Chapter 8
Eight
Damien did not want to let Harmony go, but he did. She stepped back and smiled shyly before showing him where the bathroom was, bringing him a pillow and blanket, and telling him to make himself comfortable.
He had never been more uncomfortable, but he wasn’t going to deal with that problem on her couch. He’d wait until he was home and alone to alleviate the discomfort against his zipper.
She used the bathroom, then whispered a quiet goodnight that he told himself did not hold regret, then went into her room. She left her door cracked open, something that made him feel ten feet tall. That one move said she trusted him.
Fuck.
Damien had barely been able to control himself when he heard that woman followed Harmony out of the restaurant.
He worried about what he would find when he got to her apartment.
When he saw she was safe, he nearly dropped to his knees in prayer.
He did send up a few on the way, and a few more after he saw her.
The relief was… He’d never felt it so intensely.
Sitting on her couch and listening to her settle in her bed for the night was a whole new experience. He wanted to be in there with her, even if it was just to hold her, but she didn’t invite him to her bed.
He closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of the building. The rustle of sheets pulled his attention more than anything else, but he learned the normal sounds of living in an apartment with shitty sound protection and mediocre security.
When Harmony was quiet, Damien eased his breathing and his pulse.
Her admission that she hadn’t been sleeping well bothered him.
No one deserved the terror that came with their personal information being spread online and the attacks that threatened her.
He hoped she’d sleep with him there, and that she would find some way to soothe herself going forward.
After thirty minutes of silence in the bedroom, Damien tiptoed to the bathroom. He used the facilities, washed his hands, and rubbed some toothpaste over his teeth. He opened the door as quietly as he could and went back to the couch.
The pillow smelled like Harmony’s shampoo. He chuckled softly as his dick rose back to a painful length. He definitely wasn’t going to sleep if that was what he would smell all night. But it would give him some damn good dreams.
He didn’t have clothes to sleep in, since he hadn’t planned to spend the night at her place, and his date clothes were not comfortable enough to wear all night. He glanced at her room and decided to strip to his boxers. He was a light enough sleeper, he knew he’d be up as soon as she stirred.
Damien stretched out on the couch and covered himself with the blanket she gave him. It tented at his erection, and instead of risking traumatizing the woman who’d been through enough, he turned on his side.
Which brought his face closer to the pillow that smelled like her.
He groaned quietly, laughing at the train of his thoughts. He hadn’t been able to get her off his mind since the first day they met. She’d starred in his dreams, and not just the dirty ones. He wanted to know everything about her. To share her days and her nights.
He’d never felt so upside down over a woman before. It was new, but not unwelcome to him. He wanted to see where things could go with them. He was open to whatever Harmony wanted, as long as she wanted it with him.
Her sheets rustled again, and Damien froze, listening for other sounds from her. When it was quiet again, he knew he needed to try to get some sleep or he wouldn’t be at his best if something happened.
It took him longer than usual, but Damien eventually drifted off to sleep, knowing Harmony was safe and she trusted him. And that was good enough for their first date.
Harmony woke up slowly for the first time in weeks. The light outside said it was still early, but not so early she felt like she wasn’t rested.
Who knew that having a sexy protector on her couch would make her sleep so well?
She eased her feet out of bed and stood, making her way quietly to the bathroom. Damien appeared to be sleeping, and she didn’t want to disturb him.
She walked out of the bathroom and stopped short when she realized he was on her couch and his chest was bare. His clothes were draped over the chair, including his pants.
Her pulse sped up, her gaze drinking up the miles of brown skin and thick muscles. His short beard was more pronounced after the night. He had one arm under the pillow, and the other disappeared beneath the blanket.
Her core clenched at the idea of where that hand rested, and what it would be like to replace his hand with her lips.
She must have made a sound because his eyes flipped open and zeroed in on her in less than a second.
Damien sat up, the blanket barely covering his middle. “Hey.”
“Um, hi. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“I didn’t mean to sleep longer than you.”
His early-morning voice sent a tremor down her spine. The scratchiness felt like calloused hands on her bare skin. Like a lover’s touch.
