“For who… you or the woman?”
“Both,” he snaps.
He lets me go and turns away. I grab his hand and pull myself into him and lean up for a kiss. He groans as he returns the kiss, his rough lips claiming me as though it’s been weeks since the last time we touched.
He stops, taking a step back, his teeth gritted. “You’re a head fuck, Celine.”
“Yeah? Ditto, Damian.”
He finally walks away, the muscles in his corded back twitching.
CHAPTER 16
DAMIAN
The next morning, I sit in the living room. Surrounded by Christmas decorations. I rarely spend much time in here, but ever since Celine gave it its makeover, it’s like I can’t stay away.
Why did I tell her about that stuff last night? I could’ve lied about those clippings, invented some excuse. There was no reason to make her believe I was some angel. Hell, helping those people doesn’t make me a good person. Doesn’t even make me decent. Just not a complete monster.
That might be why. I don’t want her to see me as the Beast… even if her seeing me as the Beast is the thing that’s going to keep her alive.
I lean forward, scrolling through my laptop. I wonder if Celine knows I’m aware she’s standing in the doorway, watching me. I can feel her presence. Smell her hot cocoa and just her. Her scent tempting me.
“What’s that?” she finally asks.
I should slam the laptop shut. Tell her to mind her own business.
“A gambling addiction recovery center.”
She sits on the other chair, crosses her legs. She’s wearing shorts that leave little to the imagination. Thick, delicious thighs on display. My rod twitches as I try not to devour her with my gaze.
“Oh?” She murmurs, adjusting her shirt.
A tank top, white, pale green bra beneath, visible through the material. I think about leaping across the room and tearing the shirt off, freeing her tits with my teeth. Biting her softly, then sucking her nipples, making her moan, making her ache.
“It’s… a project.”
“You might as well tell me,” she says. “Does it have something to do with the attack on you?”
“The attack,” I repeat, thinking of Julian’s evasiveness.
I’ve purposefully ignored my suspicions. My instincts. I don’t usually do that. But dammit, do I really believe Julian had something to do with it? No, there must be another reason he lied about Rico. Has to be.
“Yeah, remember.” She taps her face. “The one that gave you that sexy scar.”
A smile touches my lips. “Most people would think it’s ugly.”
“Nope. I think it’s cute.”
“I’ve never been called cute before,” I grunt.
“That’s because you never had thatcutescar before,” she says.
“You’re a trip, Wintertide.”
“Do you ever run out of nicknames?”
“Do you ever run out of questions?” I retort.
