He stopped hesitantly and took a gulp of the smooth amber liquid.
“Go on,” I replied, my eyes filled with unshed tears. “Please.”
“He would destroy you. He would destroy me. He could do anything he wanted within a moment’s notice. He holds power that could crush us all and all he had to do was whisper one word in the right person’s ear and they would come running at his command. This city would rather do his dirty work than be sat unsure when he’d come for them next.” Dawson sighed as he stared deep into the glass before he lifted his gaze to mine. “Everleigh, I couldn't risk you. I had to leave to save you. He said you were safe as long as I stayed away…”
“And now?” I questioned with panic in my eyes.
“Now… I fight. I was scared of what I could become but I know that will never happen. I’ll never let it,” he replied, his legs stretched out slightly as his foot caught my bare ankle, sending a thrill up the entire length of my body.
“But for what?” I whispered as I dropped my eyes to my food and spun the spaghetti onto my fork before taking a mouthful. “Mmm…”
“Everleigh…”
“What, it's good. Do you want some?” I asked batting my eyelashes. “Answer the question.”
He took a bite of his food as a tendril of hair dropped in front of my eyes. I was about to move it, but my breath caught in my throat as I noticed Dawson stand up from his chair and kneel next to me. He clasped my face in his hands. My mind raced to play catch up with his movements, my words faltered in my mouth before I had a chance to stop him. He'd moved the piece of hair hanging loosely in front of my eyes, placing it behind my ear before he trailed his index finger downwards as it grazed my cheek. I should have prepared. I should have seen the signs. His mouth came crashing down onto mine, his tongue pushing against the seam as I realized what he was doing. I placed my hands flat against his chest and pushed him hard. He struggled from falling backwards, shocked and confused.
“I'm… I'm sorry… Everleigh,” he said, the panic evident in his face at my reaction. “I…”
“No… Dawson,” I replied as I pushed my chair backwards. I forgot about the half-eaten food on the table before I stood up and grabbed my coat from the seat. I stormed towards the exit and turned around before shouting over my shoulder. “I wanted answers… I never said… you broke me once, Dawson. I won't let you do it again.”
I felt the tears prickle behind my eyelids that I didn't want him seeing fall. As I passed Alonzo, I made it crystal clear that Dawson would be covering the bills entirety. Arianna gave me a slight smile and nodded as I walked into the darkness outside, now lit up by the streetlamps.
I walked in the direction of home; hearing Dawson shout my name in earnest. I never turned around to look at where he was until I hit Times Square and noticed the gathered crowds. My heart picked up pace, knowing Dawson was hot on my trail and my hands sweated profusely, not daring to look upwards as the bright billboards suddenly changed focus. I felt my legs buckling from beneath me, but I couldn't allow myself to drop.
I need to get out of there. I avoided Times Square in the evening, I couldn’t risk being anywhere near there at show times. No matter what show was playing, my mind replayed the art show when Dawson left me. My heart couldn’t cope with replaying that memory right now and the panic set in. My heart beat profusely as the tightness in my chest grew.
Solid, taut arms encased my shoulders, wrapping me tightly in his grasp as the aftershave he wore overtook my senses. I instinctively knew it was him and I wanted to run. I didn’t want him to see me this way, the panic had overtaken me. I needed to run, to get away from here and not look back. I didn’t care that I was in heels. I’d have walked over hot coals to get away. I kicked and screamed, fighting against his grasp on me. I couldn’t take any more splinters to my already fragile heart.
“Relax, Everleigh,” Dawson said my body fighting the emotions coursing through it. “I'm here. I'm not going to break you, I'm going to fix you, love you and complete you. I said I would fight for you and God damn it woman, I will… with every fiber left in my body. It's you Everleigh, it always has been and always will be. Nothing else matters if I work at showing you that each and every day. Everyone else can disappear...” he whispered. “I should have never left you; I never should have gone; I should have fought for you, Everleigh. I know that now, but I didn’t see a way back then to secure our future, he had too much power but now, I’m stronger and together we can do this.”
Dawson spun me around in his arms, fixated to the spot, as the show played on the screens around us both, people happily oblivious to the pair of us stood together and the commotion occurring. Lost in their own little worlds; just like I was three years ago.
“No… Dawson, it's just words!” I screamed at him, the fire burning fiercely throughout my body as I clenched my hands into fists trying to channel my anger. I took a deep breath and looked up directly into his eyes, I wanted to hurt him the way he hurt me all those years ago. Let’s see how he handles my goading about being with other men, vindictive I know, but I couldn’t stop myself. “I took what I wanted from other guys, gave them my body but nothing more and I loved every moment of it, Dawson. It was pure, carnal sex.”
Dawson leaned in, his jaw ticking, and eyes hooded as he shocked me, peppering light kisses down my neck as my breathing shallowed at his touch. I should've said no but I was putty in his hands. A woman lost to desire; to a man that held her heart in a vice that only took one squeeze to destroy.
“Everleigh, did you enjoy trying to fuck that hate out on others?” His deep voice resonated in shockwaves, sending my body into a pool of lava as his fingers traveled down the column of my neck. “Did you struggle to let anyone else into that mind of yours, when all you could see was the memories of us? Why not direct that anger where it belongs, Belle?” Dawson raised his eyebrow, challenging me as he stepped into my space. He circled his other arm around my waist, pulling me flush against his chest. “Fuck the guy that caused it, unleash that pent up anger that's built up over the years. Take what you want, hurt me, like I hurt you… but there's only one problem. Isn't there…?” He paused watching my movements. I felt the heat traveling up my cheeks as he whispered against my lips. “Fucking others doesn't fill the void; it's just a release, isn't it? I know. It takes real strength to admit the truth that lies inside.”
“Dawson…” I replied breathlessly.
“Can you admit that the hate you have built up over these years, is actually what powers that real love you feel for me?” he replied, his hand trailing down to cup my ass.
“I… how do I know…? Dawson…”
My mumbled confused words are stolen from me as his mouth collided with mine. The screens start to change back to the typical advertising bright lights and the crowds start to disperse. I allowed him to overpower me, his tongue delving deeper into my mouth, searching for those answers hidden away, realizing finally that his words are true. This time he stayed. This time he didn’t run. This time he choseme.Oh god, could I risk trusting him again knowing that he could simply crush me again? I don’t know, but I don’t think I have a choice in what I’m going to say next.
“Dawson?” I pulled back to see the molten fire burning in his irises. He stared back at me as he licked his lips and I touched mine in awe. “Mine or the hotel.”
The growl that left his throat shot straight to my core as he grabbed my hand and pulled me along, before leaning in and whispering in my ear.
“Oh, we are going to yours, baby. Always yours.” He allowed his eyes to hungrily run up and down my body as if he was starving. “Now direct the way, Belle.”
The palpable tension coursed through the air surrounding us, as each step I took my core pulsed, screaming to be touched and explored. I wondered if his tongue, fingers, or cock would fill me the same? If he had changed what he loved in the bedroom? Could I fuck the anger I felt away and use him like the toy stuffed in the back of my bottom drawer?
“What if…?” I said quietly, breaking the tension as all my confidence drifted away down the nearest drain. “What if I'm not what you want now?”
I felt my feet forced to a standstill as Dawson turned me towards him. He grabbed both of my hands in his, rubbing small circular motions across the top whilst his gaze bore deep into mine.