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“I have one,” Damien says smoothly, like this is some kind of game. “But you’ll have to come get it.”

My eyes flick to the holster at his side. I run through a dozen scenarios in my head. Ways to disarm him, ways to die trying. I’m fast. Faster than most men. But Damien? He’s not like most men. He’s quicker, stronger, and dangerous in ways I can’t even calculate.

And then my gaze, stupid, disloyal thing, drops lower. There, beneath the tailored line of his slacks, is a very obvious bulge. Big. Hard to ignore.

Shit.

He shifts slightly, like he knows exactly what I’m looking at. Like he enjoys it. Smug bastard. Well, at least that massive ego is backed up by something.

“What do you want, man?” I mutter, my voice quieter now, laced with reluctant heat.

Get it together, Cassi. You can’t kill him if you're fantasizing about fucking him.

“What the hell do you want?” I ask again. “Besides, isn’t there a rule that the groom can’t see the dress until the big day? Bad luck and all that. Not that I would mind a little bad luck for a wedding I don’t want.”

“Don’t worry, bella. No amount of bad luck will keep us from being man and wife come Saturday,” he says confidently.

I roll my eyes. Asshole.

“So how’s the dress hunting going?” he asks, his gaze lingering on the gown behind me.

“Productive,” I say cooly. “I’ve narrowed it down to five I hate slightly less than the rest.’

“I’m sure you’ll look beautiful in anything, Cassie.”

I made a mistake when I told him to call me that. Because now everything he does, my heart reacts in a way I don’t like. At all.

For a beat, we just stare at each other. I refuse to look away first. And those icy blue eyes are incredibly entrancing.

Eventually, I ask, “So, what are you doing here anyway?”

“I just wanted to inform you that I’m leaving for a short trip. To take care of matters in Chicago. I’ll be back tomorrow,” he states. “And before you get any ideas, just because I won’t be here doesn’t mean you actually have a chance of escaping me. My men will be watching your every move. So be a good girl, alright?”

My eyes roll, again, “Feel free to you know, maybe drop dead and not return?”

“Ouch, sweetheart. And here I thought you were warming up to me.”

“Maybe over your cold dead body,” I suggest.

He smirks, “Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen anytime soon, Cassie.”

I don’t move as he steps forward towards me, “If anything happens, don’t hesitate to call me, alright?”

I look up at him, taking in the lines of his face, his carved jaw, the stubble on his chin. And finally the fierce protectiveness in his eyes. He really does care for me in his own way. It’s equal parts terrifying and flattering?

I don’t know. All I know is that a part of me likes this. Being so important to him. A

That part of me is so going to put me in trouble eventually.

Damien surprises me when he leans closer and places a hand on my chin. I still don’t break eye contact. Our eyes are still connected as he bends his head to place a kiss on my forehead.

My heart thuds at the gesture.

“See you tomorrow,bella.”

“Have a nice trip,” I murmur, the words sincere.

He offers me one last smile before turning around and leaving. The door shuts behind him and I exhale slowly.