Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Cadence
Okay. So.
I hadn’t been able to wait.
But in my defense, I’d texted Damien telling him I was going back for more and he was free to join me.
I wasn’t surprised when he didn’t. Technically speaking, he was working. And work came first. I respected that.
So, I was happy to grind against my palm as I rubbed myself and imagined his fingers inside me.
Although, I had to wonder. Was there a maximum number of orgasms you could have before your body just tapped out and said, ‘Okay. No more. Time to rest’?’ I wasn’t sure how many more I could physically have before I left tomorrow.
I yawned, as if my body answered for me.
“I’m ready to head out,” Liam said, pulling me from my thoughts as he finished the last swig of his drink. “Want me to escort you to your hotel? I can have my driver take you.”
I didn’t have a lot of money now that I was unemployed, and LA taxis could be unpredictable. Luckily, Damien had given me the other key to his room for this exact reason.
“Yeah, thanks. I appreciate it. Just let me message Damien.”
Liam is going to drive me to the hotel. I’ll let myself in. See you soon.
“Okay. Ready.”
Liam grabbed my elbow as we pushed through the crowd. Shinedown wasn’t done rocking the house, nor were their fans, so we dodged elbows and flailing limbs to the best of our ability.
Liam’s driver waited outside, and I gave him the hotel’s name. I settled in the back seat, and as the lights flashed by the window my eyes grew heavy.
I jumped when a hand touched my shoulder.
“We’re here.” Liam stood outside my open door.
“Oh, my gosh. I’m so sorry. I slept the whole way here.”
“And snored, too.”
I gasped as I climbed out of the backseat. “I did not!”
“No, you didn’t, and it’s okay. You know I prefer quiet over idle chitchat, anyway.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist. “Thank you, Liam, for everything. For all the dresses you send anytime we need them. For being such a nice person and my rock, and for coming out and spending the night with me.”
Tightening his hold me, he said, “Of course. I’m always here.”
“Same to you. Anytime.”
“Thanks.”
“You know,” I said as we pulled apart. “You remind me of those strawberry candies we used to eat as kids.”
Liam barked out a laugh. “Strawberry Bon Bons?”
“Yeah!”
“How so?”
“You’re all hard and unapproachable on the outside, but soft and sweet on the inside.”
Liam shook his head, but he couldn’t shake the grin. “You’re such a goof.”
“It’s why you keep me around.”
I gave Liam one last wave before walking into the hotel lobby and finding my way to Damien’s room.
The moment I opened the door, I relaxed. Breathing in deeply, his scent lingered on everything.
I sat down on the edge of the bed and kicked off the heeled sandals I’d worn. I blew out a breath and leaned against the pillows. Exhaustion settled over me, making my limbs feel like 2-ton weights. The jet lag was kicking in.
I gave in, letting my eyelids fall closed while my breathing evened out, and before I realized it, I’d fallen asleep.
I moaned, waking only a little as I became aware of the pleasure my body wanted. I’d had plenty of wet dreams before, most happening recently and starring a certain sexy redhead. But this was real.
My clit throbbed, and I tried to move to touch myself, but my arms were still heavy from sleep.
But Damien knew what I needed without words, and I groaned as he pushed his fingers inside me.
I felt kisses and little nibbles along my thighs as I moved against Damien’s hand. His fingers felt much better than mine had earlier.
Since I was still half asleep, my orgasm climbed faster than usual, and I came harder. Toe-curling, leg-straightening, hard.
I tried to fall back asleep when Damien moved up my body, fully clothed.
Why did he have clothes on? He should always be naked…
He placed his lips to my ear. “God, you are so sexy. Even when you are trying to fall back asleep on me.”
I tried to open my eyes, but they scratched like sandpaper.
He nipped my earlobe as he growled. “I need you to stay awake, baby girl. Just for a little while.” He ground his hips against my core, sending tiny shock waves of ecstasy up my body and into my breasts.
That was enough incentive for me to pry my eyes open.
“Hi,” I said with a sleepy smile. I could wake up like this every morning. With him over me, waiting to claim my body.
“Hey.”
“Welcome back.”
“And that is one hell of a welcome.” He cocked his head. “Someone sent me the hottest messages I’ve ever received, only to find out I was too late.”
“Shoulda, coulda, woulda.”
