Chapter 38
38
Eleven Months Later
He still watches me.
Deep down, if I’m being honest, I like it.
As I leave my apartment, I catch sight of the familiar black SUV parked on the street. With every step I take toward The Ballet Studio— my dance studio—I sense his attention locked on me.
Two days after my breakup with Damien, I told my mother I’d never work anywhere Cernach-affiliated. I’d rather stay at Brew Bliss forever and never have my dream of a studio before I fell into his trap. She refused my job offer to work at The Ballet Studio, and our relationship has suffered.
Her not being angry with Cernach is a mystery to me.
Cernach murdered her husband.
Treated her as a bargaining chip when she grew up.
He also ruined her daughter’s relationship.
The other day, when I glanced at the time, and it read 11:11, I wished someone would murder his ass .
My apartment is located a short walk from the studio. When I tried to move back into my old apartment, Damien refused it. Not only did he lease me a new apartment but he takes care of the rent too. When I told the landlord to start charging me, he refused, telling me he wasn’t risking Damien murdering him.
I stroll down the sidewalk, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin. When I enter the studio, I fall back a step.
Happy Birthday balloons fill the room.
A wrapped present sits on a table next to a stack of class schedule flyers.
I move toward the table but stop and turn when the door opens. Damien appears in the doorway.
The air suddenly feels heavy and suffocating.
Like he’s stealing my breaths, a reminder I’m only halfway living without him. Shutting my eyes for a moment, I exhale a deep breath.
He turns the lock. “Happy birthday, my sweet dancer.”
“Did you do this?” I gesture toward the balloons, already knowing the answer.
He tucks his hands into his pockets, coming closer. “I wanted you to have a nice birthday.”
He remembered.
Damien always remembers.
Gulping, I take in every inch of him.
My same Damien, only different.
Tension seems to radiate through every inch of his body.
The year has taken a toll on him, and I hate that.
Hate that it takes so much away from all of us.
I keep up with the rumors around the Mafia world, and I know they’re having issues with nearly everyone in New York City. I also learn of these things when Antonio refuses to allow Amara to attend classes at the studio for security reasons.
Damien slides his tongue along the front of his teeth .
I’ve missed him so damn much .
I don’t budge as he draws closer. Taking my trembling hand, he guides me to the small office in the back. My back meets the wall, his body inches from mine, and he audibly sucks in a breath.
He buries his face in the hollow of my neck, both of us falling silent. As he places gentle kisses on my collarbone, he mutters, “I’ve missed you,” against my skin.
I open my mouth to say something, but no words come.
It’s ecstasy when his mouth moves to meet mine.
He kisses me as if he wants to shove all our memories back through them.
He tastes the same.
His mouth feels the same.
All of it perfection .
My breath catches when he slides his hand up my shorts. Our tongues tangle, creating their own dance, and he shoves my panties to the side. He groans, gliding his fingers through my wetness. When he pushes them inside me, I brace myself against the wall.
He isn’t gentle as he finger-fucks me, his thumb teasing my clit. He locks eyes with me, staring deeply. I can’t resist touching his cheek and running my fingers across his skin. He sighs, a trace of rigidness fading from his face.
A rush of warmth travels through my body. It’s as if fire were coursing through my veins.
“That’s it. Drench my fingers with your cum, baby,” he says against my mouth. “I want to jack off later and still feel your juices on my hand. I want to smear it all over my cock, remembering how wet your pussy gets, like a fucking lake, baby.”
His words set me off, and I fuck his hand, slamming my hips against him .
I’m closer and closer and closer and closer .
As my release breaks free, he continues caressing me as I moan out his name. He supports me as my knees wobble, and I come down from my high.
“Happy birthday, baby,” he says, kissing me on the lips.
I bend forward when he steps back and leaves.