Chapter 33 #2
The fire between us was red-hot, so much so I considered dragging her into the pool house and having my way with her.
“Ahem. Get a room,” Steven said from behind us.
I threw my arm back, giving him the middle finger.
He laughed but stood right where he was. “Mother is asking for you. Act happy when she formally announces Lily as being part of the family.”
As I pulled away, both Lily and I took a deep breath.
“You promised me,” she breathed. Her gaze lingered suspiciously for a few seconds before highlighting her incredible acting skills. Her smile was radiant.
“You should learn my mother is incorrigible.”
“Just like her son. But I’ll eventually tame you. If it takes me the rest of my life.”
As she slipped away, I looked over my shoulder, watching the way she walked.
With my cock throbbing.
My balls tightening.
And my lust increasing.
Maybe my father was right after all. Opposites made the best mates.
Lily
The anger continued to spiral as I pulled into the parking lot. I’d avoided Damien’s calls and his texts, but his last message had been a clear threat.
Now I was pissed.
He’d all but told me he’d ruin my life if I didn’t meet him.
I’d lied so I could get away from Saint.
The man took possessive to a level I’d once hated but now adored.
Still, I couldn’t tell him I was headed to a clandestine meeting of my ex after being threatened by the son of a bitch.
It had been two months since I’d seen the bastard. What the hell did he want with me?
Why did I have a sinking suspicion it had everything to do with Saint and my fake but now not so fake relationship?
I steeled both my nerves and my shoulders as I exited my vehicle.
I’d refused to meet him at a bar or a coffee shop, insisting on his office.
The last thing I needed was for someone to photograph me and get the wrong idea.
As it was, I’d taken backroads, continuously glancing in the rearview mirror to ensure I hadn’t been followed.
He was leaning against a vehicle. From the looks of it, a new high dollar Mercedes. For all the wrong reasons, I hated him for it. He’d dumped me for the perfect catch and was standing in a new smartly fitted suit with a smug look on his face.
As if I owed him something.
I walked closer yet kept my distance. “Damien. What was so urgent you decided threatening me was a good idea?”
He chuckled. “You were always so uptight, Lily. I guess that’s what made you such a good librarian. You had to keep quiet. But I understand you have a new job. Impressive.”
“I don’t have all day, Damien. What do you want?”
“It’s simple. I want you back. You’re finally worth something to me.”
The bastard could have said anything in the world to me, yet he chose to act as if I’d be honored to have him back in my life?
“Worth something? I’m not a possession, Damien, which is all women are to you.”
“There is value in everything.”
The audacity of the man was incredible. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing or that I’d cared about the horrible prick at all.
“Not interested. In fact, go enjoy a cowboy break with blondie.” I turned, trying to keep from hauling off and punching him, which I should have done two months ago.
“I don’t think you understand. We were good together.”
“No, we weren’t. You cheated on me. Remember?”
“That was before you suddenly had clout.”
“Clout?” I spun in my heels, immediately walking closer to confront him. “What are you getting at?”
“You have value since you’ve been with the Wild Dogs. You’re the ‘it’ girl and you do know I prefer to be with someone who can—”
“Expand your career? Not interested.” The man had the nerve to even think I’d consider getting back with him. Was he nuts? “Besides, I’m already engaged to an extremely incredible man who treats me like gold. Now, I’ll say this as nicely as possible. Fuck off.”
“All fake, Lily. I’m no fool. Besides, someone like Saint Masters would never want you except to keep his secret.”
“What are you babbling about?” He definitely was goading me. I’d had enough of that in my life.
“I have use for you within the firm I work for. I have a client who needs some serious help in public relations, Lily. You’re perfect for it. In turn, you’ll be the toast of the town as my wife.”
“Use for me? Who is this client?” I don’t know why I was asking.
“He’s someone who’s found himself on the wrong side of the law. I’m defending him as he’s innocent, but it’s taken a toll on his billion-dollar company.”
“You mean a criminal. I don’t care. I have a job.”
“As I said, it’s fake, Lily, meant to fool the fans into not believing the man is a monster. You and I both know it. I have my sources before you ask how I know.” His grin was so wide you could drive a truck through it.
“How dare you insinuate my relationship with Saint is anything but…”
“Professional? I get it. You provided him the cover he needed.”
“He doesn’t need a cover. He needed a slight improvement on his image.”
Damien laughed. “Is that what you call hiding the truth? That’s why my client needs you and I’ll do what it takes to fulfill his needs.”
“Including you marrying me? Are you crazy?”
“That’s what you wanted. We can even have the brood of kids you talked about.”
I had no idea what I’d ever seen in the man. I was sick to my stomach. “Not a chance and don’t call me again.”
To keep from doing anything rash, I started to turn, but he jerked me to him, wrapping his hand around my throat. Before I had a chance to object, he captured my mouth.
I pummeled my fists against him, but he wasn’t budging, instead thrusting his tongue inside.
Only when I managed to knee him in the balls did he finally let me go.
After that, I did what any woman would do when staring down her disgusting ex. I slapped him across the face.
“You’re a fucking bastard, Damien. Go to hell.” I didn’t give him a chance before I spun around and took long strides to the car.
Then I heard something that stopped me in my tracks.
A growl. But not just any growl, something that wasn’t human. I sucked in my breath as the sounds increased, a woman screaming and men shouting.
“What the hell?”
“He’s turning into a… wolf. Oh, my God.”
The next growl was more intense and I was unable to stop myself from turning around, walking toward Damien slowly with my eyes on the video he was showing on his phone.
There was no denying what I was seeing, no chance that the video had been doctored. As I watched a man turn into a huge wolf, a cold chill swept down my body.
“Yes, the real video. You see, I have another client who filmed this and has been holding onto it for the right moment. All I need to do is release this to the press and well, Saint’s career will be history. As you can see, the man is dangerous, Lily.”
“Holding out for cash, which is called extortion. Saint is a man, Damien, and he is not dangerous. That I can assure you. I’m not going to fall for your bullshit.
You have criminals as clients, yet you honestly expect I’ll cave to your intimidation tactics?
You obviously don’t know me very well. You and I both know videos can be doctored. ”
“Are you willing to take that kind of chance for a has-been? You’ll be ruined in the process. You won’t be able to get a job flipping hamburgers.”
“Well, at least flipping hamburgers is honest work. Can you say the same?”
I’d never been so angry in my life.
He laughed as if he had the world in the palm of his hand. “Then I guess we’ll see what the public thinks about his… special attributes.”
“Fuck you, Damien.”
“I’ll give you until tomorrow to think about your answer, but think about it clearly. One game left. Just one.”
“And if I agree? What then?”
“Then the video is destroyed. You can take time pretending through the playoffs and simply break up with him and quit your job. That’s all you need to do.”
“You’re a bastard.”
“Yes, Lily. I’m the kind of man who will always get what he wants.”