Taeja

37. Chapter 37

37

He lowered himself onto the chair, resting his elbows on the desk and linking his fingers below his nose.

Gavin rapidly blinked from behind his spectacles. “Boss, are you being serious?” he asked, and Damon glared. Gavin sighed, lifting the life-size inflatable doll and holding it at a distance. “It hardly looks like the real thing.”

“It’s for you to practice,” Damon said. “That’s what you said you needed help with in exchange for helping my girl.”

“Yes, but—”

“No buts.” Damon jumped to his feet as an alarm went off on his phone. “Go practice.”

Gavin adjusted his glasses, his nose crinkling as he stared at the inflatable. “How am I supposed to get this out of your office? And where am I supposed to keep it? I have realized that nothing gets past Miss Marley.”

Damon shrugged. “You get it to your office the same way I got it to mine.” He snickered as he grabbed his briefcase in one hand and tossed his jacket over the next arm. “See you at the dinner on Saturday, Gavin.”

“Okay, boss.”

Damon exited his office, laughing at Gavin’s discomfort.

In the lobby, Zaida was waiting on the elevator. She smiled as Damon stood beside her. “Leaving early today, boss?”

Damon nodded. “I have somewhere to be. ”

Zaida nodded as they entered the elevator. “I figured because you usually leave late at night.”

“And you always leave on the dot.”

Zaida chuckled. “You should take a page out of my book.”

“You know I can’t do that.”

“I know,” she said as the elevator stopped at the first level of underground parking. “See you at the dinner, boss.”

“Enjoy your evening, Zaida.” Damon nodded until the elevator doors shut and he couldn’t see her anymore. Arriving at the floor he parked, he exited the elevator and found his car. He crawled through rush hour traffic, heading toward the optician’s office.

Passing by the semi-circle-shaped hotel, he thought of Taeja. Damon hadn’t seen her since she left for school, but he’d see her tomorrow at work. He missed her more than he could ever admit to. It was hard sleeping without Taeja. He was thankful when she called him the first night they were apart and asked him if he wanted them to fall asleep on the phone.

Parking before the optician’s office, he pulled his phone out and made a call. “I’m here,” he said, then hung up.

A moment later, the automatic doors of the building opened. Andrew exited and strolled toward the car. He sat in the passenger seat.

Damon drove off. “What did they say?”

Andrew chuckled. “You ask me this question after every visit, Damon.”

“I can’t care about my dad?”

“I didn’t say that.” Andrew sighed heavily. “It just pains me that my sight is terrible, and that you have to pay for all these appointments.”

“It’s fine, Dad.” Slowing at a stoplight, Damon glanced at his father, who had on shades despite it not being sunny today. “Do you need to stop at the pharmacist?”

Andrew laid his head on the headrest. “No, but let’s stop at a restaurant. Your mom’s been craving ravioli.”

Driving off, Damon asked, “Why didn’t you cook it for her?”

“I can’t make it as well as your half-brother. ”

Damon’s grip tightened around the wheel. “Don’t say that.”

“He is your half-brother, despite what you believe.”

“Do you want me to stop the car and put you out?”

Andrew sat up, looking at Damon. “What?”

“You heard me.” Damon shot Andrew a glare. “Respect my brother or find your own way home.”

Andrew released a sharp breath through his nostrils before relaxing. He was quiet for a while. “Your video game launch is still on for tomorrow?”

“Yes,” Damon answered, some peace drifting into his being at the mention of his passion.

Andrew smiled. “Kacian and I are proud of you. You were always around that console growing up.”

Damon chuckled. “Mom always said I should stop before I get blind like you.”

Andrew chuckled. “Kacian’s been teasing me about my sight since we met.”

“I can’t remember ever seeing you out of your glasses.”

“Because I can’t see without them,” Andrew said. “Now I have glaucoma. These glasses are never coming off.”

Damon sighed, thinking of all the money he spent on his father’s vision and having to just stand by and watch it worsen. “I’m sorry, Dad.”

Andrew waved a hand as they parked before the restaurant. “Not all of us can have a twenty-twenty vision. Now let’s go get that ravioli.”

