“It’s not love,” he snaps back.
I arch a brow at him. “Do you want to tell me about her?”
He shakes his head, exhaling deeply. “No. I just needed to clear my head. This place…it just reminds me of so much.”
The metaphor between his words and the broken, decayed playground isn’t lost on me.
“Would that be such a bad thing? To remember the things you want most?”
When Damon’s eyes meet mine I see a world of conflict warring within him. “Why torture yourself that way?”
Breathing in the fresh, cold air, I consider his question before answering. “You’re seeing it as a bad thing, but you could choose to be grateful for those memories because it means you got to experience them. You got to live it, even if it was for a short period of time.”
“I don’t want to miss her,” he bites out, seeming a bit surprised at his own confession.
“Then don’t, or do. But you can’t change any of it until you decide you want to. So live in the moment or go sulk at home, or here.”
“Wow,” he puffs out, breaking his gaze.
“I can leave you be.” I stand, turning away from him and suddenly wishing I was still in bed, sandwiched between Cole and Julian, all warm and comfortable. Instead, I came out here looking to do what exactly? Save someone that doesn’t even know what he wants.
But Damon grips my arm, stopping me. “Don’t leave, not yet.”
Dual colored puppy eyes should be god damn illegal. What the hell am I supposed to do with that?
I stare and then sit my ass down like a mute sub.
What’s gotten into me tonight? Everything is out of the ordinary.
“Are you enjoying your night?” he says, trying to crack open a smile.
I burst out laughing. “Really?”
He rolls his eyes. “Man, I’m trying. Meet me halfway.”
“Alright. Yes, I’m having fun.”
“Do you come here a lot?”
“Not a lot.” I narrow my gaze, wondering where he’s going with this.
“Have you experienced all your fantasies?”
A distraction. I can work with this.
“Not all, but most.”
He pauses, watching me carefully as if he’s not sure he should continue. As if he could maybe offend me. Should I remind him that he was sucking on my nipples earlier?
Better not.
“What needs to be checked off?” Damon asks, turning to face me.
He’s so beautiful in the moonlight. It’s my first time getting a real good look at him.
I pretend like I need to think about it for a bit but I knew the answer to that question before he finished asking it. “A real chase, with rope and pain. Underwater breath play. And I have this weird kink involving a confessional booth, but I haven’t found the right player for that one yet.”
“Interesting. I could help with one of those, if you want.”
