Resignation (9 page)

He wondered if she heard his heart racing beneath her head
as he squeezed her tight. He felt so much for her. Now there was no way he
would give her up without a fight.

Nothing will make me give you up…nothing.

Chapter Six

The next morning came too soon and Sol fought to wake from a
dreamless sleep. Darina snuggled against his chest, rubbing her face over his
heart as she slept. He smiled down at her and ran a hand through her soft hair.
Anger still loomed in the back of his mind over Marc’s antics of the day
before, but Sol pushed the memory away. It was the first Sunday of the month.
Darina didn’t know it yet, but this was a very significant day in his family.
Now all he had to do was convince her to meet them and pray they didn’t scare
her away. He chuckled and she moaned in response.

“Sol?”

“Right here, kitten. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

She smiled up at him sleepily and lifted one bare shoulder
in a lazy shrug.

“It’s okay. I shouldn’t spend all day in bed anyway.”

He rolled her under him and settled between her warm thighs.
“Oh, I don’t know. I can think of a few really good reasons to spend the day in
bed.”

She laughed and shook her head. “You’re insatiable.”

“When it comes to you, yes. But I know you’ve got to be sore
about now.”

She shrugged again but didn’t deny it and he wanted to kick
himself. They’d been fucking like bunnies all week and though he considered it
before now, this was the first time he’d bothered to ask if she was sore.

“I’m sorry. I just didn’t think.”

Before she could respond, he was off the bed and walking into
his bathroom. He started a warm bath and cursed under his breath for not
thinking ahead. He didn’t have anything to add to the water to soothe her.

“Sol?”

“Yeah?”

She stepped tentatively into the bathroom naked, comfortable
enough around him now to not even drag a sheet off the bed for cover. Warmth
filled him at the realization until she spoke.

“Are you…angry at me?”

He looked up in surprise to see true concern on her face and
cursed himself again.

“No, baby. I’m running a warm bath for you.”

He stood and pulled her into his arms, relieved when she
allowed it without hesitation.

“Oh. I thought I heard you cussing.”

He chuckled and kissed her temple. “Just at myself. I’m an
idiot for treating your body so harshly all week. I’m so sorry.”

A pretty flush filled her face, flowing over her breasts.
“I’m okay. I didn’t mind.”

He kissed her on the lips, forcing himself to stop so she
could step into the warm water.

“Perhaps, but I should’ve taken better care of you. Soak for
a bit while I start breakfast. There’s something I want to do later today…if
it’s okay with you.”

Her brows rose in question but she simply nodded and sank
into the steaming water with a sigh.

I’m an idiot for not taking better care of this precious
gift.

Sol kissed the top of her head and left the bathroom,
determined not to touch her again until her body had time to heal.

* * * * *

The enticing aroma of bacon and eggs met Darina as she
stepped out of Sol’s bedroom. His apartment was smaller than her loft but she
liked it. He’d chosen dark colors for the few pieces of furniture in the living
room, and family photos covered every available surface. It was homey.

“Food’s ready when you are.”

She found Sol watching her from the kitchen doorway and
smiled at him as she approached.

“It smells delicious.”

He smiled back, but it was nothing compared to his usual
confident grin. Apprehension began to build in her chest but she fought to keep
it from her face. Whatever the problem was, she would deal with it.

Is he tired of me already? That can’t be it.

He pulled a chair out for her and she kissed him lightly on
the mouth before sitting. Surprise lit his features before a more relaxed smile
replaced it. The look calmed her.

“You’re spoiling me, Sol. I’d never had a man cook for me
before we met.”

He chuckled and sat down beside her so their knees touched.

“My mom would be very happy to hear that.”

She laughed until she looked up to see his serious
expression. “Oh. Uh…what’s wrong?”

He cleared his throat and for the first time seemed to be at
a loss for words. She pushed her plate away and folded her hands together on
the table to fight the urge to reach for him.

“I, uh… I was hoping we could go over there tonight.”

