Trust Me (17 page)

The sorority event ends, and a massive sea of people are all trying to get to Sam. Everything is pink, pink, pink. From a distance, I smile and give her a wave as she fields an endless amount of questions. Her knee-length pink silk dress is stunning. Her curvy figure would make any guy go crazy for her.

Damien’s popularity among the sports fans keeps halting our progress to Sam. We’re trying to make our way closer when a heavy balding guy comes and slaps Damien on the back and leaves his hand there.

“So, Wales, who are you gunning for now?”

Politely extricating himself from the man’s semi-embrace, Damien responds, “There are a lot of great players out there. It’s looking to be a fantastic season this year.”

Nodding his head, the balding man acts as if Damien has just solved the mystery of how the pyramids had been built. “I know, man. I don’t know how you pick them. I’m a huge fan.”

Damien gives the man a polite smile and shakes his hand. “Thanks for your support.”

We continue moving through the crowd, but after several failed attempts to get to Sam, we finally make our way to a corner in order to get away from all of Damien’s fans.

Damien gives my cheek a light kiss. He whispers, “You are absolutely mesmerizing. If you weren’t already mine and I saw you here tonight, I would not stop until you said yes to a date.” He leans in closer to my ear and nibbles on my lobe.

I am going to strip down in front of everybody here if he’s not careful. I need him. Pronto.

“I can’t wait to have my cock buried deep inside you.”

Turning to face him, I pleadingly look at him. “Please. I can’t wait.”

He shakes his head and mouths,
Later
.

Damn it. Not fair.
I want to stomp my foot and demand a different answer.

He chuckles, and in that roughened sex voice, he says, “Soon, baby. Be patient. There are too many people here, and I plan on making you scream in pleasure.” He’s so pleased that I am in a wanton state of mind.

I need a breather, and I take the opportunity as another fan approaches Damien. “I’ll be right back. Nature calls.”

He’s about to respond when the tall, skinny man hits him on the back.

What is it with the back-hitting thing?

“Wales, I didn’t know you sponsored this university.”

“I’m attending the event with my girlfriend,” Damien says.

As I’m walking off, I smile at Damien’s response.

An idea strikes me while I’m in the restroom. I remove my panties, and I giggle at the brazen side Damien seems to bring out in me. There’s no way I could verbally say what I’ve just done without blushing ten shades of red, so I decide to send a text and let him make the next move.
Maybe this will spur him into action.

Me: By the way, I thought you might want to know that I am now without my panties. Maybe I should soothe this ache myself? Hmm, what to do? What to do?

Walking out of the restroom, my nerves go up another notch as I think about what I’ve just done. I hope it forces Damien to take me off somewhere, so he can have his wicked way with me.

Stowing my phone, I look up, and my heart misses a beat. Brad is standing right in front of me. Last time Damien and Brad were in the same room, it didn’t go so well. Brad moves to the middle of the hallway, blocking my path, as he crosses his arms over his chest.

“Hey, Brad. It’s good to see you. Would you mind moving, so I could pass?”
Kill him with kindness.
I do not want a scene here.

“So, you’re dating Damien Wales?” he asks in an almost accusatory tone.

“Yes, I’m heading back to him right now. Have a nice time.”

All of a sudden, I remember my panties are gone, and a blush creeps up my face.
This is not good. Oh geez.
I do not want to have a conversation with Brad of all people while I’m like this.
This will teach me to play with the big boys.
The one time I go a little crazy, of course, it bites me in the ass.
Karma can be such a bitch sometimes.

“Are you free this weekend to get a drink and catch up? I want to apologize for how I acted last time we were together.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m exclusively with Damien. Please excuse me.”

When he refuses to move, my temper rises.
Why is he suddenly being an asshole? I just don’t get it.
His behavior is either off, or this is just how he really is. “Brad, I am not going to ask again. Please step aside.”