“Stay, I’ll get it. Do you want anything?”

“I’ll get the same. Thanks.”

Damon nodded before grabbing his wallet and exiting the vehicle. He went inside the establishment, got the food for his parents, then returned to the car. Damon drove Andrew home, and they chatted and laughed over a range of topics. As happy as catching up with his father made Damon, it also saddened him.

His brother never got this. Ever.

Sure, Zain had a better relationship with their mother, but there was nothing like a father’s love.

Lost in thought, Damon barely realized when he parked before the house.

“Thanks, Damon.” Andrew smiled, grabbing the bag with the food and drinks while Damon nodded. “You’re not coming inside?”

Damon shook his head. “I have somewhere I need to be. Tell Mom I love her.”

Andrew nodded, then exited the car. Damon waited until his father was inside before he drove off, heading home.

Liza’s car was parked in the driveway. Damon exited his car and approached hers. He knocked his fist against the window.

Liza yelped before tugging her earphones out of her ear. With a sheepish smile, she brought the window down. “I didn’t hear when you pulled in.”

“Of course, you didn’t,” Damon said as they walked toward the house together. “I always scold you about wearing your earphones in the car by yourself. You need to be aware of your surroundings.”

Liza chuckled. “And I always tell you I can make my own decisions. I’m not that little girl from college anymore.”

“I know,” Damon said. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be back.”

Liza looked around the living room as they stopped walking. “Is Zain here?”

Damon shook his head, not missing how Liza’s shoulders slumped. Deciding against saying anything, he went upstairs for a quick shower. Afterward, he got dressed in something casual. Making his way downstairs, he opened Zain’s chat.

They say it’s ready for pickup.

Already? That was quick.

That’s what fast manufacturing means, Damon.

Do you think you’re funny?

I know I’m funny.

Your joke’s lame. I didn’t laugh.

Fuck off.

After you.

Pocketing his phone, he arrived in the living room and saw Liza on her phone, mindlessly scrolling.

She looked at him. “Ready?”

Forcing away the surging sadness, Damon nodded. “Make the call.”

Liza nodded. Leaving her to it, he went to the kitchen to make himself something to eat. Zain wasn’t at his house as often since Taeja went to college, so he was cooking for himself more these days. While he ate, Liza entered the kitchen.

She sat on the stool beside him. “They’re fifteen minutes away,” she said, and Damon hummed through a mouthful of food. Her brows furrowed. “Are you sure about this?” she asked, and Damon nodded. “Okay… Whatever you feel is best for you. One of us deserves to be happy.”

Damon swallowed the food and looked at her. “Liza…”

“Don’t say it.”

“I have to,” Damon disagreed. “You’ve been stringing along that guy for months now.”

She sighed. “It doesn’t feel right giving my all to someone else when I’m not completely over Marco.”

“Understandable, and no one is rushing you to move on. I just don’t think it’s fair to the guy.”

“Should I tell him I’m not looking for something serious right now?”

“Definitely.”

She sighed again. “Okay. Next time I see him, I will. For now, let’s focus on you. I can’t believe you’re getting rid of El’s car.”

Damon wore a somber smile. “I think it’s time. I’m the happiest I’ve been in ages and every time I see El’s car, I feel… guilty. Taeja doesn’t deserve less than all of me. I need to give her that.”

Liza smiled. “I’m happy for you, Damon. For both of you, actually. ”

Knowing what she alluded to, Damon sighed. “I hate that I have to tell you this, but I don’t think Zain will forgive you.”

“I realized the last time I was here,” Liza confessed. “It’s sad that I lost one of my oldest friendships because my emotions got the best of me.”

Nodding, Damon stood and moved to the sink to wash up. “That’s life. You gain some and lose some.”

Liza looked over her shoulder as the doorbell rang throughout the house. “I think that’s them. Are you ready?”

“My car or yours?” Damon asked as they walked toward the front.

“I’m low on gas. Drive yours.”

“Let’s drive yours. I’ll fill your tank.”

Liza smiled, bumping him with her shoulder as she handed him the key. “I love being the only girl in the group. You guys always spoil me. Especially Tsion.”

