Chapter 8
Chapter eight
Luna
The deep rumble of Damien’s voice floats up from downstairs as I fasten my second earring, a final touch to an outfit I’ve spent far too long selecting.
My heart does that ridiculous flutter it always does when he’s near. I smooth down the fabric of my dress, checking my reflection one last time. The woman staring back looks elegant and polished, a far cry from my usual self, covered in animal fur and bodily fluids I can’t always identify.
Maren’s laughter drifts up the stairs, followed by Damien’s lower, controlled responses. I can’t make out their words, but the familiarity in Maren’s tone makes me smile. She never treats anyone with undue reverence, not even billionaires, but she sure is under his spell. Not that I can blame her.
I hope she’ll be alright alone here tonight.
We’re both still on edge about the flower delivery two days ago.
I’ve heard nothing from Karen about the investigation.
I didn’t mention it to my wolf, but I wonder if I should have.
He’s so adept at stalking; perhaps he could have found whoever it was.
But I worry about what he might do to the person if he found them, especially Caleb.
I have no desire to see my ex ever again, but if he’s the one who did this, I don’t want him to die for it.
And I worry about Maren being here alone until we know something more.
I step into my heels and make my way downstairs, gripping the railing as I descend.
The conversation below stops as I come into view.
Damien stands in my living room, magnificent in a tailored tuxedo, underneath a gray wool coat that accentuates his broad shoulders and lean waist. His dark eyes find me, and the weight of his stare sends a shiver racing down my spine.
“Thanks for taking care of the critters tonight,” I say to Maren when I reach the bottom of the stairs, trying to sound casual despite the way my pulse races under Damien’s scrutiny.
His gaze follows me as I walk toward him, and the intensity of his stare is a heavy heat that makes it hard to breathe.
Maren whistles. “Damn, girl. I was right. You clean up good.”
“Are you sure you’re okay being alone?”
She waves me off. “Bitch, please, I’m fine. I’m just glad I don’t have to drive home in this snow. Are you sure you’ll make it down to Denver?”
“Yes, we’re taking my helicopter.”
The casual way he mentions it reminds me of the vast difference between our worlds. I run a wildlife sanctuary on a shoestring budget while he casually owns aircraft.
Maren lets out a laugh. “Of course, you have a helicopter. Let me guess, you’ve got a plane sitting around too.”
His eyes never leave my face.
“Two.”
His stare has weight to it, pressing against my skin until I want to squirm, look away, fidget, or do something to break the connection, but I force myself to stay still. He looks at me like he’s memorizing every detail, like he can see past my dress to what lies beneath.
“Where do you keep it?” I ask to cut through whatever this is between us.
“I have a heliport on my property. It’s around the side of the house, so you didn’t see it the day you were there.”
“You came here to pick me up just to drive straight back to your house?” Disbelief colors my voice. “I could’ve driven over there.”
“Not in this weather. The roads are too slick.”
“I do have a truck with four-wheel drive. And I’ve driven in Colorado weather my whole life.”
“Not anymore. Not as long as I’m around.”
I want to bristle at his presumption, but his commanding response makes my body react. Heat floods my core, and my nipples tighten against the fabric of my dress. The tone of authority in his voice is similar to my wolf’s, and my traitorous body responds in predictable fashion.
Shit.
“We’ll be fine here too.” Maren’s voice cuts through the charged silence. “I’m going to give Ricky a little boob action, then we’re going to watch a rom-com.”
I chuckle as I look over at Ricky lying on the sofa, sliding over the cushions, back and forth from one end of the couch to the other.
“You should put him in his cage for the night.”
“Nah, I like his company when he’s not being too handsy. Besides, he’s been pulling at the fur on his lower belly. I think something might be stressing him.”
My veterinarian brain kicks into gear, concern overriding everything else.
“When did he start pulling on his fur? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I noticed it yesterday. I meant to mention it, but the day went crazy when that bighorn sheep came in.”
