He loved and cared for his brother so much, and it broke my heart to see him so helpless. Jeremy couldn’t deal with the violence and unpredictability of the Dream wars, wouldn’t speak to anyone he wasn’t close with, and now I guessed that was happening here too. He’d surprised us all by speaking in the Dream Wars when we’d set up the plasma bricks; he must have finally felt safe enough to do so. Now that safety was bring rippedaway.
“We’ll figure something out,” I assured him, reaching for hishand.
He interlocked his fingers with mine and picked up my backpack. “How’s theankle?”
I shrugged. “Tender but so far, so good. I’ve been doing the physical therapy videos I loaded on myphone.”
Damien had hired a virtual physical therapist to make videos and manage my care, no matter where in the world Ilanded.
“Good,” hesaid.
Opening the door to our little shared bed-and-breakfast, I didn’t know who would be home. “Who all’s here?” I asked, steppinginside.
“I am!” Maxine popped in front of me wearing a tight black dress with fishnet stockings, her hair in a glossy cascade of red curls. It was 2:00 p.m., but she looked like she was going to anightclub.
I let out a catcall whistle. “Looking good. Where you offto?”
Maxine smiled, and it was contagious. For someone who suffered from anxiety and PTSD, she sure knew how to exude happiness. “I met a sculptor named Pablo. He’s taking me out on thetown.”
I chuckled. Leave it to Maxine to find some young hot guy to date in a town of only 3,000 people anddeclining.
“Have fun,” I told her as she kissed my cheek, bringing her floral perfume withher.
“I always do,” she responded, closing the front door behindher.
Maxine Cross was my life goals. She didn’t give two shits about anyone’s opinion of her, and she lived life to the fullest. She’d probably slept with more guys than I had fingers and toes, but who was I to judge? She was responsible about it and always happy, and that was all thatmattered.
“Jeremy is upstairs with Mr. Hansen. He just got in a few hours ago from Colorado. He’s listening to some music and trying to calm down. Nox is lying on the roof with Ronnie, looking for birds or something. Brisk is in Japan and won’t be able to make it back until tomorrow, and I just sent the jet to get Josephine from Chiapas, Mexico.” Damian said it all in a rush, and then collapsed on thecouch.
I sat at the edge, by his feet, but he reached over and pulled me down, closer to him. I snickered as I fell onto his chest, resting my blue hair in the crook of his neck. Damien was super affectionate. He didn’t care if anyone else was in the room, or if he didn’t look macho enough; he was always trying to snuggle or hold my hand or smack my ass in the kitchen. It made me feel wanted, and it was honestly one of the things I really,reallyliked about him. My past boyfriends were all stuck in their egotistical macho persona, and wanted to hide theiraffection.
“I owe you that date,” Damien whispered in myear.
“Screaming Banshee Pizza?” I asked with asmile.
A billionaire wanted to take me on a date to a pizza shop in a small border town. It was actually prettyperfect.
“Yep. How about tonight?” he murmured, running his fingers along the length of myneck.
Goose bumps broke out on my flesh as I looked up at him. “Only if we can have a sleepoverafterward.”
Yep, I went there.Screw it. Why let Maxine have all the fun? We could die tomorrow, and I’m not leaving this world without seeing Damien Strikernaked.
His eyes darkened as he pulled my chin up to capture my mouth with his. The moment his lips parted, I let out a littlemoan.
Pulling back, he blew air through his lips. “When you moan like that, it ruins me. Almost as much as your frecklesdo.”
I grinned. How in the hell did I land a billionaire who liked to snuggle, and said the most romantic things? I kept waiting for it all to end. He’d grow tired of me, or we’d realize we weren’t compatible or… he’ddie.
He tapped my forehead. “Stop it. Get out of your head. I can see your crazy serious face, which means you’re thinking toomuch.”
Laughter pealed out of me.Damn.He knows me too wellalready.
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed. Looking down at the screen, I saw it was Kevin. He was my friend who worked for the president. We used to make out, and I was pretty sure still had a crush onme.
I sat up quickly and answered the call. “Hey,Kev.”
“Call me from a burner,” he said quickly, then hungup.