Damon chuckled as he opened the door, greeting the driver of the tow truck. He led him to the garage, watching as the worker hooked El’s car to the truck. Damon’s mouth dried as the truck left his yard, heading toward the junkyard.

Liza laid her hand on his shoulder. “I’ll drive.”

Damon numbly nodded as she took the key from him. He mindlessly entered Liza’s car, his body tense as he stared at the car ahead of them…

Jumping onto his back, she tugged him down onto the bed. Her loud laughs rang into his ear. “Please, D? Pleaseee?”

Damon rolled his eyes, stifling a laugh as she hugged his back. “You act like a kid sometimes, you know?”

“I’m not even twenty-five! I’m still young,” Eloise laughed, slapping him upside the head.

“Ow, El!” Damon groaned, rubbing the spot.

She laughed, slapping him again. “That didn’t hurt. Stop lying.”

“How are you going to tell me what I feel?”

“Whatever, D. Stop distracting me. Please?”

He sighed. “Fine. I’ll bring your stupid dog to the vet.”

Eloise gasped. “Peaches isn’t stupid!”

A low growl came from the corner of the room. Damon glanced in the corner. Peaches was hands down the craziest Chihuahua Damon had ever met. He had no idea why Eloise got it instead of a saner animal.

“Peaches agrees with me,” Eloise chimed.

Damon rolled over, his hands landing on her waist as she fixed herself atop him. “Of course, your mutt would agree,” he said, and Eloise playfully glared at him. Damon smiled, and when Eloise smiled back, it widened.

He always loved the deep dimples on her cheek. They made her look prettier than she already was. With her big bright eyes and head full of fiery red curls, Eloise Washington was perfection.

His dream girl.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Eloise whispered.

“Because I love you.”

Eloise blushed and looked away. “I guess I love you, too,” she joked, with much emphasis on ‘guess’.

Damon scoffed. “Whatever makes you sleep at night, El.”

Humming, she kissed him, then hopped off him. Moving around the room, she found a pair of shoes and tugged them on. “I’ll be back later. Remember Peaches.”

“I won’t forget.”

“I don’t believe you.” Eloise walked toward the bed. She held her pinky out.

Looking at the manicured finger beside the one that sparkled with his ring, Damon rolled his eyes. “You always do this, El. Why can’t my word be good enough?”

“It is, but I like pinky promises because they annoy you.”

The corner of his mouth quirked upward as he linked their fingers. “I’ll bring your mutt to the vet, El,” he said, and she rolled her eyes while tugging her hand away. “Wait, where are you going?”

“The car wash—”

Damon hopped out of bed. “Let me do it. Bring the mutt to the vet.”

Peaches nipped at Damon’s ankles, and Eloise laughed and picked her up. Kissing the dog atop the head, Eloise smiled. “Thanks, babe. I’ll see you later.”

Damon grabbed the key off the nearby hook, winking at her before he left.

The memory faded, and Damon smiled sadly. He had many wonderful memories with Eloise. Even though she got ripped from the world too soon, he was thankful for the time spent with her…

Liza’s car trickled to a stop, and she and Damon exited the vehicle together. They followed the tow truck to the safe area a distance away, quietly watching as workers offloaded it. A mechanical whir drifted throughout the junkyard as the crane powered up, grabbing the car and dropping it into the compressor. Loud metal screeches rang out in his ear while Liza grimaced.

Watching a car get crushed was nothing compared to the call he got that day.

Life could be cruel, couldn’t it?

Sometimes it broke people in irreparable ways.

Other times, it rearranged the broken pieces into something new and beautiful.

Straightening his shoulders, Damon turned and walked toward Liza’s car. He reached for the door handle, and Liza grabbed his hand.

“Are you okay?” Liza asked.

He nodded. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“That was the last thing you had of hers.”

“I carried the pain of her death for years, Liza. Watching a car get crushed is nothing. I’ll always love her, but I need to move on.”

Liza nodded. “I understand.”

Damon gave her a weak smile. “Good. Now hop in so we can get gas, then go to the jewelry store.”

The following day, he left work early again. It was an extra busy day; he didn’t see Taeja despite her being at the office since nine .

