The Ties That Bind Us: (The Ties Duet Part One) Danda K. (dark academia books to read TXT) 📖

took a while to clean this place enough to be able to set it up.”

“When the hell did you manage to do all of this?”

“Remember those random nights throughout the last month I said I was working late?” He pauses and pops more cheese in his mouth. “Well, this was me working late,” he shrugs nonchalantly.

“This is amazing Jaxon, don’t be so modest!” I hit him in the shoulder.

He makes it as if I’m the one who’s always downplaying my success, but he can be just as bad about it when he wants to be. “This whole night has been absolutely amazing.”

My heart swells with emotion. How has this man managed to break through the stone wall around my heart? I think Jaxon was made for me. There’s nobody else in the world who could ever slip past my defenses like he has.

“I’m not completely selfless, though,” he admits as I begin to make myself a plate.

I respond, “Oh?” A little thrown off by his statement.

He smiles and looks down at the floor. ”Let’s just say this wasn’t only for your benefit.”

Confused by his comment, I continue to eat and drink my wine, taking in the cozy little nook we’re in. We talk a bit more about people at work and our plans for the holidays.

Which I’ve never celebrated before.

According to Jaxon, we’ll be celebrating them together, and I don’t seem to have a choice in the matter. Which, I won’t admit, but I am kind of excited about.

Jaxon clears his throat, on edge, as he adjusts the neckline of his shirt. Great. I really hope I’m not gonna turn around to a string quartet or a damn mariachi band at this point.

“You remember the talk we had in Dumbo, right?” he asks, and I swallow hard from my sudden nerves.

“Yeah, of course, I remember.” My stomach begins to churn, and I feel as though I’m suddenly sweating.

“Well, it’s trust-fall time, Nyx.”

My eyes widen. What the hell does he want me to do?  He stands up and walks back towards the front of the shed where I can no longer see him, and I feel steady heat crawling up my neck to my cheeks.

“Where are you going?!” I choke out, panicking. I start to get up when I don’t hear him respond, but his voice stops me.

“Remember the day at the pizzeria? I asked you what I’d have to do for you to sing for me.”

I nod but answer him with words, too. ”Yes, I remember.”

My body is actively shaking now. He isn’t about to ask me what I think he is…

“You told me that for you to sing for me, I’d have to disappear.” The light from his phone illuminates his face.

Then the light goes off, returning him to the dark. “Well, this is me...disappearing.”

Before I can say anything back, he continues speaking. “I never wanted to push you to show me this side of you. Because I can’t imagine how vulnerable you would feel opening yourself up to that type of raw emotion. Especially in front of me.” He’s silent for a few seconds. “But I don’t want you to hide from me anymore, Nyx. Sometimes I hear you humming along to your songs in the shower, but never the words. I want to be the first person to hear you sing. I want that to be for me. You have so much passion for music, and I want to be a part of it. I already know you’ll sound amazing, but I want to be able to tell the world that I’ve had the privilege of knowing what your soul sounds like from the inside.”

I take in his words. And I want to argue, but he’s right.

To allow someone to hear your voice like that is like giving them a glimpse into your soul. I was always afraid of what others would find if they were given a chance.

I really want to refuse him, but how can I? He’s gone above and beyond for me tonight, just like he does every single day we’re together. Jaxon’s the type of guy most girls take for granted because they prefer dominance over tenderness.

But not me. I would never want Jaxon to change an iota of who he is. He’s perfect, and I’m pretty sure the feelings he ignites inside me could mean I’m in love with him.

For the past few weeks, it’s felt as though my heart leaves with him wherever he goes. Every fear I have, Jaxon faces it with me head-on. Just like thisone.

I decide to let the chips fall. If this is what he wants for his trust-fall, this is what he’ll get. We made promises to each other that night- no matter what we asked of each other, we would do it. I have to keep this promise.

I take a deep breath to mentally prepare myself.

Standing up, I straighten my back. “Bring me your phone.”

He walks towards me with a stool in his hand, places it down in front of the blanket and candlelight, and gives me his phone. I go to the search engine and type in the only song I feel comfortable singing for him right now.

It’s the song I’ve dedicated to him from the very beginning. Finding the instrumental version, I hand the phone back to him and proceed to climb onto the stool. “Don’t press play until I tell you to.”

I take a few shaky breaths and try to collect myself. After a few minutes of silence from both of us, I’m ready.

I nod my head, and he walks back over to his dark corner to await my instruction. I adjust my hair and place it evenly on both sides of my shoulders. Giving my body a quick shake to relieve the tension in my shoulders, I put on my bravest face.

“Press play.”

Twenty-eight

Jaxon

“Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon begins to play, but it’s an acoustic version. The sounds from the strings of the guitar fill the air around us. I can’t