This time, he complies. As I walk by, his hand comes up and grazes my shoulder.
Ugh
. My body feels repulsed from his touch.

As I make my hasty departure, Brad calls after me, “Allison, we’ll catch up later when you have more time. You look beautiful tonight.”

I pick up my pace and don’t look back. When I round the corner, Damien catches me before I smack right into him.

“Whoa.”

I stumble, and he grabs me, steadying me.

“I’ve got you.” He looks me over and immediately knows that something is up. “Alli, what’s wrong?”

I don’t want to have a confrontation at Sam’s event this evening. “I’ll tell you when we get into the car. I don’t want a scene.”

“That fucker is here, isn’t he? He approached you, didn’t he?”

He goes to step around me, and I grab his arm. He has that same demeanor as when he confronted Brad at the bar. He is seething, and his body is rigid. He’s ready to rumble, and he will not lose.

“Damien, please. Not here. It’s Sam’s event. Please. I’m begging you.”

He’s torn between pummeling Brad’s ass and staying here.

“Please,” I say again.

Finally, his body relents, and the rigidity under my touch relaxes. I know he is going to stay with me.
Whew, crisis averted for now.

“Tell me what happened.” I go to object, but Damien won’t have it. “Alli, you’ve asked me not to go confront the fucker, and I’m asking you to tell me. It’s meeting in the middle.”

His hands go around my waist, and I lay my hands on his arms.

“Okay, you’re right. I was coming out of the restroom. He blocked my way and asked me out for drinks. I said no and left. He said we’d catch up later when I had more time.”

By the time I finish, his hands have dropped away from me. They are now fisted at his sides with ghost-white knuckles. My fingers cinch tighter on his sleeves, hoping to anchor him to this spot.

Through gritted teeth, he tells me, “Alli, if he comes around you again, I want to know immediately. I’m not going to put up with his shit. He’s up to something.” The rage on his face is undeniable.

“He’s just trying to piss you off.” He goes to speak, but I hold up my hand. “I promise though. I’ll tell you. Let’s just enjoy tonight, and we will worry about it later. Okay?”

He nods. As I look around, the crowd is starting to thin. Brad is nowhere to be seen
. Thank goodness
. Damien is hanging on by a thread at this point. There’s only so much self-control I can expect him to exert in one night.

From across the room, Sam starts making her way toward us. She looks exhausted but excited at the same time. When she walks up, I embrace her in a hug.

“Many congrats, girl! Fantastic job. It was a great ceremony. We tried to make our way over to you, but you were so busy.”

A smile emerges on her face, and her green eyes are twinkling. “Oh, I know. No worries. You think it went well?”

I nod enthusiastically. “Yeah, very well.”

“It was exhausting but fun. I can tell you one thing. I am ready to get on a plane and head to Vegas, baby.” She does a tired shimmy.

Damien leans in to give Sam a friendly congratulatory hug.

Over his shoulder, she gives me the are-you-okay look. I nod and mouth,
Later
, to her.

“Congrats, Sam. We’re ready whenever you are. No rush.” He has reined in a lot of his irritation. It’s gone but not forgotten.

“Oh, I’m ready. Let me go grab my bags, and I’ll be right out.” She immediately turns and heads up the stairs to the left of the kitchen area.

Damien pulls out his phone to send a text. “I’ll have Ben pull up the car to the front of the house.”

I keep forgetting Ben is here with the driver. I wonder what he does with all that free time.
Ugh, it would have to be boring to just be at someone’s beck and call.

Damien and I walk outside. The air is warm, but the slight breeze makes it a perfect evening.

He leans into me. “So, was the text you sent earlier a statement of fact? Or were you toying with me?”

“Well, I would tell you, but…I guess you’ll just have to find out on your own.”

He moves closer to me, dropping his voice. “Is that a challenge?”

“It is if you want to know.” I flutter my lashes a little, baiting him.

He has that full-on predatory look in his eyes. I have unlocked the cage to the beast, and he is going to find a way to devour me soon.
Yes! Oh, yes!

