Chapter 28
TWENTY-EIGHT
The pain on Brianna’s face was agony—her eyes twin daggers that cut to the deepest depths of my soul.
Before I opened my mouth to explain, she darted down the hallway, frantically pressing the down button for the elevator.
But I wouldn’t let her go that easily, especially after almost a week of missing her.
Despite keeping our calls and texts to a minimum, I thought about her constantly, wondering what she was doing at that exact moment.
When I confided in Parker again about my situation, he told me to hold tight and let Brianna take the lead this time.
I was going to kill that fucker. Before we’d gone our separate ways earlier, he double-checked I planned on staying in for the night. I thought he was just being nosy, but he must have helped Brianna with this.
Brianna coming here unprompted was the best gift I could ask for, and yet, I’d ruined it before I even greeted her properly. Fuck.
My feet took off, dashing right after Bri as she snuck into the elevator. She tried to close the doors before I got there, but I shoved my hand between them, forcing them to stop. Her wide, hazel eyes stared daggers at me as I stood in front of her, both our chests heaving.
“Go away, Damien,” she snapped.
“No,” I said. “Not until you listen to me.”
She rolled her eyes. “No thanks. Not interested in hearing your lies about the woman in your hotel room—”
“It’s Mari.”
Brianna froze, all the color draining from her face. Her posture softened, and the moment it did, I reached out and pulled her close. She dropped her forehead onto my chest. “Damien, I’m so sorry. I assumed—”
“I get it,” I said, tipping her chin back to meet my eyes. “But I promised you, Bri. No one else.” I chuckled, “Shit, there’s no else I even want. Just you.”
“Me?” she asked, vulnerability pouring out of her in waves.
“Yeah, angel,” I said, letting my fingers linger along her cheekbones as I brushed some of her hair away. “Bri, I don’t know what I’m doing here, and there’s going to be a lot of times I fuck up, but one thing I can promise? I’d never hurt you like that. Please, trust me.”
She exhaled before nodding, finally looking back up at me. “I do. At least, I’m trying to. After my divorce, it’s been hard to let anyone in, to trust that someone would choose me.” Brianna placed her hand on my chest. “But I want to try with you, Damien.”
Joy lit me up from the inside, like I’d just walked away with the championship trophy in my arms. Brianna wasn’t the type of woman to open up easily—it had to be earned.
It might be a small step forward, but it was one in the right direction.
A smug smile filled my face. “Admit it, Bri. You missed me.”
Color filled her soft cheeks. “I—I might have.”
“No might about it, baby. You missed me. There’s no point denying it. But if it makes you feel better, I missed you like fucking crazy.”
“You did?”
I rolled my eyes and pulled Brianna tight against me. “Woman, you’ve got no idea how much power you hold over me. Every time I wasn’t playing ball, you were the first thing on my mind. Had to make Drobrek take my phone so I didn’t text you non-stop.”
She smiled, and all that earlier apprehension was gone. Thank God. I hated the look in her eyes and vowed never to be the one to cause it again. It was a sharp reminder of how much she’d been through at the hands of her ex, how many walls I’d have to climb if I wanted to earn Brianna’s love.
Wait, love? Shit, was that the sensation burrowing deep in my chest?
The realization crashed over me, and it was as clear as the blue in the sky.
I loved her. Somehow, despite her attempts to push me away, to keep emotions out of our arrangement—I’d fallen for Brianna Sideris.
I was in over my head with this woman, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’d always been up for a challenge, and she was worth all the effort.
Her hands drifted down my chest then slid around my hips, pulling me in for a loose hug. “I am sorry, Damien. I shouldn’t have run before I even gave you a chance to explain. That was crappy of me.”
“You’re forgiven. Bri.” I tipped her chin up to meet my gaze. “Can’t believe you’re here with me right now. I can’t wrap my mind around it. Please tell me you’re sticking around for the series.”
She nodded. “If you want me to. We never talked about me going to one of your games—”
“Woman, I want you at every single one.” My arm tightened around her waist. “But there’s one rule.”
Brianna rolled her eyes. “Thought we were doing away with those things.”
“Nah, baby, we’re just losing the ones that keep you away from me. But when you’re at my games, I need you in my jersey, to find you in the stands, wearing my number.”
“You’d like that?”
“You have no fucking idea how much.”
She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth, and I reached up, loosening her grip. I was desperate to claim her, desperate to taste her lips on my own, desperate to consume every inch she’d give me.
But my phone dinged in my pocket, and I slid it out, seeing a text from Mari. “Fuck,” I huffed, pressing my forehead against Brianna’s. “Mari wants to go out to dinner. She’s here for a work conference, and she’s only here for the night. Otherwise, I’d cancel.”
“No, no,” Brianna insisted. “You go with your sister. I can hang out with Ollie and Parker.”
I searched her eyes, hating the disappointment looking at me. No fucking way. It was only a couple of hours, but after days apart, I didn’t want to leave Brianna’s side until it was necessary. “Come with us.”
Her hazel eyes widened. “Wi-with you and your sister?”
“Why not?” I asked. “She already likes you, and it’ll help keep her interference to a minimum. She’s probably got a laundry list of grievances to go over with me.”
Brianna laughed. “Let me get this straight. You need me to keep you safe from your little sister?”
“Yes. Better stick close to me all night.” I chuckled. As Brianna’s laughter died out, I cupped her cheek. “If you’re not comfortable, I won’t push, but Bri, I want you to come with us. My sister’s important to me, and I’d like it if you two could get to know each other better. It’s up to you.”
She exhaled, her eyes studying mine for the longest moment of my life. Slowly, she nodded. “Okay, I’ll tag along.”
I beamed, reaching behind her to hit the button for my floor.
Somehow, we’d ended up down in the lobby, and I’d barely noticed the car move, too focused on Brianna and laying myself out for her.
As we ascended, Brianna’s eyes widened, and her hands fumbled onto her coat.
“Actually, I’d like to change before we head out. ”
“We’re not going anywhere fancy. You should be good.”
She shook her head. “No, I’d really like to change. I have, uh…airplane germs on me.”
I paused, taking in her outfit. When I was chasing Brianna earlier, the hurt in her expression distracted me from everything else.
Now, my mouth watered as I spotted the black lace running up her thighs, the way it disappeared under the hem of her jacket.
Her long black jacket. I might not be familiar with women’s fashion, but even I knew that was an odd choice for summer in Miami.
“Bri…” I crooned. “What are you wearing under the coat?”
She sucked in a sharp breath. “Clothes?”
“Is that a question, angel?” I reached out, toying with the lapel of the coat. “Or did you wear something special to surprise me?”
Her cheeks flushed, and I waited for her to deny it. Instead, she reached up and opened the coat wider. My mouth went dry as sheer black lace came into view. My dick hardened in my pants, and I had to force my hands back, desperate to unwrap her like the best present.
“Fuck, angel. You might look like heaven, but you’re tempting me right into hell.”
“Good. Because that’s all you’re going to get until after dinner.”
“Mari’s lucky I love her,” I groaned. “I'd give anything to be an only child right now.”
“Don’t worry, baby,” Brianna said as the elevator doors opened onto Ollie’s floor. “Be a good boy, and I will make it all worth your while.”