“Who are you?” She demands, and I hold back the chuckle at the idea she’s heard my thoughts. She didn’t ask for my name, she asked who I am, and until this moment I can assure you I didn’t know the answer to that question. But looking into those pools of blue, eyelashes fluttering, for the first time in my life I know who I am.
I am and will be her everything. It is my purpose. And if it takes a lifetime, I will give her everything she deserves in this world and more.
“I’m Damon Lassiter.” I answer, and she considers the name for a moment, then smiles.
“Oh. You’re that real estate guy. I think you own the building where I live.”
That real estate guy.
She knows who I am, but I can tell it doesn’t impress her and that only makes me want her more.
“Maybe.” I answer and the thought that I own where she sleeps, where she changes her clothes, takes a bath…touches herself…pushes me to lose the last bit of restraint I’ve been clinging to.
She gasps as my lips brush hers. Her sweet, warm breath spreading through me like a sweet poison, and I know from this moment on I won’t live without her. I need her to feel the same need I feel right now. The urgency, the demanding throb that tells me I will require her in my life from this moment forward.
My hands wind upward into her silky hair, my fingertips driving down until she whimpers, but I cannot stop.
Her plump lips open to my rooting tongue and her flavor silences my mind, calming my spirit in a way I don’t ever remember before. This girl is a balm to my heart and soul, and the peace I feel in this moment stuns me into silence.
Then suddenly she withdraws, the backs of her fingers pressing into her lips, and there’s a distrust in her eyes that feels like a knife in my gut. Her hands that never seem to find a place to rest move through her hair and over her cheeks until I snatch them into mine and lower my eyes to hers.
“What’s wrong?”
Her eyes waver for a moment, then pin to mine with that same determination I saw in them earlier. “You’re here with a woman. I saw you kissing her. Cheating is deplorable and I won’t be a part of it. I’m sorry, I got caught up. You are so…dashing.” She draws a breath as she licks her lips. “And there was this…thing I felt, when I looked at you. Like I’d miss you if you went away…” She shakes her head as if trying to drive the thoughts away, then steels her gaze and delivers her death blow. “I’m not some side chick, so I won’t be kissing you anymore. You can let me go now.”
When I got out of bed this morning, this was not anywhere on my radar. Now, here I am with this barely legal raven-haired seductress, nearly ready to put a fucking ring on her finger so she knows she will never be anything close to a side chick for me.
“Yes, that was my date. A set up. I’m not with her. I won’t be with her. I don’t have a girlfriend, wife or a friend with benefits. It’s been so long, I can’t remember that far back. Work is my life, Songbird. Or it was. I think I have a new obsession now.”
She gives me a glare. “You ditched your date? That’s not cool. You should at least let her know she’s not your date anymore, and make sure she gets home safely.”
I’m stunned into silence. When was the last time someone gave me real honesty? Well, besides my secretary Margaret, nobody in a long fucking time. Now, this barely eighteen stunner is giving me a lesson in chivalry.
“You’re right.” I nod, pressing my lips together. “I don’t think she gives a shit about me…well, maybe just to see if she can land the unlandable. But here’s the deal, you wait right here. One minute, no longer. I’ll go take care of it like a gentleman. Deal?”
She cocks her head to the side and tightens her lips as she considers what I’ve said. But I’m not going anywhere until she agrees, and I see the realization of that fact dawn on her face.
“Fine.” She says. “One minute. I don’t know why, but there’s something about you. I know I’m going to miss you even for those sixty seconds, Damon Lassiter.”
My heart nearly beats from my chest as I lean down and press my lips to her forehead, breathing her in like I’m about to go underwater and need her inside me in order to make it there and back.
I’m out of the ballroom and taking care of business as kindly as possible. Weird thing is, I actually do give a shit. A couple hours ago, I would have dumped Laney and not had a second thought about it, but Doralee has made me see the world in a different light. I arrange for a car for her, and let her know I’m sorry but I’ve got a pressing situation that requires my attention for the rest of the evening. She looks disappointed at first, but when I open my wallet and shove all the cash inside into her hand as a consolation prize, she gives me a little half smile, shaking her head as she takes it and walks away.