Confusion settled in her mind as she thought back over the
past few minutes of conversation.

“What? Where?”

Sol pushed his plate away as well, but then took her hands
between his warm palms.

“I want you to meet my mom, Darina, my family. They get
together every month on the first Sunday for dinner. That’s today.”

Her mouth went dry and every thought abruptly left her head.
As if sensing her shock, Sol went on in a rush.

“If you don’t want to that’s fine. I mean, I know it might
seem kind of sudden—”

The wariness in his gaze immediately roused her from her
initial shock. She placed her fingers over his lips and smiled at him.

“Sol, I do want to meet your family.”

He smiled against her hand and his shoulders relaxed. She
replaced her fingers with her mouth and he pulled her onto his lap for a
scorching kiss. By the time they remembered their breakfast, it was cold as
ice.

* * * * *

Darina smiled and tried to feign interest as one of Sol’s
sisters explained the issues she was having with her child’s teacher. All the
women in the kitchen seemed riveted by the child’s antics, but Darina couldn’t
care less. She was a little annoyed at being relegated to the kitchen with the
women, but had to admit it did make her feel accepted by them. Sol’s mother and
sisters were easy to like. Quick to laughter and willing to hug a perfect
stranger, they took her in like a long-lost cousin as soon as Sol introduced
her. She’d smiled politely and tried to remain silent out of fear of saying the
wrong thing. He had introduced her as his friend and kept his arm around her
waist. She hadn’t protested and the women took that to heart. She was afraid
they might start planning a wedding before dessert.

“Darina, honey, where did you meet my baby Sol?”

Darina startled at the sound of her name from Sol’s mother
as the question interrupted her musings. She looked up to find every feminine
eye on her.

“Oh, uh, we work in the same building, Mrs. Canova.”

She tried not to grimace at the squeaking sound of her
voice, and prayed they couldn’t hear her nervousness.

“Oh? The building where he works security?”

This came from his sister, Hanna, a short woman with
dark-brown hair. She resembled Sol more than the other two.

“Um, yes. I work there too. I’ve known him a few months.”

Sol’s three sisters shared a look Darina couldn’t decipher
and his mother cleared her throat.

“Well, he seems to really like that job. What do you do
there?”

“I manage the accounting department.”

The other women tittered over that as if it moved Darina a
step up in their eyes. She looked around and realized they all appeared to be
homemakers. She knew Sol’s mother did a lot of volunteer work and was supported
by his brother who lived with her. One of his sisters was in her last year of
high school but the other two were married.

“Well, that’s very interesting,” Hanna said.

“Yes, you must be a very smart girl,” Sol’s mother added.

Darina blushed and took a drink of iced tea.

“Mother, she’s a woman not a girl. And I want to know how
serious you are about Sol.”

Darina turned to face Sol’s youngest sister, Korina. At
five-five she was the tallest of the women in his family, and seemingly the
most outspoken. She’d questioned Darina all through dinner about her family and
background, asking for every little detail. Sol finally told her to mind her
own business before playfully throwing a dinner roll at her.

“We just started…seeing each other. But I think he’s really
great,” Darina replied.

She bit her lip nervously, hoping they hadn’t noticed her
pause and filled in the blank correctly.

“Oh yeah, he is really great. He’s the greatest brother a
girl could ever have and I’ll bet he’d make a great husband too.”

Darina choked on her tea and coughed into her hand just as
Sol entered the kitchen. His eyes immediately settled on her and he was by her
side in a heartbeat.

“Hey, you okay, sweetheart? Mom, what are you letting them
do to her in here?”

He began rubbing one of his large, warm hands in circles on
Darina’s back as she tried to breathe normally.

Oh my.

“Korina said the
H
word. She’ll be okay.”

Sol looked over at his oldest sister, Melina, sliding his
arm around Darina’s waist and pulling her against his side.

“The
H
word?” he asked.

Darina nearly choked again at the confusion on his face and
cleared her throat.