I walk over and crouch in front of Ricky, where he’s flat on his back, scratching at his belly. My mind is already cataloging possible causes—parasites, infection, or stress.
“What’s the matter with your tummy, Rick?” I push his hand away and start feeling around his abdomen. He takes the opportunity to reach over and squeeze my breast. “Ow. Stop it.” I look up at Maren. “We should do an ultrasound.”
“I set some time aside in the schedule for one Monday morning. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine for tonight. I’ll let him cop a feel or two, and he’ll fall asleep watching the movie.”
Out of the corner of my eye, Ricky’s paw moves toward my chest again, but I stand before he can strike. As I rise, I catch Damien’s amused expression.
He extends a hand. “Ready to go?”
I nod, my stomach flipping at the thought of what the evening holds. “Let me grab my coat.”
Damien helps me into it, his fingers brushing the nape of my neck as I lift my hair.
“You look beautiful, Luna.” The heat of his breath fans across my ear, and goosebumps race over my skin.
“Don’t wait up.” I smile at Maren as we head to the door.
“Oh, I won’t. You kids have fun.”
Damien’s hand finds the small of my back as he guides me out.
The air wraps around me, cold and crisp, a sharp contrast to the warmth inside.
Snow falls in fat, lazy flakes. Damien parked his sleek black Range Rover in front of the porch steps, which is perfect, so I don’t have to walk in the snow in my heels.
“Here.” He opens the passenger door for me, holding out his hand. “Let me help you.”
I’m capable of getting into a car on my own, but his old-fashioned courtesy is sweet.
He walks around to the driver’s side, sliding into the seat, and the car suddenly feels much smaller. The vanilla and amber woody scent of him wraps around me, making my mouth water.
I’m constantly aroused by this man. Heat spreads through my body at his nearness, pooling low in my abdomen while my heart hammers against my ribs. My skin tingles with awareness just from sharing this small space with him.
“I need to check on Athena real quick before we leave. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not. But didn’t you leave her at your house a few minutes ago?”
“No. I was in Denver for most of the day. I flew up to pick you up.”
“Oh, Damien. You didn’t have to do that. I could have driven down.”
“I’ll always pick you up.”
I reach over and touch his hand, calloused and warm on the steering wheel. A slight tremor runs through his fingers, matching the unsteady rhythm of my own pulse.
Snow crunches beneath the tires as we wind along the five-minute stretch of road separating our properties.
He turns in the long driveway, and the headlights sweep across snow-laden pines before revealing the Victorian’s towering silhouette.
In the dark, it looks haunted, though the lights glowing in several windows make it a little less scary.
“I’ve never seen lights on inside this place. Every time I trespassed, it was during the day. How are the renovations coming along?”
“Slow. The property isn’t on the historical register, but the permitting has turned into a nightmare.
The exterior is finished. Finally. The inside wiring is done, but we’re still waiting on approvals for plumbing before the cosmetic work can even start.
My designers compose resignation letters for entertainment. ”
He helps me out of the car and guides me up the front steps. The heavy oak door opens with a groan, revealing a grand foyer with scuffed hardwood floors and walls stripped of their wallpaper.
“The county wanted me to demolish it. Every delay feels like punishment for refusing.”
“That sounds incredibly frustrating. But its nefarious reputation freaks people out around here.”
The skittering of nails on hardwood echoes before the blue-gray pitbull appears, tail wagging and a purple bow around her neck this time.
“There’s that beautiful girl!” I crouch as she bounds toward me, her whole body wiggling with joy. I scratch behind her ears and have to lean back to prevent her from licking my face and destroying my makeup. “How are you, sweet thing? Are you being good for your daddy?”
“She misses you.” The tenderness in his voice pulls my attention away from the dog. I tip my head back to look at him and find he’s watching us with an expression that’s gone soft around the edges. “She enjoyed visiting your place and now whines when we pass your property on our walks.”
“Aww, is that so?” I stand up. Athena stays pressed against my legs. “She’s welcome at the sanctuary any time. She and Shadow get along so well. He and Ghost would love to have her for a sleepover sometime.”
