Page 83 of Abundance of Obsession

“You say that a lot,” I tease him.

“Still, it’s the truth.”

I predict he’s going to want to kiss me. He always does. So I get ahead of him by pressing my lips against his. He responds with obvious hunger. Our tongues begin to dance, and I let him lead.

Eli pops back into my head.

I force him out of there.

Now isn’t the time to think about him. My performance has to be convincing.

And yet, a pang of regret remains in my heart.

Damien’s hands travel down my back, pressing me closer to him. It’s a signal for me; it’s time to end this. So I pull my head back, looking at him from under half-closed eyelids.

“If you greet me this way every time I come home, these trips will become much more bearable.”

“I doubt a brief break would affect you that much.”

“Quiet down, woman, you don’t have a clue. I was unbearable, moody, mean, and miserable. Now, let’s go to dinner. I want to hear about everything you’ve been up to these past few days.”

I laugh aloud, but we move. “Can we go dancing later?”

We step into the elevator, and Damien doesn’t stop touching me. His hand’s on my waist. He raises his eyebrows in a suggestive way. “Are you asking if we can go to a place where I can touch your tempting body freely, where your ass will rub against me? To a place like that? Oh, you’re killing me here, baby…”

I can’t stop smiling. “You’re more playful than usual.”

“Who could blame me when I’m such a cheerful man?”

This date is different. I can feel it. We relax and start talking like we’re friends.

You aren’t, I remind myself. You never will be.

“Where are we going?” I ask once we’re in the car.

“I know a great seafood restaurant. Damn, I should’ve asked first if you’re allergic,” he says with a contrite look, his brown eyes apologetic.

“Damien, you realize we don’t have to eat at the most expensive restaurants in the city every time, right?”

My question obviously throws him off balance. “We... don’t have to?”

I shake my head. “We don’t. Gosh, I don’t want this to sound weird, and I hope you don’t take this the wrong way. I mean, you don’t have to go to all this trouble just to impress me.”

Damien blinks once, then twice. He’s at a loss for words.

Shit. That wasn’t smart of me.

“I’m sorry, don’t listen to me,” I say quickly, trying to fix things. “I don’t know what came over me.” My hands are sweating.

Damien frowns.

I didn’t mean to make him feel less of a man or anything like that. Nor did I mean to suggest it was fake. Jesus, I don’t even grasp what I was trying to do.

“Lily,” he says, cutting through my mounting panic. “Look at me.” Only when I do so does he continue. “You’re an amazing woman, you know that?”

“I’m not aware of that,” I joke.

“You are.” Damien takes my hand. “You really are. I’m a damn lucky guy. Now tell me, do you fancy seafood or something completely different?”