her needs, but without a job she was in no position to take on a lease, or afford the deposit.
As one week disappeared, she gave up trying the top companies, and was desperately looking for standard office work, her time within her father’s company more relevant, quickly lining up several interviews. Darius frowned as she told him of her first one later that week. Sara brushed off his questions of why she had not sought a junior management role.
She noticed how he seemed to have become quieter, often seeing him work till late at night. Sara wondered if he was trying to avoid her, prepare for asking her to leave perhaps, this thought filling her with pain. It had been over a week since they came to their new truce, and Darius lay over Sara, his mouth kissing her down from yet another mind blowing climax, she looking up at him, her eyes soft and mellow. With a small chuckle she caressed his hair, allowing her fingers to slip through the thick silkiness. “When did this stop feeling like punishment?” the question out before she had time to hold it back.
His mouth twitched as his head dropped to lay the gentlest of kisses on the corner of her mouth, a return grin from him, “Truthfully...the night after we first made love” Her eyes flew to his in astonishment as he shifted his position pulling her into the crook of his arm a deep sigh leaving him. “I thought I blamed you for everything that happened all those years ago Sara...but I’m not sure if that was really the problem” She remained silent, her head tilted to listen aware as she held her breath. “I always liked you - did you know that?” She shook her head softly, “No...I thought you only dealt with me so that you could flirt with the other girls” His chuckle made her flush, Darius kissing her forehead softly. “Nope. I suppose that what I was really angry at was that I never got the courage up to ask you out...and then of all the people chosen to fire me ...it was you” “Y...You wanted to ask me out?”, her voice incredulous as he nodded before giving a deep sigh and turning onto his side so that the two could look into the other’s faces.
“I have to go back to Italy Sara” His simple declaration caused her stomach to drop, the small flame of hope at his words snuffed out, her eyes dropping to hide the hurt. “I see”, she muttered, his finger pulling her chin up as his eyes flicked over her features. “No...I really don’t think that you do” Sara gulped down the tears which welled up within her, and were even now burning the back of her eyes. “I...It is fine Darius...we had an agreement...” The rest of her sentence lost as his mouth covered hers in a tender kiss.
“No more about agreements Sara. I have to return to Italy...and I want you to come with me...of your own choice” Sara stared deeply into his eyes. She searched for some ulterior motive, but found none, just honest warmth. Everything within her wanted to throw her arms around his neck and cry “yes” - yes she would be with him, that she would do anything for him because she loved him. Dropping her eyes once more she cleared her throat nervously, hurt so evident in her voice, “I wish I could Darius...but I can’t” She was surprised to hear a note of pain enter his. “You do not want to be with me?”
Her eyes flew back to his, her head shaking emphatically, “No...No it’s not that”, the tears now shining in her large eyes, “I just can’t go to Italy. I have to prove that I have my life in order. Get a job...a home” Darius felt the tearing deep within him as she refused to accompany him, then the confusion of her words. Instinctively he knew she wanted to be with him, this alone keeping him calm as he took a shaky deep breath. “Do you want to be with me Sara?” Her eyes stared back hauntingly at him as she muttered almost inaudibly. “Yes” His hand came to her cheek, his thumb gently rubbing away the tear which wound its way down.