Trust Me (23 page)

In two seconds, he’s on his knees in front of me. His hands are on my face, forcing me to look him in the eyes. “Oh, baby, I’m yours. Once we get done talking, we are going to leave this rathole and go back to our room. There is no Cassandra and me. There’s only you and me. I’m in love with you. Please sit with me. I’m calmer when I can feel you. I’m not sure of everything that went on tonight, but I am going to figure it out, that’s for damn sure.”

I look into his deep blue eyes, and his sincerity is clear. I nod, not trusting my voice right this second. Before I even blink, he has picked me up, and we are on the couch. In the back of my mind, I think about how Damien looks out of place in this room. It’s almost comical to see him on such an ugly piece of furniture.

As soon as he has me safely in his arms, he asks, “What do you need to know?”

A million questions flash through my mind, but I pick one of the more pertinent ones at the moment. “Who’s Martin?”

Looking straight into my eyes, he says in a serious tone, “He’s my childhood best friend and now ex-partner. I liquidated my part of our hotel business when I caught him sleeping with Cassandra about four years ago.”

My head is starting to hurt again with how confusing all this is. “Damien, I am so confused at this point. So, you and Cassandra were a thing?”

“Yes…no…yes, technically. She was a passing interest. I never had any intention of proposing to her. She spun her lies to everyone, saying we were serious and about to walk down the aisle. I knew it wasn’t going to happen, but honestly, I didn’t care what she said. I knew the moment we called it quits, all of those rumors would be gone. At the time, I didn’t see the point in stopping them.”

His thumb starts stroking those circles on my arm, and it causes me to relax minutely. Moving my neck from side to side, I try to relieve the tension. I sigh deeply as I try to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

I continue, “That doesn’t explain what I walked in on. Actually, it still doesn’t explain a whole lot.”

One hand drags down his face. “The situation that Ben informed me about was Cassandra being on the premises. I had no idea she was even coming. Through the years, she’s been trying to get back together with me, but I have no feelings for her. I swear to you that you’re all that I want and will ever want.”

I’m twirling some of my hair through my fingers as I look down at my lap. I feel a finger at my chin, and he lifts my gaze to his. He wants absolutely no distance between us.

“Alli, there is no way I am getting back with her. I told her that I’d found someone I am deeply in love with. She started pleading with me to give it another try. I said no, and then the moment you walked in, she grabbed my face and kissed me. Her lips were on mine for no more than a few seconds. I pushed her off, and then all hell broke loose.”

The image of him kissing her causes me to focus on the purple lampshade, on the end table, for a second in order to clear my mind. I let out a deep breath before I can continue. “So, Martin and Cassandra orchestrated this?”

His eyes become tight. “Probably. I haven’t seen Cassandra in over six months, and prior to Miami, I hadn’t seen Martin in over a year.” He takes his thumb and rubs my cheek, and I lean into him. “They’ve taken it too far by trying to fuck with the most important part of my life. We’ll get to the bottom of this, Alli. I’m assuming she’s getting desperate because of our relationship and has asked Martin to help sabotage us.”

“How long ago did they break up? Why would he help her?”

“They stopped seeing each other shortly after I ended things. I never cheated on her. Our relationship was a little different, but everything we did up until Martin was mutually agreed on.” The cold business tone causes a shiver to run up my back, and Damien starts rubbing my arm as he brings me even closer to him. “I assume Martin’s motivation comes from when I liquidated my half of the business, it nearly ruined him. His father had to bail him out. ”

Geez, these people are nuts. I wish they would leave some kind of instruction manual on how to deal with these people. Quite frankly, I don’t speak nut job. I close my eyes, trying to organize my thoughts. My next question bubbles up. “Martin said something about your past was also a problem. Is that true? Or are those just more lies?”

“Yes.”

One word? That’s all I’m getting? I don’t think so.
“Damien, I don’t need all the details, but you are going to have to give me something to go on here.”

He looks at me, torn and thoughtful.

“This isn’t an ultimatum. I don’t have to know everything, but between this and your incessant worrying over my safety, I need something.”

He lets go of me and begins massaging his temples. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” He leans back and closes his eyes. “When I was in college, my sister was kidnapped and taken from the safety of our home. A few weeks later, she was found dead.”

The pain in his voice causes a few tears to stream down my face.

“They never found the guy.”

My hand instinctively goes to his chest. “Your tattoo?”

“It’s Hebrew for Becky, my nickname for her. Her real name was Rebecca. I’ve had the letters intertwined together to look like a symbol.”

The hurt in his voice is palpable with how deeply rooted it is. It makes sense now. I lean in to hug him. We both need this close contact.

“I love you, Alli. I’m sorry you had to deal with that part of my life.”

I love being in Damien’s arms. It’s one of the safest places in the world, and it makes me feel like I can handle anything. “I was heartbroken, thinking you had cheated on me. Cassandra’s very pretty.”

He stiffens a little at my drastic change in subject. “I used to think so, but she doesn’t compare to you.”

“Please, Damien. Be serious.”

At my comment, he grabs me by the shoulders, so he can look at me. “Oh, I am. You really don’t understand how you have possessed me. From the moment I saw you, everything else in my life paled in comparison.”

He has such a way with words. I give him a smile, and he gives me one in return, making my insides warm. We lapse into silence for a few minutes while his hand strokes those little soothing circles on my back.

He kisses the top of my head. In a lowered voice, he says, “What would you say to us getting you cleaned up and back to our hotel room? I brought you clothes to change into, and Sam sent some makeup remover. I can’t bear to see your tear-stained face any longer.”

