Darius watched Raina push through the back exit door. He didn't bother to follow behind.
He stood there for a while. He took a last drag from the cigarette he had lit and ground it out under the heel of his shoe before walking away.
----------------------
Raina didn't sleep that night.
She lay in bed staring at the faint cracks on her ceiling. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Darius again, standing there under the dim alley light, with his cigarette in between his fingers.
"I just wanted to see you again."His calm voice, replaying in her head.
The words shouldn't have meant anything. Men said things like that all the time. But this one... this one had just sounded different.
By morning, she convinced herself it was just curiosity, one that fades out of your mind once you get busy.
----------------------
FEW DAYS LATER,
Darius had told himself he wouldn't go back. He had tried to stay away for a few days now. Yet here he was, sitting in his car again, just across the street from Velvet Room.
He didn't go in this time. He just watched the entrance.
The club's front door swung open every few minutes, drunk men and girls stumbling out. But he wasn't looking for anyone else.
When Raina finally stepped out around midnight, as soon as his eyes were fixated on her, his pulse kicked once. She looked tired, but graceful and beautiful.
She was walking toward the taxi line up, when he stepped out of the car to cross the street.
"Raina." He called behind her.
She turned, startled. "You again? You're very persistent."
"I told you I wanted to see you."
"Yeah," she said, crossing her arms. "You also said you weren't asking for anything."
"I'm not," he said quietly. "Just offering dinner."
Raina gave a small, dry laugh. "Dinner? You stalk me at midnight to offer dinner?"
Darius's lips curved. "You make it sound like a crime."
"Stalking is a crime, Mr. Rucker"
Darius took a slow step closer, hands in his pockets. "Please, Raina. I mean no harm."
For a moment, Raina just stood there. Her subconscious screamed to walk away.
She sighed. "Fine. Dinner. But I pick the place."
Darius tilted his head slightly, eyes glinting. "Deal. My car is just across the street."
Raina hesitated a bit before following him, the soft tap of her heels against the wet pavement as she trailed behind him.
Darius walked ahead. When they both got to the car, he opened the passenger door for her, she muttered as she slid into the seat, "You're lucky I'm hungry.".
He smiled faintly. "I'll take that as a compliment. He rounded the car and started the engine.
She folded her arms across her chest. "Don't read too much into it. It's not a compliment."
Darius responded with a simply smile.
"So," he said, his eyes now on the road, "where to?"
"There's a small diner near the neighborhood park. It's open all night."
He nodded. "Perfect."
When they arrived, the place was nearly empty. A sleepy waitress showed them to a booth. Raina sat opposite Darius, she ordered a sandwich and milkshake. Darius asked for the same, barely looking at the menu.
The silence between them wasn't awkward, more like both of them were waiting to see what the other would do first.
Darius finally looked up from his sandwich plate. "You always this quiet?"
Raina shrugged, eyes still on her drink. "Only when I don't know if I should be talking."
He smiled, not pushing. "Fair enough."
They ate in easy silence after that. Every now and then, Darius's gaze drifted toward her, like he was trying to read her without making it obvious. Raina noticed this but didn't say anything. She didn't really mind.
When they were halfway through the meal, she leaned back, crossing her arms. "So, what's your deal, Mr. Rucker? You own half the city or something?"
He raised an eyebrow. "You sound like you've been listening to gossip."
"Maybe," she said, tilting her head slightly.
He met her eyes. "And what do you think?"
Raina paused, holding his gaze for a few seconds. "I don't know what to think But you're not as cold as they say."
Darius's lips curved into something between a smile and a secret. "You sound sure of that."
"I'm not," she admitted. "You're here, eating diner sandwiches with a stripper. Who knows the ulterior motive you have up your sleeve."
He leaned back, eyes narrowing just slightly. "Maybe I just wanted good company."
Raina snorted. "You could've found that in a hundred different places."
"You weren't in any of them."
The way he said it, casually, not flirtatious, made Raina pause. For a moment, she didn't know how to respond. She just looked at him, really looked. Like she was searching his eyes for his truth.
Raina finally broke eye contact, taking another drag sip of her milkshake. "You've got a way with words, you know that?"
"Old habit," he said. "I used to talk my way out of things I couldn't buy my way out of."
That made Raina laugh, a real one this time.
And the first time that night, she didn't feel like she had to keep her guard up.
They talked after that. Nothing heavy, just small pieces of thing.
When she caught him watching her again, she tried to look away but couldn't.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" she asked finally.
"Like what?"
"Like you're trying to memorize me or something."
"Maybe I am"
Her fork paused midair. "You can just ask if you're curious. You barely know me. Don't be creepy, Darius."
He leaned forward slightly, elbows on the table. "Am I?"
Raina pushed her plate aside and looked out the window.
"Why me?" she asked quietly. "You could've just picked anyone else at the club."
"You attracted me. You didn't look like you wanted to be there," he said simply. "And I am curious to know why."