He spent an hour in rush hour traffic before he arrived home. Happy and excited to see his girlfriend, he parked and hurried inside. Classical music drifted through the house. He followed it to Zain’s room. Pushing the cracked door open, he smiled.

There she was.

Sitting crossed leg on the floor, her hair in a high bun with a few loose strands sticking out the sides, a pencil tucked behind her ear, and books scattered all around her while her fingers soared across the keyboard.

He cleared his throat, and her head snapped up. Taeja’s creased brow relaxed, and she jumped to her feet. She ran to him and wrapped her arms around him.

Damon chuckled as he held her tight. Kissing her temple, he teased, “I didn’t know you missed me that much.”

“I’m happy you’re here early! You can help me study.”

He glanced at the books on the floor. “Let me go shower first.”

“Okay. Thanks, Damon.”

He nodded and went upstairs, showered, then grabbed a lavender oil bottle and towel before returning downstairs. “Come here.”

Taeja’s brows raised. “What? No. Mi need fi study—”

“I’ve been helping you study all week, and Gavin told me you spent your entire lunch with your head buried in a book. You’ve told me before that breaks are important, so come take a break.”

Taeja sighed. “Okay…”

He helped her to her feet and led her to the dining hall.

Taeja chuckled. “You’ll have to buy a new dining table again.”

He shrugged as he helped her out of Zain’s oversized shirt. “Buy us a massage table. You have my card info.”

“And Zain’s,” she added.

“You must feel like the luckiest girl in the world, huh?”

Taeja nodded with a bright smile. “I do.”

Damon chuckled, patting the table. “Hop up.”

Taeja was about to when she paused. “Wait.” She ran off. She returned a moment later with the speaker and her phone .

Damon glared as she played some music. “Seriously, Taeja?”

She crossed her arms beneath her breasts, and his eyes drifted to them. “ Baby ! Mi tired fi tell yu mi name baby !”

“You’re not acting like my baby right now,” Damon countered, and Taeja pouted, looking away from him. He tapped the table. “Hop up… baby.”

Her hands slackened as her face brightened. She obeyed his order while resuming the music. She set the phone aside, then adjusted herself comfortably on her front. “It’s my favorite song by Kirone Tyke. It’s going to set the mood.”

“Mhm,” he hummed, annoyed by the man’s voice filling the room. All Damon could imagine was Kirone’s dirty hands all over his woman.

Grabbing the bottle of lavender oil, he doused his hands in it before getting to work.

Taeja released a sigh. “I didn’t know you could give massages.”

“I can’t. I remember what you did to me.”

She smiled. “Told you I have magic fingers.”

Remembering how her fingers gently roamed his skin and how skillfully she stroked his dick, Damon smirked. “You do.”

Taeja hummed, turning onto her back.

“Just close your eyes and enjoy it,” Damon coaxed, and she did.

Looking away from her face, his eyes roamed the features of her petite body. From her brown nipples… Flat abdomen… Fat pussy… Smooth legs.

Taeja was a work of art. One he wanted to savor slowly until all the contours of her perfect body were engraved into the depths of his mind.

Dousing his hands in some more lavender oil, he palmed her breasts, kneading them gently and watching her nipples harden. Her breasts were soft in his hand, the skin smoother than he remembered it ever being.

Slowly, he trailed his hands from her breasts and along her arms. He took her hand in his, placing a kiss on each knuckle like she had done to him. The hair on her skin raised right before his eyes, and it excited him.

Moving around the table, he repeated the actions to the next hand. One. Two. Three… Five feather-light kisses on her delicate skin.

Damon moved around the table again, climbing onto it this time. He knelt between her legs and took her feet by the ankles. Spreading her legs wide, he brought his head down and the tip of his tongue grazed her clit.

“Damon,” Taeja whimpered.

“Shh,” Damon cooed. “Let me take care of you.”

Taeja nodded, and Damon continued what he was doing.

His tongue circled her clit, then trailed up… over her belly button… her abdomen… the valley between her breasts, until he settled at her mouth.