The blanket jumped under her stare, and she realized she was gawking at the half-naked man on her couch.
She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. “I’m sorry.”
He exhaled a chuckle. “We’re adults, Harmony. I’m not going to be offended or upset by a beautiful woman, one I went on a date with last night, looking at me. You’re not the only one who’s staring.”
She opened her eyes and found his gaze lingering on her curves. The appreciation in his eyes made her feel powerful, sexy, desired.
“You’re gorgeous,” he whispered.
“I’ve never had a first date like this,” she blurted.
He grinned, his lips parting with a silent laugh. “Good. Neither have I.”
She took a step toward him. “Thank you for staying.”
“You’re welcome. Did you sleep?”
She nodded. “Better than I have in a while.”
He looked at her, studying her as she debated what to do. He tugged the blanket over his lap and extended his hand.
She went to him, wanting to sit with him and feel his warmth. She tucked her feet under her and sat next to him.
He leaned back on the couch and pulled her against his side, sharing his heat with her. His hand slid down to her side, then back up to the side of her breast. He moved it again, not feeling her up or pushing any boundaries. “What’s your normal morning routine?”
She snorted. “Usually sprinting out the door with my shoes untied and my hair in a knot since I fought getting out of bed.”
Damien laughed, his body shaking. “So you’re not a morning person?”
“Nope. I want to be, but I’m just not.”
“Neither am I. With the weird hours I work, I’m not really anything. But when I do have to get up, I’d rather have time like this.” He squeezed her hip.
“Me, too.”
They sat together on the couch, each stroke of his hand turning her on more and more.
She wondered if he would think less of her if she crawled onto his lap and rode him until they both came, but she wasn’t sure she was ready for sex.
She wanted him, but sex had become more significant as she got older.
It meant more to her than it did a decade ago.
Which kept her where she was.
“What time do you have to go to work today?” he asked, his voice still rough and scratchy and appealing.
“I should probably get ready soon. I don’t really have a set time, but I try to be there by nine.”
“Can I make breakfast while you get ready?”
She snorted. “You assume I have something you can cook.”
He chuckled. “If not, how about I take you out for breakfast?”
“You don’t have to do that.”
He tucked a finger under her chin and lifted her gaze to his. “I’m not ready for our date to be over.”
“This is still a date?”
“It can be a new one if you want, but either way, I want to spend more time with you.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
He slowly closed the distance between them, pressing his lips to hers. She belatedly realized she hadn’t brushed her teeth, but he didn’t try to gain access. He kissed her for a minute, then pulled her close again.
“I should get ready,” she said, more than a little reluctantly.
“I’ll wait until you leave the room to stand up so I don’t embarrass myself.”
She looked down at the tented blanket and flushed. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
He barked a laugh at her words.
She slapped her hands to her cheeks to stifle the heat rising. “I’m going to blame my lack of filter on a lack of coffee and run away now.”
His laughter followed her to the bedroom.
Harmony was not wrong about having nothing for him to cook for breakfast. Damien tried to come up with something, but her kitchen was abysmally stocked. He knew she liked Sunrise Brews, but she worked in the other direction, so he wasn’t sure if she wanted to go there for breakfast.
He was dressed in last night’s clothes and had the blanket folded and on top of the pillow when she emerged from the bathroom after a quick shower.
Her hair was still wet, but the knot she tied it up in kept it contained.
She wore a teal oversized shirt with light gray leggings.
Her feet were bare. She smiled shyly and ducked into her bedroom before emerging in red flats and matching red earrings and a bracelet.
She grabbed a handbag from the table by the door and slid her phone inside before asking if he was ready to go.
“Yep. Did you think more about breakfast?”
“You really don’t have to buy me breakfast.”
“And I really want to.”
“Okay,” she whispered as she locked her door.
Damien took her hand as they walked down the hallway and downstairs to the outside. “One car or two?”
“Two probably makes more sense.”
“Where are we headed?”
“There’s a good place not far from here. It’s a diner, but it’s good. If you’re open to it.”
“I’m open to anything. I’ll follow you.”
She nodded.
He opened her door and stole a quick kiss. He didn’t miss the smile that lit her entire face.