Raina turned back to him, eyes narrowing a little. "Maybe I just like minding my business."
He smiled faintly. "Then let me mind it with you."
She snorted, shaking her head. "You really don't quit, do you?"
"Nope."
She stared at him for a long moment, then muttered, "You're full of yourself and you look like trouble."
Darius chuckled low, "Trouble?" he repeated, leaning back in his seat. "That's interestingly new. I usually get called boring."
Raina rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "You? Boring? Not with that smug face."
He tilted his head, pretending to think. "So you do look at my face often enough to notice?"
"Don't flatter yourself," she said, sipping her milkshake to cover the warmth creeping into her tone. "I'm just observant."
"Observant is good, yeah," he said quietly. "Did I mention that you have a very beautiful smile."
Raina blinked, caught off guard. "That came out of nowhere," she said, a soft laugh escaping before she could stop it.
Darius shrugged lightly, his lips curving. "Maybe. But that doesn't make it less true."
She leaned back, trying to appear unfazed,. "You're really something, you know that, Mr Tucker?"
"Darius," he corrected gently. "Let's keep it at Darius. You already said it once earlier."
She hesitated before nodding once. "Darius."
Raina traced her finger absently along the table's edge.
Soon after, the waitress from earlier came to clear their plates.
When they stepped outside, the night breeze was calm, the street quiet except for the distant passing of cars. Raina pulled her jacket tighter around herself.
"Thanks for dinner," she said, her tone casual but low.
"Thanks for saying yes," he replied.
She gave him a sideways glance, the faintest trace of a smile in her eyes.
Raina reached for her bag. "It's late,I should get going."
Darius nodded. "Let me drive you."
She hesitated. "I can get a taxi."
He met her eyes, tone calm but firm. "It's way past midnight, Raina."
"I've been out later," she countered, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Doesn't mean you should keep doing it. It's not safe."
His response made Raina pause.
"I am a gentleman, Raina."
She studied him for a moment. "Gentlemen don't stalk women outside clubs."
He gave a quiet laugh. "Touché. Allow me"
She didn't protest further as he walked beside her toward the car.
As they reached the car, Darius unlocked the doors and opened the passenger side again for her. "Please," he said simply.
Raina sighed, then slid in. "You're persistent."
"Determined," he corrected.
Darius slid into the car, then he ignited the engine. "You know, this is actually the first time I've had dinner at midnight."
Raina turned her head toward him, surprised. "You? The mysterious Darius Rucker? I figured midnight dinners would be a regular thing for you."
He smiled faintly, eyes on the road. "Not really."
She raised a brow. "Hmm"
"I enjoyed it. It was fun."
That made her laugh softly. "Fun?"
Raina shook her head, still smiling. "Fun. That's not what I expected you to call it."
Darius glanced at her briefly. "What, Why? Not what you expected me to call it?"
She shook her head, lips curving slightly. "No. Not at all. For someone like you, I expected you would call it an experience."
He laughed under his breath. He met her eyes for a second too long before turning back to the road.
------
When they reached her building, Darius slowed the car to a stop. The streetlight above cast a soft glow over them, reflecting faintly against the windshield.
Raina unbuckled her seatbelt but didn't move right away. "Well… thanks for dinner. And the ride."
He smiled faintly. "You're welcome."
Raina reached for the door handle but froze when she felt a cold hand steady over here.
"Raina," he murmured, his voice a low rumble.
She turned slightly to face him, her hand still resting on the handle. "What?"
Darius shook his head once, his voice low. "Nothing. Just… you....just."
Her fingers tightened on the handle, then loosened again. "Darius…you should stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you're about to do something stupid."
His voice rougher this time. "Maybe I am."
Raina swallowed, her pulse thrumming somewhere between her ribs and her throat. "You really need to stop." she murmured.
Raina should've gotten out, she knew she should, but her body didn't seem to agree.
"Raina," he called again softly
Raine breath hitched as his hand moved up lightly against her arm.
His eyes darkened. "You make it hard to say goodnight."
Raina felt the tension between them, thick as the night air. His eyes seemed to burn into her, dark and hungry. She couldn't help but shiver slightly, even though she tried to stay cool.
"Then don't," she said finally, barely audible.
He smiled faintly, leaning just close enough that she could feel the warmth of his breathe, "Careful," he murmured. "You say things like that, and I might take you seriously."
Raina's chest rose with a sharp inhale. "Maybe I want you to."
"You shouldn't tease a man like that."
She swallowed hard, heart racing. "I wasn't teasing."
He leaned closer, his breath warm against her cheek. "No?"
She shook her head, unable to look away from his intense gaze. "No."
"You should stop me now." he whispered, his hand cupping her face now.
He traced a finger down her jawline, sending shivers across her skin. His touch was light but demanding, and Raina could feel the heat emanating from him. She couldn't resist anymore. She leaned into his touch, closing the distance between them.