Taeja’s arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him close as they kissed. Their tongues tangled in a slow, sensual dance. Her legs wrapped around his thighs, lulling him closer and making his hardened dick press against her pussy.

Breaking the lavender-flavored kiss, Damon pulled away. He ran a hand up her chest, stopping at her throat and gently squeezing it.

Taeja’s eyes fluttered open to meet his. Her chest heaved. “I want you.”

“How bad?” Damon asked.

She glanced down before meeting his eyes. “See for yourself.”

Smirking, Damon looked between her thighs, parting her pussy with two fingers. Her clit was swollen, her juices flowing from her hole. His eyes shone like he found a gold mine.

Meeting her eyes, he smirked. “Not yet.”

Taeja groaned, and his dick twitched, loving her desperation.

Pressing his thumb against her clit, Damon rubbed slowly. He used his other hand to grab her right foot, bringing it to his mouth and taking her big toe into his mouth. Her breathing grew uneven as he sucked and swirled his tongue around it. His mouth tasted completely of lavender, and oddly enough, he loved it.

Maybe because it was off the body of this woman.

Taking her toe out of his mouth, he repeated his actions to the next foot while Taeja squirmed beneath him.

Popping her toe out of his mouth, he stopped rubbing her clit and climbed off the table to rid his shorts and boxers. Kneeling between her thighs again, he grabbed his dick and teased her clit with the barbell of his piercing.

The slow, sensual music in the background added to the moment, but Damon wouldn’t dare admit that to Taeja .

“Damon,” Taeja moaned. “Now. Please.”

“Where do you want me?” he asked, rubbing his tip along her slit and loving how she trembled.

“In me.”

Licking his lips, her boldness turned him on even more. Spreading her legs wider, he fixed himself at a better angle and pressed his dick against her opening. Inch by inch, he entered her. Taeja’s walls welcomed him, wrapping around his dick like a tight hug. Placing his hands on either side of her head, he rolled his hips, moving inside her languidly while her moans filled the room.

“You feel so good wrapped around me,” Damon murmured into her ear. His words made her walls tighten around him. “Keep doing that, baby. Make me weak to you.”

“God, Damon,” she moaned.

“Daddy,” he corrected. “Call me Daddy.”

“Daddy,” Taeja moaned. “Don’t stop.”

“I won’t,” he promised, moving his hands to link with hers. He smiled when her fingers tightened around his hands. “Open your eyes. Look at me.”

Taeja’s eyes fluttered open. They dilated as they met his.

How was it possible for this woman to look more beautiful every time he saw her? Especially how she captivated him with these dark eyes?

She was everything.

He pecked her lips, then trailed kisses down her jawline to her neck. He licked the skin, then sucked on her sweet spot.

Taeja arched beneath him, tightening her legs around his waist, and making him inch further inside her. He was balls deep now, and her pussy felt so, so good.

Damon didn’t want to pull out and be anywhere else. He wanted to stay in this sweet hole of ecstasy forever.

Satisfied with a mark on her skin, he pulled back and looked into her eyes. “Tell me you love me.”

“I love you, d-daddy,” she breathed out. “And I love your dick. And how you fuck me.”

“You love this?” he asked, rolling his hips while thrusting inside her. Her walls fluttered around his dick, and he knew he was hitting her G-spot, increasing the pleasure for them both.

Taeja nodded, her nails digging into his skin. “I’m close. D-don’t stop.”

“Come for me, baby,” he said, feeling his orgasm near. “Show me how good I make you feel.”

Taeja’s eyes snapped shut again, and he gently squeezed her hand.

“Open them. Look in my eyes while you take me.”

His words sent her over the edge. Taeja tossed her head back slightly, not breaking the stare when she opened her mouth. No sound escaped as they held eye contact. Her legs and walls tightened around him as she pushed past her peak.

“Good girl.” Damon smirked, giving in to his orgasm and releasing his load inside her. Even when he was empty, he didn’t want to pull out. So he didn’t.

Carefully, he rolled them over, making Taeja lay atop him with his dick still inside her. They breathed heavily, almost in sync, and Damon smiled.

“Wow,” Taeja breathed. “I’ve never had that before.”

“What?” Damon asked.

