18. Gabriella
Gabriella
“ T hank you for walking me home,” I said as I fished the house key from my handbag.
Damien peered around at the other houses on the street. All of the condos were designed in the image of old brownstones, tall and slender, each one unique enough to differentiate where one ended and the next began. Trees with baby leaves rustled in the breeze. Distant sounds of televisions and music seeped from open windows that glowed with interior lights. Despite the cool temperature in this climate, this was the time of year when many opened their windows at night. The warm days could quickly elevate the temperatures on the second floor. Having an open window at night made for a fresh, comfortable, and cooler bedroom.
Placing the key in the pocket of my dress, I turned and leaned against the door.
Damien lifted one hand to the doorjamb, his body blocking me from the street. Heat radiated off him in intoxicating waves. His deep timbre caused the small hairs on my arms to stand to attention. “How well do you know your neighbors?”
I shrugged. “Some better than others.”
“How well do you want them to know you?”
Tilting my head, I pressed my lips together, uncertain of his meaning.
“You could invite me in.”
“Invite you?” My smile grew. “Tell me, are you now a vampire?”
His lips pursed and his eyebrows quirked.
“Vampires can’t enter a house without—” I shook my head with a grin. Ignoring the vibration within me, my mind overpowered my need for passion. “Never mind. I think it’s too late. Remember, I have a meeting in the morning, and to be honest, this day has been longer than I expected.”
His free hand came to my waist as he leaned closer. Millimeters separated our bodies. Our breaths mingled as he stared into my eyes. “I could lift this dress right here to find out if you’re sincere about the partnership.”
My breathing hitched. “Damien, no.”
“I won’t pull the dress all the way up.” His words and phrases created a mind-altering cadence. “In case you obeyed, I don’t want anyone else seeing your perfect pussy. I just need to lift it high enough to brush my fingers over your flesh and find out how sincere you are...”
I slid my upper lip between my teeth as my flesh warmed.
“Tell me, Ella, will I find your pussy bare? I hope you didn’t shave it bald for me. I meant what I said about fucking a woman, not a child.”
“Daaaamien.”
“I could stop there, just a brush over your sensitive cunt, or I could delve between your folds.”
The blue flames sparked to life in his orbs. His words ignited the kindling. I could be upset with Damien, but that didn’t mean I was unaffected. There wasn’t a repellent capable of shielding me from the passion he was capable of igniting or a cure to make me forget—I’d tried.
His deep voice reverberated through me. “If I spread you open, would I find your warm, wet pussy hungry for my fingers? One? Two?”
My breathing came faster as I clasped my thighs together, aware of the emptiness of my core.
“Would your walls clench around them like they do my cock? What if I swirled your clit? Is it enlarged and sensitive?”
He lifted his hand from my waist, teasing my lip free from my teeth. Slowly, he ran his thumb over my bottom lip. “These lips are magic.” I swore his eyes rolled to the back of his head as he reminisced. “The way you sucked me the other night.”
I parted my lips, sucking his finger.
The air filled with his guttural growl. His focus concentrated on my lips until he leaned in, taking my mouth with his.
Despite my earlier determination, my body was a traitor. I was drawn closer, leaning into his frame and pushing my soft curves against his hard planes. All at once, his fingers encircled my neck, lifting my face and applying pressure to my throat. My pussy clenched at the aching emptiness as my mind concocted visions of all he’d described.
His tongue sought entrance as I opened my mouth, gasping for air.
The world around us dimmed. All that mattered was the two of us. Whether from lack of oxygen or simply Damien intoxication, I was only mildly aware that he’d begun to ball the skirt of my dress. Higher and higher the material rose. If not for the cool breeze, he may have succeeded.
Taking a step back, I panted, filling my lungs and pressing my lips together, pushed against his chest. “You’re going to have to trust me.”
Damien took my hand and pressed it against the front of his jeans. The large bulge beneath was rock hard, no doubt straining the zipper. “Fuck, Ella. This isn’t about working together. It’s about the way I feel when I’m with you. Multitasking. If I don’t know the answer to my question, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
I wouldn’t be able to sleep either, not without bringing out the vibrator from my bedside stand. Hell, I was so hot, it wouldn’t take much to push me over the edge.
“Tomorrow,” he said, “we’ll start with a clean slate. Tonight, I want to touch you, taste you, and watch you come.”
For a moment, I stared into his gaze.
Vibrator.
Damien.
Taking the key from my pocket, I spun until I faced the door. As soon as it was unlocked, I turned the handle and pushed inside. My invitation wasn’t verbal as I reached for Damien’s hand and tugged him inside the dark entry. The only light came from the kitchen, a blue glow from the panel on the refrigerator.
As the door closed tight, Damien reached for my shoulders, spinning us both until my shoulders collided with the door. Placing my hand over his chest, I felt the rapid beat of his heart seconds before his mouth again found mine.
Definitely not a vampire.
Damien was a hot-blooded, arrogant, sexy, impossible, handsome…did I say sexy…male. I knew that to be certain. The erection currently probing my stomach was further evidence.
As my breathing labored, he took a step back, his cocky grin growing. In the dim lighting, his pupils dilated, making his eyes appear as black as his shirt. “Lift your dress and show me.”
Show him.
My thoughts were obviously on display because Damien’s smile grew even larger. “You don’t want to show me. You want me to find out. You want my fingers in your cunt. Don’t you?”
“Damien.”
He lifted my chin and intensely focused on my eyes. The connection was electric and unbreakable. I couldn’t look away if I wanted to. “Say it. Say what you want.” His finger came to my lips. “Don’t lie to me. I’ll know if you do, and I don’t like to be lied to.” He lifted his finger. “What do you want? Be specific.”
