Roxanne's pov

My fingers trembled when he sat infront of me in the diner and his eyes wandered around my face intensely as if a hunter stalking his small rabbit prey.

"S-Sir"

I could not even help the gasp that left me softly when his muscles flexed while moving the small tendril of hair that was dangling infront of my face as he tucked it behind my ear, warm fingers touching behind my ear, his knuckles slowly gliding across my face in the process

His hum to me calling him sounded deep as if he was intermingling his thoughts with his actions of watching me with hooded eyes.

"Sir" I squeaked trying for the second time to gain his attention.

"Yes baby?" Darius raised an eyebrow when I opened my mouth but nothing seemed to come out at that moment.

"Is the sweet doe hungry?" I just looked at the masculine man infront of me with wide opened mouth, he was so nice yet at the same time so strict, each word leaving his mouth made me bow my head and bury my face in his embrace as if my heart had accepted that he would protect me.

Those perfect sculped muscles were made for me to climb and snuggle-

"Pay attention Roe." Heat bursted throughout my body as each pore filled with an undecipherable feeling.

"Yes sir." I tried to avoid squirming in my seat as to stop the tingling sensation bubbling in the pit of my stomach. With all my courage concentrated and watching the heartbreaking smile...that look of pure adoration that he gave me I picked up the menu that he was tapping on for me to see and decide the dishes that I would like.

The sleek black paper with glass covering displayed various dished written in French and subsequently in English side by side.

"I would like a potato dauphinoise, a chicken cordon bleu and a small blueberry cake. Thankyou and you?"

I tilted my head to a side to see him rummaging through the contents before calling a waiter and ordering the same.

"You have such a great taste baby, it seems you have tried French food many times." he made me shy with every little appreciation that he showered on me carelessly.

Since the time I have known him, Darius was always so giving in all aspects, from making me feel better to praising every single thing I did without belittling any of my flaws yet trying to guide me at the same time....Serena said right, Darius was not like Elijah, he would never hurt me like my father did to my mom....I hoped he never did.

"I have loved French food since I was a child."

Darius smiled as if sensing that I wished to say something more, his warmth gave me enough strength to continue. I would have just let this topic slide by accepting his compliment if it was at first but now that I have started knowing him, he should know things about me as well....he has the right to.

"My mother was half French and half Italian, my grandparents from the maternal side had their long chain of restaurants where they specifically served Italian, French and Thai cuisine. Mama was getting a degree in food science and wanted to be a chef before she encountered Elijah Scavo.

She had this amazing talent to cook the best of the best dishes but when she married not only my grandparents opposed the union but also disowned her, Elijah though cooking was for servants and did not appreciated when she tried to so at that time my mom stopped but later when she was separated she gave me the best of every single thing."

Sometimes I wondered if Mama was too tired to continue existing in the world, she had sincerely tried being a good wife, a better daughter and a sincere mother but her life was truly tragic and she had suffered until she took her last breaths two years ago.

Even I was not enough to retain her. Since the moment I entered Mama's life, she had been ruined.

"My precious doe" Two masculine warm palm cupped my face as Darius looked at me with a mixture of sadness and anger which I could definitely detect burning beneath the surface but was not directed at me, his cool metal irises swirling with anguish as he wiped my face making me realize that I had cried.

"S-Sorry sir. I am so sorry." I fiddled with my fingers, an uncomfortable feeling bloomed in my chest -fear, realizing that I had stretched out he matter so much thus making his mood ruined and more over I further destroyed our date.

God! I was such a stupid girl.

A crybaby, why couldn't I control my emotions for sometime. Everytime something reminded me of mama, I had cried like a weak pathetic creature. The tears in my eyes flowed even more when I thought that maybe Darius would also find me ugly and weak to show tears every single time I meet him.

"Waiter!" He bellowed making the man dressed in white and black uniform come forward.

"We would like our food to be delivered in VIP lounge." As soon as the man was gone, Darius got up from his seat making me stand as well with red rimmed eyes watching his every move with wobbling lips.

Was he ashamed of me?

"Come pretty baby." His arm wrapped around my waist making me astonished and as if somebody had pulled out all my worries and filled my heart with cotton candy sugaries, the moment he came close to me taking me away with him I could feel numerous eyes on us with some having their mouth gaped.

We crossed the hall, climing the spiral stairs but not even for a moment he left my hand, practically sticking me to his side.

"Let us talk about you and me baby and believe me when I say that I am not letting you go till I have ensured that you give yourself the love and appreciation you deserve. It is going to be a long day angel."

A/n; sorry for the short chapter, I am really tired today.