“No words can describe it,” Taeja said. “But it feels like you snatched my soul.”

After the steamy massage session, they showered together, then resumed studying. They went at it for a few hours before taking a break.

Taeja stood and touched her toes, groaning when a bone cracked. “Zain needs to start training me again before mi bone dem rusty up back.”

Damon laughed. “The way you behave sometimes would make anyone think you’re fifty.”

Taeja chuckled. “I feel like fifty sometimes. See how I could barely touch my toes for ten seconds?”

“I’m not going to say anything about it.” He glanced at the speaker. “I’m guessing my advice worked?”

“That classical music helps with studying?” Taeja nodded. “I hope I can apply all that I’ve learned to Tuesday’s test. ”

“You’ll do great, babe,” he assured. “You need to stop doubting yourself.”

“I don’t, but my professor grades hard. He has a thirty-five percent pass rate.”

“You’ll be in that thirty-five percent. Stop worrying and come here.” He patted the space beside him on the floor.

“Let’s lay on the bed,” she said, and he joined her in bed. Taeja drew closer to him, throwing a leg over his thighs and an arm over his waist.

He kissed her forehead. “Stop stressing your pretty head. You’re smart. Trust me when I say you’re more responsible than most people I knew at that age.”

“You think so?”

“Of course. You’re mature. It doesn’t feel like I’m older than you.”

“That’s true.” She grabbed the remote, and Damon groaned.

“Please don’t—”

“Hush it, Damon. We ago watch mi favorite rom-com.”

Damon groaned, wishing Zain was here to bear the torture with him. Taeja found a specific episode, smiling as the actors’ faces filled the screen. Damon wondered how she wasn’t tired of this show yet. He’d lost count of how many times she watched this scene.

Taeja mouthed along with the monologue of a male actor, then swooned. “Mi just love dem! Replay dat again!”

Damon grabbed the remote before she could, snickering as Taeja gasped.

“Doh mek mi and you have nothing! Mi deevn get to the best part yet—”

Damon scoffed. “Finish watching later when I’m doing my work. Come look at what I got you.”

“You got me something?”

He nodded as they got off the bed and started heading upstairs. “Yes. It’s on our bed. I guess you didn’t see it.”

“I didn’t,” she confessed. “I haven’t been upstairs since I came from the office.”

“I figured.” Damon glanced at his brother’s shirt on Taeja. It was cute how the shirt swallowed her smaller body.

Arriving in the room, Taeja gasped upon seeing what was on the bed. “Wow,” she breathed, approaching the dress.

Warmth passed through Damon. “Do you like it? ”

Taeja beamed, trailing her finger along the material. “Mi love it! Thank you!”

Damon nodded, loving her reaction to the evening dress. It was royal blue, strapless, had a long slit up the leg, and a small train with silver details. He and Zain had matching ties and pocket squares to go with it.

“And these heels!” Taeja sat on the bed and slid her feet into the silver heels. She stood and held the dress against her body, striking a pose. “How me look?”

He grinned. “Gorgeous.”

Taeja smiled before carefully setting the dress on the bed and sitting. She reached for one of the jewelry boxes — the one with the silver necklace. Her eyes shone after opening each box. When she revealed the contents of the last one, Taeja gasped.

As Gavin finished his speech, hums of agreement traveled around the mess hall. Gavin’s eyes settled on Damon, who radiated pride. “Boss, we are extremely proud of you, and we are excited to celebrate this milestone with you. Cheers to your future victories.”

From his position at the table, Damon raised his flute of champagne while a round of applause came from around him.

As the cheers died down, Taeja squeezed his thigh. She smiled as he looked at her. “We’re proud of you.”

Zain nodded from beside her, a small smile playing on his lips. “You did it, Damon.”

Damon’s heart swelled. He beamed at them. “Thank you,” he said to his brother before kissing Taeja’s cheek. “Thanks, baby.”

Taeja smiled before reaching for her champagne glass and taking a sip. Watching her, Damon realized something that left him unsettled.

At the table, all his male employees his age or older had their wives by their sides.

Taeja’s finger didn’t have his ring.

And it’d always be that way.