My mouth was as dry as the desert. I fleetingly considered telling him I wanted him to leave. That would be a lie.
“Ella, I’m not a fan of repeating myself.”
I licked my lips. “I want you to find out. I want your fingers.”
“Good girl. Lift your dress.” He reached again for my chin. “Eyes on me. Mine will stay on you. I won’t look. The only way I’ll find out if you’re covered is with touch. Can you do that?”
Nodding, I reached for the hem of my dress. Despite the freedom from his grasp, my gaze stayed focused on Damien’s. True to his word, his stare never wavered, staying fixed on mine.
“Pull the dress all the way off,” he said as the sound of a zipper filled the air.
A zipper.
My core clenched. I wanted to see what he was doing.
As soon as the dress was over my head, I tried to look down. Before I could, Damien seized my wrists with one hand, in an ironclad grip, and lifted them over my head. His cheeks rose. “I know you’re gorgeous even without looking.” Using the finger of his free hand, he ran a trail from my neck to between my breasts, lower.
His sexy growl ricocheted through me as his finger skirted over my trimmed mound. “Good girl.”
I wasn’t sure if the praise was for not shaving myself bald or for the lack of panties.
A yelp left my lips as he teased my folds and plunged two fingers deep within me.
“So fucking wet.” He pulled his fingers away.
The immediate emptiness left my core clenching at nothing.
“Do you want to come?”
“I do,” I said, not caring that in only two words, the wanton need within me was audible.
Damien released my wrists.
Maintaining the eye contact, I shook my hands, returning circulation.
He pointed from me to him. “Don’t you fucking dare look away.” His arm moved and his expression shifted. “Touch yourself. Make yourself come.”
“I want you.”
“I’m busy.”
Oh my God.
He was pleasing himself.
Jacking off right here in my entry.
“Do it, Ella. I want to watch your expression as you come.”
My lips came together as with one hand I twisted a nipple. The other hand went to my core. My skin grew tight, dampening with perspiration. I didn’t need to penetrate to come. Pushing my clit in circles faster and faster, my breathing stuttered. The scene before me was erotic and intense. I couldn’t see Damien’s cock in his hand, but I knew what he was doing. I knew in the guttural sounds, the morphing of his features, and the way his neck strained.
We were both almost there.
The blaze in his orbs added to the roaring heat pulsating through my veins.
My knees weakened, my spine arched, and wetness coated my thighs.
At the same time, Damien’s roar echoed off the walls. Warm liquid spurted over my breasts and stomach. We both gasped for breath.
“Eyes on me,” he said.
I obeyed.
By the way he was moving, I knew Damien was putting himself back in his jeans while the evidence of our orgasms dripped down my skin.
The air cooled until he leaned forward, tenderly kissing my lips. “Thank you.”
My neck stretched as Damien’s touch moved to my core, his finger swirling in my essence and then moving up my stomach, swirling in his. He pushed his finger into his mouth and sucked. The foyer echoed with a pop as he removed his finger from his strong lips. His gaze shimmered. “We taste fucking fantastic together.”
Once again, his finger collected our nectar. This time he brought the concoction to my lips. I didn’t need to be told to open. I did, taking his finger and sucking. Sweet and tangy. Salty yet sugary. I held tight to his hand with two of mine as I rolled my tongue around his outstretched digit.
The deep rumble in his throat made me smile.
Freeing his hand, Damien took a step back, turning and looking around. “I’ll clean you. Where is a bath—?” He didn’t finish his question. Instead, his focus went to Duchess who had been sitting quietly on the stairs watching our private performance.
“Duchess?” Damien asked.
I nodded. “Yes. She seems to have enjoyed the show.”
Damien took a step toward her, crouched down, and reached out his hand.
Duchess stretched her neck, rubbing against his hand and accepting his pet.
“I think she remembers me,” he said.
“You’re the one who rescued her from the animal shelter.” I reached down and gathered my dress. As Damien rekindled his friendship with Duchess, I pulled the dress over my head, aware that I was still marked.
Once the dress covered me, I saw that Damien was standing with Duchess in his arms. Her green eyes were closed.
“Traitor,” I said to her.
Her purr was loud enough for me to hear.
I shook my head. “I’d tell you that usually she hides when anyone else is here, but I don’t want to give you a bigger head than you have.”
Damien looked down at Duchess with a smile that was different from the cocky grin he usually displayed. “I never was a pet kind of guy.”
“Maybe you should tell her. She thinks you’re a cat kind of guy.”
“Just one cat,” he said, scratching between her ears. His gaze met mine. “Just like only one woman.” Gently releasing Duchess to the floor, Damien stood to his full height, his shit-eating grin back in place. “You didn’t disappoint, Ella. Call me after your meeting with Ms. Barns.”
I nodded, too exhausted and satisfied to argue.
“I want you in your office at Sinclair Corporate by next Monday.”
Today was Monday—or at least it was when I woke. That would give me an entire week. “I haven’t said yes.”
He didn’t respond.
Acquiescing, I nodded. “I think next week can be worked out.”
“Good night.” He leaned in, brushing my lips with his.
Standing with my hands behind my back, my gaze met his. “Don’t hurt me again.”
“I never meant to hurt you.”
“I need to keep me if there is going to be an us.”
He nodded. “I’m listening, Ella. I am.”
Taking a step back, I turned and opened the door. The sounds of the spring night filled the air as he walked down my steps. His broad shoulders, trim torso, and long legs moved gracefully. The car lit and an emblem appeared on the street as he neared.
As I closed and locked the door, Duchess came close, weaving around my ankles.
I lifted her to my chest. “What do you think? Is this a mistake?” Her purr was my answer. “I know,” I said, carrying her to the kitchen to check her food. “Damien’s impossible to forget.”