Damien reaches down to pat Athena’s head. “I think she’d like that, but she’s a needy girl. You might end up with her in your bed before you can stop her.”
“My bed is full of animals now. I have three cats and one wolf in my bed every night.” Two wolves. “The more the merrier.”
I hope the heat rising in my cheeks isn’t noticeable in the low light.
His mouth curves into that maddening half-smile. “Are you saying you’re not discerning about who you let in your bed?”
“Nope. Not when they have fur and keep me warm.”
“I’ll remember that. Let me just get her fed and watered. I’ll be right back. Come on, girl.”
Their footsteps fade into the depths of the house, leaving me alone in the foyer. I turn in a slow circle, taking in what remains of something once beautiful. The exposed plaster and paint-stripped woodwork remind me of the house’s troubled history. A shiver runs up my spine.
I wrap my arms around myself, trying to shake the sensation of invisible eyes watching me.
The phantom scent of death lingers in the air.
As fascinated as I’ve always been with the property, how can Damien sleep here night after night with all the weight of this place pressing down?
How many young girls had drawn their last breath within these walls?
“Ready?” Damien returns, Athena hot on his heels. Even the temptation of food can’t pull her away from her favorite person.
“Yes.” I shake off the unease skittering down my spine and smile.
“You look beautiful, Luna.” The heat in his eyes matches the warmth spreading through my chest, down to places that have no business responding to just the sound of his voice.
“You told me that already.” I smile despite myself. “But thank you. I don’t mind hearing it again.”
He takes a step closer, his gaze dropping to my mouth. For a moment I think he’s going to kiss me. Then his expression shifts, closing off, and he clears his throat while checking his watch.
“We should go. The pilot’s waiting.”
After one final scratch behind Athena’s ears and a promise to visit soon, we head back out into the snow. Instead of returning to the car, Damien leads me around the side of the house on an asphalt path that is clear of snow. The snowflakes melt as soon as they land on it.
“Hot mix asphalt. Necessary safety precaution in the mountains,” he says, like he can read my mind.
As we round the house, a sleek black helicopter comes into view, sitting on a landing pad, its blades already turning.
The engine’s pitch rises, drowning out everything else. I have to lean in. “I’ve never been on a helicopter before.”
His gaze locks onto mine. “I want to introduce you to many new things, Luna.”
Heat floods my skin. My breath catches—not from the icy air biting at my cheeks, but from the way he’s looking at me. Like he means more than helicopters and new experiences.
“Anything you want to try.” He shifts closer. “Anything at all.”
“Anything?”
The challenge slips out before I can stop it. His eyes go dark, almost black.
“Anything.”
Damien helps me into the helicopter, his hand firm on my waist, and I can’t help but compare his touch to my wolf’s. There’s something in the way he grips me that is almost identical. Confident and possessive.
Why can’t I stop comparing them? Why do I try to find similarities between them? They’re so different. Damien is controlled and polished. My wolf is raw passion and animal hunger.
Yet as we lift into the snowy night sky, I find myself studying Damien’s profile.
The strong jaw, the perfect nose, the crinkles at the corners of his eyes.
And those sexy silver streaks at his temples.
I’ve never seen more than my wolf’s mouth and the shadows of his eyes.
His mask and the darkness he insists on always obscure the rest. Damien’s square jaw seems similar, and for a split second, I think I see more, but then it’s gone as he leans forward to speak to the pilot.
I inhale a shaky breath as my mind goes places it shouldn’t, to ridiculous suspicions and an even crazier place, as I picture what it would be like to have both of them.
Jesus, what’s happening to me? Now I’m contemplating threesomes. Maren would be so proud.
I need to get ahold of my libido before it gets me into more trouble than I’m already in.
I push the thought away and focus on the wonder of flying through the night in a private helicopter with a billionaire who, it seems, more and more bears a striking, unnerving resemblance to my wolf.