“It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

“Does she mean hell? ’Cause, honey, I know I’ve said worse
around you.”

All of the women burst into laughter and Darina’s cheeks
warmed. She laughed too, placing a hand on Sol’s chest without a thought. He
settled his hand on hers and moved it over his heart. She noticed his mother
watching from the corner of her eye and tried to pull her hand away. Sol
frowned down at her and she instantly regretted the action.

“Really, what’s wrong? Do we need to leave?”

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. He’d shocked
her. She couldn’t believe he would leave his family early just to make her feel
better.

He really cares about me.

“No. I’m okay. I don’t want to go.”

He studied her intensely for another heartbeat before
nodding in acceptance.

“Okay. So long as you’re sure. We can go whenever you want.”

She sighed as he lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her
knuckles. She felt the other women watching even as they spoke amongst
themselves, but it didn’t bother her. Sol smiled at her and everything seemed
right in her world.

How can I possibly give him up?

Sol felt his mom watching every move he made around Darina
and wanted to laugh. He’d never brought a woman home for their monthly Sunday
gatherings before, and the women in his family were having a field day. He
didn’t know how much longer he had before they broke out the baby pictures, but
he wanted to get Darina alone before they scared her away.

They’d moved from the kitchen to the living room and his two
older sisters had gone home. Dinner had been superb as usual and contentment
filled him as Darina sat beside him on his mother’s sofa. His brother, Hektor,
sat in what had been their father’s favorite recliner before he’d passed away,
Sol’s baby sister on the floor at his feet. Their mother was telling Darina a
story about Sol as a child and he watched the play of expressions on her lovely
face. He couldn’t get enough of her. His chest tightened as he sat with his arm
lying comfortably across her shoulders, her laugh tickling his ear.

This is what every Sunday should be like.

His contentment soon morphed into hunger and he knew it was
time to take Darina home.

“We should go, Mom. It’s getting late.”

“Aww, Sol, don’t go yet. I didn’t get to tell Darina any
embarrassing stories about you,” Korina whined.

“That’s exactly why we need to leave now.”

Everyone laughed and he shook his head as he rose from the
sofa, tugging Darina up with him. His mother and sister hugged her before
hugging him and he took it as a very good sign. He slapped his brother on the
back and kissed his mom on the cheek.

“I’ll call you later, Mom. We’re heading out of town
together so it might be a couple of days. Don’t worry, I’ll have my cell phone
on me.”

Darina glanced at him with a questioning look, but he
ignored it. All three of his family members wore similar expressions of
curiosity, making him want to laugh. He just waved and ushered Darina toward
the door. He guided her out with a hand on her lower back. He loved touching
her every chance he got, and being at his mom’s house for most of the day had
nearly killed him. Soon he’d be able to take her home and have her naked again.
He broke out in a sweat just thinking about it.

Just a little longer.

They drove to his house in near silence. She made a few
comments about his family, all positive, and he felt relieved by her acceptance
of them. She never spoke of having family nearby and he’d refrained from
prying, but now his curiosity got the better of him.

“Kitten?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you have anyone in the city? Any family?”

She turned away to look out the window and he thought she
wasn’t going to answer. Then she cleared her throat and he heard her take a
deep breath. He instantly regretted his question and opened his mouth to take
it back when she spoke.

“My father left us when I was five and died a couple of
years later. My mom died when I was eighteen. I was an only child and neither
of my parents ever spoke of family. My mom wasn’t a very good person, so I
think her parents disowned her or something. I’ve never looked for them.”

She’s been all alone.

Sol didn’t know what to say as he pulled into his parking
space. He got out of the car and opened Darina’s door for her, still trying to
think of how to take away the pain in her eyes.

“Do you want to find out if you have family?” he finally
asked.

She frowned and he gently turned her toward his door. It was
times like this he was grateful for his first-floor apartment, with his door
only a few steps from the parking lot. He quickly ushered her inside and locked
the door, letting out a relieved breath to finally have her back home.