“I haven’t been able to think about anything else since I read your text.
That’s cruel, Cay. And I wanted to show you just how crazy you drove me, just how much I needed to feel your wet pussy around my dick.
But then I come in here, and you are sleeping and so fucking adorable. I almost didn’t wake you.”
“I’m glad you did.”
He pushed a stray hair from my forehead, and his gaze caressed my face. “It scares me. How much I crave your touch. I don’t want to need anyone. Not after what happened before. But I can’t seem to stop myself.”
We were silent for a moment before I mustered the courage to ask what I’d been thinking for a while now.
“Damien… what happened… before?”
He sighed and rolled off onto his back, taking a moment to gather his thoughts.
“I have a hard time trusting people. A hard time letting people in. Someone usually wants something from me that I can’t give them, which somehow makes me the bad person.
You wouldn’t believe the number of old acquaintances who try to get free stuff from me. ”
I turned to face him, pulled my dress down a little, and tucked one arm under my head. I reached out and placed my hand on his forearm. I wanted him to know he could speak his truth, that this was a safe place. I’d always keep his secrets locked away inside my heart.
He turned his head toward me with a sigh.
“I’ve been doing this for close to eight years now.
It took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to get where we are today with the band.
This is a passion project for all of us, and we used to keep full-time jobs on the side to make ends meet.
We are lucky that now that we can tour and live off the money we make as a band, but it wasn’t always like that.
“I met Vanessa around the four-year anniversary of starting our band. She said she’d been a fan from the beginning, and we hit it off almost instantly. I fell for her hard and fast.”
Damien paused as he swallowed.
Vanessa was the name I’d seen online. I was starting to connect the dots.
“But as things changed, our relationship became toxic. We’d never officially lived together, but she would come up from Tennessee and stay with me when I wasn’t touring.
Back then, I didn’t make the money I do now, and I worked a 9-5.
She grew restless and depressed. Then started drinking and got into drugs.
I thought I could save her, so I kept trying.
I didn’t understand what she wanted, and as time passed, she grew aggressive.
Telling me she knew I cheated on her, but it was okay because she cheated on me, too.
But I never did. I loved her. More than I should have, and it killed me to watch her suffer.
But on our final night together, she attacked me.
Came at me swinging a knife, claiming if she couldn’t have me, no one else could.
” Damien ran his hand over his face. “She wanted to kill me. In her insanity, she thought that was the right choice. But…”
My pulse quickened, and a dull roar began in my ears. How could she seriously want to kill him?
I waited for his words to continue, but it seemed Damien wasn’t eager to finish. His fingers drummed on his chest in agitation.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me. But no matter what it is, I understand. I won’t judge you for it.”
He pushed out a breath. “I’d grabbed her wrists and tried to pry her hand open and make her drop the knife.
But I couldn’t believe how strong she’d become in her conviction.
I never meant to leave marks on her. And when I did finally get the knife out of her hand, I’d shoved her away, knocking her to the ground.
I’ll never forget the look of fear in her eyes as I stood over her, holding that chief’s knife.
Like I’d been the one to push us to this point.
I’ll also never forget the betrayal I felt when she told the cops I’d tried to kill her. ”
I flinched at his words. “Uh. What?”
“Yep. Small-town America. One of my neighbors heard yelling and called the cops. I was never good at remembering to lock the door behind me, so they opened it as I stood over her. Funny, huh? Then, when she confirmed their beliefs and had the red marks to prove my abuse, they arrested me for domestic violence. The system doesn’t give wiggle room to men.
So even though it was her word against mine, I was taken in.
Because who would believe a small woman could force a grown-ass man like me against a wall? ”
I pursed my lips, processing the words Damien spoke. Trying to see it all unfolding before me. “What happened next?”
“I spent the following two nights in jail. I contacted my lawyer, and he got me out on bail until our court date.”
“It went to court?”
He nodded, “But she didn’t have much to go on.
She had no other evidence that I abused her.
I’d hired the best lawyer I knew, Gabriel Collins.
He took character witnesses from our neighbors, who verified that I had always been on my best behavior and she was a little on the crazy side.
I’d filed a restraining order against her, which also helped my case.
Gabe got all charges dropped, and I walked away a free man. ”
“But…” I prompted.