He is such a beautiful man, and he’s mine, all mine.
Clutching him to me, I murmur into his chest, “I’m sorry I overreacted and ran off. It all took me by surprise. I’m not used to dealing with this level of deceit. It’s overwhelming that people really act this way.”

“It’s me who should be sorry. I will do my best to protect you from this. We’ll work through it, baby. Just trust me. Alli, don’t be scared to keep putting yourself out there for me.”

Oh, it’s good to be back on level ground with him.

He insists on helping me change my clothes and clean the makeup off my face. I know he wants to help me, so we don’t have to break contact with each other. When we touch, it’s a soothing balm for both of us. Afterward, I feel much better.

“Are you ready to head back now?” he asks.

“Yes.”

He starts to pull me toward the door, but he abruptly stops and spins around to face me. He grabs both sides of my face to ensure I look straight into his eyes. “Please don’t ever disappear or run from me like that again, Alli. I nearly died, thinking of everything that could have happened to you. You need to promise me that you’ll talk to me first. Never run. If you need your space, fine, but don’t disappear. I love you.”

Thinking about Damien having to relive losing his sister breaks my heart. Without hesitation, I say, “I promise. I won’t run, and if I need space, I’ll tell you where I’m going.”

He nods, seemingly satisfied with my response, and he starts to turn around.

I add, “By the way, Damien, I’m in love with you, too.”

Looking to me, he smiles endearingly. “You’re my world.”

Before leaving, I go to grab my discarded dress off the bathroom threshold.

Damien stops me. “Leave it. The dress is beautiful on you, but after seeing you so upset in it, I would rather not have it in our closet.”

Turning away from the dress gives him my answer.

As we head back to the hotel room, Damien’s grasp on me is even more possessive than it was at the gala.

“By the way, I got some show tickets today. Do you still want to go tomorrow?”

I take in a deep breath, trying to relieve all the tension that set up shop in my muscles. “Honestly, I don’t think I’ll be up for it. Can we just spend time together instead? I can reimburse you for the tickets. We’ve been so up and down today that I would like a day with you, me, no drama, and just room service.”

I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I’ve had too much public interference today. I need time to relax and regroup even if most of that time will be spent with Damien between my legs. My sex clenches instantly at the thought of having him to myself for an entire day.

He softly smiles at me. “I much prefer your plan to mine. The tickets will go to good use. I’ll donate them.”

I lean my head on him as we make our final ascent to the penthouse in the elevator.

“By the way, Sam is staying in a different hotel room.”

I look at him questioningly, feeling like a bad friend. In my plans for never-ending lovemaking tomorrow, I completely forgot about Sam being here.

He senses my worry. “She’s fine. I got her a room just in case, but I believe she has a date. She wants you to text her when we get back to the room, so she knows that you’re okay.”

Hmm, Sam has probably decided to have some fun with one of her athlete friends from tonight. My money is on the quarterback.

I grab my phone out of my purse as we approach the suite door. “I’ll go ahead and let her know.”

He nods as we walk into the hotel room.

Me: I’m back at the hotel with Damien. Thanks for everything. Sorry for the drama.

Sam: Drama is my middle name. You know that. No worries. That was some messed-up shit. She’s a total bitch. I would have done the same thing. xoxo

Me: Are you sure you’re okay with staying in another room? xoxo

Sam: Um, if you saw this fine piece of ass I’m with, then you wouldn’t have to ask. Thank your super horny boyfriend for me.

Me: Oh geez. Be safe. See you tomorrow.

Sam: Ha-ha.

The living room’s fireplace is crackling.

“What do you want to do? I don’t want to push you on anything, but I want and need to be inside you. It’s how I know we’re truly okay,” Damien says.

Without a word, I slip my shirt over my head. Damien’s watching me closely, not wanting to assume where this is going. Next, my pants slide down my legs, and I kick them off to the side. I’m still wearing the same undergarments that I had on underneath my ball gown. The bra and matching panties are white sheer lace adorned with a pale pink imprint that leaves nothing to the imagination. He’s savagely staring at me, and my nipples immediately perk up as the wetness between my thighs increases.

“I need you, too, Damien.”

Those magical words are all it takes for Damien to seize control. Graceful and determined, he moves on me like a predator stalking his prey. His hands cup my breasts, and he begins to knead them. “You are so beautiful. You’re the most exquisite thing I have ever laid my eyes on.”

Moaning, I throw my head back and arch into him. In one swift movement, he grabs my bra and tears it in two. I am barely aware of it being discarded somewhere behind me. His mouth descends on my erect nipple, priming me, working me, building me. He gives each one equal attention as his hands move to my waist where he instantly rips my thong away from my body.
Holy hell, this animalistic approach is such a turn-on.

He’s sucking and kissing his way to my mouth. With the amount of force he’s using, I’m sure I’ll have some marks on my body after tonight, and that realization only causes my need for him to reach an all-time high.

I go for his shirt to start undressing him, but apparently, I am too slow because he takes a step back and tears his clothes off his body. In two seconds flat, he’s on me again, backing me up. I know we are getting closer to the fire because I can feel the heat licking my legs as my bare feet step onto a rug made of some kind of soft animal skin. It seems so surreal. As we lower to the floor, our limbs are wild, moving without our control. Starved for one another, we touch each other to the brink of madness.

Damien breaks the kiss to grab a pillow from nearby before he lays it next to me. Before I have a chance to register what it’s for, he has flipped me onto my stomach on top of the pillow. It tilts my ass up into the air at an angle, leaving my sex exposed to his perusing. I might come from just thinking about what will happen next.

“One day, baby, I want to claim your ass but not tonight. For now, I’m going to take you from behind. Eventually though, I will claim and mark every part of your body. Let me know if it’s too much.”