Damien leaned back a little bit, turning his gaze to the window and the buildings that were passing by. “Okay, if that’s what you want. We can be that family that rarely sees each other. Maybe just on holidays.” He winked at me, and the heat that had been building in me from the second he got into the car washed over my chest instantly.
“I want what’s best for everyone.”
Damien curled inward toward me, his grin stretching slowly as he said, “Is that what you want?”
“It doesn’t matter what I want. This week is about my mom and your dad.”
“Right, right.” Damien looked down over his hands in his lap as he leaned back just a little more than before. Now that cozy warm space between us was starting to cool off. For some reason, it made me angry. I wanted him even more just because he was pulling away. “I think you were very clear on what you wanted the other night.”
I turned and faced him, pointing my finger right at his chest as he faced me. “Yeah, what the hell was that? How could you lead me on like that?”
He started to laugh. “Me? How could you not realize who I was?”
I crossed my arms tight and studied his eyes as they danced over mine. “Damien, I had no idea. My mom barely told me anything about you guys, and I never saw any pictures.”
Damien’s eyes settled as his body softened in the seat. “Look, I had no idea either. My dad barely spoke of you. He said you were constantly working, and we wouldn't meet until the wedding.”
“But I told you I was Allison’s daughter. Or do you not remember?” That angry feeling I had had moments ago it was turning into frustration. I couldn’t believe this guy was toying with my emotions simply for a thrill. It was worse than that, though. I was getting turned on by him. His little game of teasing me, the way he didn’t care that we were actually related.
“Okay, you got me. But I only found out right then when you told me. And hey,” he reached a hand up to my arm and trickled down my skin with his fingertips, “I’m pretty sure you enjoyed it as much as me.”
There was no denying that, but that didn’t take away from the fact that I felt awful for doing it. It was sexy and a good part of me craved it again—like a really big part. I wanted to feel his hands all over me, touching me in places that I hadn’t been touched in a long time. Yes, I had been working quite a lot, and that made me want it all the more. Going between my emotions like that felt like torture. He was my brother now; I couldn’t keep having those thoughts no matter how irresistible they were.
I turned my intention forward hoping to give him the hint that this needed to stop, but all he did was continue to touch my skin in such a delicate way that all my senses became alerted. “Should I expect the same treatment from your brothers?”
Damien laughed. “Oh, you’re going to love them.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Damien didn’t answer me, but he instead chuckled as he caught my eyes with his. That devilish grin emerged yet again just as we pulled up to the hotel.
“This week is a vacation from our normal lives. When we get home, I promise to be the brother you want.” Damien leaned close and wrapped his hand over my thigh. His fingers were dangerously close to my middle, and I gently spread my legs a small bit to allow him to touch me. Whispering, he said, “While we’re here, though, nothing is too taboo.”
6
PARVATI
The hotel was incredibly gorgeous. The front entrance was flanked by two tall pillars in the colors of gold and red, and a banner with tiki emblems and native designs hung overhead.
I peered up through the window and watched the whole building come to life. Four stories of grandeur, a beautiful, bright stucco exterior, and windows sheltered by clay awnings truly made the hotel a symbol of Hawaiian strength.
The driver of our car pulled up to the entrance and I gawked at the flowers along the walkway. Little bushes with exotic red leaves and bright orange blooms speckled the path to the doorway. There were also small palm trees off to the sides, dangling over like those postcards everyone wishes they could send. I might have had my reservations about a family trip, but I was so happy to see Hawaii first hand.
Getting out of the car, Damien stood tall and shook out his jacket. He ran a hand through his ruffled dark hair and then smiled as he looked over the hotel. He spoke to me as he kept his eyes outward to the building ahead. “I haven’t been here in at least a year.” He was grinning ear from ear, and I swear I could have just melted into the sedan’s leather seats.