Royal Pain (Rewritten)

Chapter 15

It was one in the afternoon when Deva finally woke up. She was the only one in the bed; Darius was gone. Perhaps it was all a dream. It couldn't be because Deva didn't have luck on her side. What she did have was a massive headache. She took a shower to wash away the nasty evidence of the night.

The kitchen was another safe haven for her and chef was already cooking.

He laughed in his Italian way. "Bella you look like a dying pussycat."

"I feel like one too," she sat on the stool closest to him. He placed a bowl of stew in front of her without even having to ask.

She didn't care what it was. Her stomach was famished.

"Grazie."

Out of pity chef Antonio handed her some pills.

"Is this the part where you vow never to drink again?"

"No," she washed down the pills with water but was secretly wishing it was alcohol. "The key is to always remember that I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me."

His jolly laugh filled the room. "Are you sure you're not Italian?"

"I might be." She slipped off the stool and fixed her appearance.

"Going somewhere?"

"I need to find me a prince." Her plan was to smooth things over with Darius. She felt like she needed to justify her recent actions.

Before making it out the kitchen Deva stole a bottle of wine off the counter. Antonio didn't see her so she continued to sneak it out.

Every door in the hall looked exactly the same. How was she supposed to remember which one was Darius'? She took a few swigs out of the bottle to calm her anxiety and then asked one of the security men where his room was located.

Luckily his door wasn't locked. His entire room was painted black and extremely simple. There was no artwork hanging or personal artifacts on display. His bed sheets were grey and every piece of furniture was a burgundy wood. It was a neat freak's room; everything was in order.

It was also empty. She snooped around to find something, anything out of place. How could someone be so clean? It freaked her out a bit. The only personal thing in his room was a picture of him, his brothers, and Izzy that was on his desk. She opened the top drawer without thinking. Prying wasn't her typical hobby but she wanted to find something of his to connect too.

She found a unique leather journal but before she could tear into his private written thoughts Deva heard the shower turn off. She shut the drawer quickly and rushed to jump on the armchair nestled close to his bookshelf.

Deva drowned down more of the bottle to celebrate her victorious close call.

Darius walked out of the bathroom wearing just a towel around his lower half. She shamelessly admired his wet, glistening body. The v-line running down his hips made her swallow.

(Darius)

"Good evening muffin." She wanted her presence known before he decided to strip.

He didn't seem surprised to find her in his room; it was like he knew she was there all along. Darius adjusted his towel flashing her half of his butt cheek.

Deva bit her bottom lip and felt the heat washing over her. He was such a tease.

"Sweetheart, I didn't see you there."

"If I would have known you wanted to take a shower too I would have joined you. You know to conserve water and save the planet." She needed to feel in control again. She needed him at the disposal of her fingertips.

He tucked a knot to hold his towel in place while he combed through his damp hair. "Of course, anything to save the planet. Maybe we can schedule shower times together."

She brushed off the joke with a giggle. "I wanted to thank you for..." She threw whatever came to mind first, "helping me last night."

"You don't need to explain." Darius strutted towards her and she tried not to think about the towel falling to the floor.

"I do. I wasn't drunk; tipsy, yes. I want you to know I'm not this promiscuous. I hate myself for throwing myself at you like every other girl you come across. Something about you makes me do it."

He took it as a complement.

"Are you saying you like me?"

Could she tell him the truth or would he get hurt if she told him she only wanted to use him?

"I do." Since their first date she knew he would be more than a spoiled prince.

He spoke to her and saw through her disguise. They were fairly similar no matter how hard she tried to deny it.

"I like how easy it is with you. Don't try and complicate what we have going on. I don't want a relationship." She warned.

He wasn't bothered by her statement. It added to the challenge.

"Deva last night you told me you hadn't always drank this much. What is making you drink now?"

She got up and inched closer to his bare chest. "Nothing. Don't worry about it."

It wasn't his problem yet he felt responsible. "Is it us? Are you still not happy here?"

She ignored him and drank more out of the bottle to piss him off. How was she an alcoholic? She managed her intake just fine. Deva knew her limit. Alcoholics didn't.

"Deva I see you. I see there is something you are trying to forget."

She wasn't going to let him analysis her. She wasn't ready to open up the past.

"Remember when you said I get a clean slate and I can start over, well yeah. I'd like to take that into effect right now."

He realized the subject was off limits. Deva was not going to budge. Darius changed in front of her, cautious not to expose anything.

"I want to show you something." He took her hand and led her into his closet towards the very back. There she noticed a secret door. Inside was a rather large studio room filled with all sorts of paintings and sketch drawings on the walls. The center table was covered will all types of brushes, paints, and chalks.

"You drew all these?" She knew he had to have had some sort of artistic ability to fabricate dreams.

"Yes."