“Ever since you bit me on the beach, I’ve been thinking,” I say, and I see a flicker of worry pass over his face. And then as I continue to tell him what I want, his nostrils flare with desire, and his eyes glaze with heat. “I’ve been thinking how much I liked it. And even though you were angry in that particular instance, I’ve wanted to feel your teeth on me again, everywhere. I’ve wanted to taste your sweat and wanted my limbs to feel sore from your loving. And right now, Damon, I want you to fuck me. Hard.”
As he sheds the last of his clothes, I step forward and take his lower lip in my teeth. I think this is going to be one of my new favorite things. He groans, and then he obliges me beautifully and powerfully.
When we wake again, it’s past eleven. Not only are we starving, but I decide that there’s no point in waiting to tell the family about our reconciliation. The kicker is, I want to tell them in person.
“You’re serious,” Damon says.
“As a heart attack.”
“Alright, my sweet. I’m with you.”
I call Margot, and she only sounds mildly annoyed.
“Amanda? Are you okay?”
“Better than ever,” I say a little too enthusiastically.
“Okay, you’re scaring me. What’s going on.”
“Family meeting. In Palm Springs.”
“Um, okay, when? You mean like tomorrow or something?”
“Now.”
“Amanda, are you cra—”
I hang up on her before she can say no, but I know Margot. She’ll come because she loves me and trusts me. And also to find out what the hell I’m up to.
I call Father next. He’s much more annoyed that I’m calling so late. Which pokes a hole in my confidence of a few moments ago, but I forge ahead.
“Amanda. Why are you calling me at such a late hour?”
“We’re coming to Palm Springs for a family meeting.” I purposely let him believe that I’m just referring to Margot and me. Because who else would I mean?
“And you have to call me at eleven-thirty to tell me this? You couldn’t wait until I’ve had a little sleep?”
“No, because we’re coming right now. Tonight.”
“Oh for God’s sake, Amanda! Haven’t we all been through enough today? This is outrageous, you’ll do no such thing.”
And just like that, I find my moxie again. Not the angry kind I had the day he fired me, but the good kind.
“For once, Father, please just do as I ask. Have some food ready, we’re starving. I don’t care if it’s cold cereal and PB&J. And wake Em.”
At the risk of pissing him off further, I hang up on him too. But with Margot there, and Damon by my side, I can do this. We can do this.
We freshen up and dress, and within fifteen minutes, we’re on our way to Palm Springs.
* * *
We take Damon’s car,and I’m in a near otherworldly state of exuberance. I hold Damon’s hand while he drives, and I chide him several times to watch the road on the way to Palm Springs.
“I’m just afraid that if I look away, you’ll disappear,” he says. “That if I fall asleep, you’ll be gone again when I wake up. That if I open my mouth, I’ll say something that will drive you from me—”
“Stop, already!” I scold. I know he’s being halfway serious, and I want to reassure him. But we have to help each other from now on, through everything. “We have to agree to trust each other again, no matter what. I’m not going anywhere, Damon. And I trust that you’re not either.”
“I’m not,” he says solemnly. “Ever.”