“Challenge accepted, baby.”

He starts looking around, taking in all of our surroundings. My sex clenches, thinking that he might haul me off to a dark place outside to give me some much needed satisfaction. Of course, at this particular moment, the car pulls up.
Ahh!
I want to scream.
Ben needs to stop being so efficient.

Damien begins rubbing my shoulders. “Don’t worry. We won’t have to wait much longer. I have a surprise for you.”

“A surprise? I love surprises.” My insides are all giddy.

“Yes, and it will get you what you want.”

We smile at each other before we get into the car.

Just as we get situated, Sam comes out, still wearing her dress. She heads down the walkway, rolling her bags behind her. The driver stows her suitcases as she gets into the car. Settling into the seat, she lays her head back with a smile. Her face looks tired as she starts to let her guard down.

“Finally. It’s been a bitch of a day, and I am ready for this vacay,” she says.

Damien’s hand naturally gravitates toward mine, and his fingers start with the soothing circles.
I love it.
I wonder if he realizes how often he does this small little act.

He leans forward slightly. “Sam, you know you could have brought someone with you this evening. If you would still like to invite somebody, I can make the necessary arrangements to get him there.”

Sweetly, she responds with a tad bit of sass, “Thanks, but I’ll pass, Wales. You are about to put me in a room full of hot, testosterone-filled athletes, and there is no way in hell I’m going to be chained to someone for the evening. No way. This girl is going to have some fun.” She gives a nod as if she’s solidifying her statement to herself.

I roll my eyes and let out a laugh.

Leaning back against the seat, Damien says, “I feel sorry for all of those players. Just don’t cause any of mine to start playing shitty because they are off pining for you. Target the other team’s players if you don’t mind.”

She slants her upper body forward and gives him a big wink. “No promises.”

I mash my lips together. Damien should be worried, especially if he loses their bet.

Soon, we are pulling into a secluded entrance on the airport grounds. Suddenly, I realize he probably has a private plane.
How in the world did that not even cross my mind?
My suspicions are quickly confirmed when we pull alongside a white jet. On the side,
Wales Enterprises
is displayed in black lettering with blue trim. I know he’s wealthy, but I don’t think I really understand the magnitude of it all.

I can sense Damien is irritated as we pull to a stop.

His tone confirms my suspicion as he asks, “Ben, why is the wrong plane here?”

“Sir, the Dassault Falcon was not available on short notice. Therefore, I had to schedule the Learjet at the last minute.” Ben’s voice is even and calm.

“Ben, I should have been informed of this immediately, so I could have made other plans.”

His cold business tone still takes me off guard.

“Yes, sir,” Ben says.

“I suggest you remember to run those important details by me prior to the fact. After today’s events, this is unacceptable,” Damien says.

“My apologies, sir.”

Wow, I feel bad for Ben.
He seems like he has so much on his plate, and to get in trouble in front of Damien’s girlfriend and her best friend seems a little harsh. I tell myself that he’s not my employee, and it is Damien’s business to handle. Obviously, Damien and Ben have a good professional relationship because they have been working together for around three or four years.
I’ll leave it to the boys to figure out how to play nice together.

Sam and I just look at each other silently.
Dassault Falcon and Learjet?
As far as I am concerned, a plane is a plane, and I’m just excited we don’t have to go through the usual throng of people in the airport.

We head to the plane. It’s a fairly windy night, and I have to keep my hand on my dress to stop it from flying up and exposing my bare self.

Stepping across the threshold of the aircraft, the extravagance is overwhelming, and of course, it’s what I would have expected. Obviously, this plane has been remodeled. Six plush cream leather chairs fill the front of the cabin. Each seat has its own side table. The back has a cream leather love seat with a table in front of it. Apparently, it is where Damien does most of his work, and this is where we settle in for the flight. It’s endearing that he doesn’t even want a chair separating us.