Page 69

“Something,” she murmurs.

I stop walking when we reach the foot of the staircase, turning to face her.

“Care to share?”

She shakes her head, biting down on her bottom lip in the most distracting way.

“Cassie, if you don’t tell me what you want, then I can’t help you,” I say laughing.

Her eyes flick up to meet mine, her expression soft, yearning in her eyes.

“I’ll make you a deal, Damien,” she starts. “Tonight. Just for tonight, I’ll forget everything. Who we are. How we got here. I’ll forget it all. You asked what I want. I want you.”

The last words leave her in a whisper. It’s almost like I’m staring into her soul, seeing the internal battle she’s fighting. And I hate the sight of it. It hurts that it’s causing her this much grief. I don’t want her to forget anything. I want her to choose this. Choose us without any conditions.

But if this is all that she can offer right now, then I’ll allow it. Because I promised to do anything to make her happy. Even at my own expense.

A breath escapes me as I stare at her, “Come here, sweetheart,” I beckon her closer and she moves obediently.

I lift my hand to caress her cheek, running my fingers over her soft, smooth skin.

“There’s no going back from this. You won’t forget tonight,” I state. “Say it.”

She blinks, hazel eyes filled with so much emotion it momentarily takes my breath away.

“I won’t forget tonight,” she agrees.

“Good girl.”

I grip her chin and lift her face up to me. “Stop fighting this, Cassandra. This isn’t a fight you can win.”

She opens her mouth to speak, which is when I kiss her, merging our lips together. A deep rumble emanates from my chest when I feel how soft she is in my hands. How willing. How eager. Her plush lips are supple beneath mine, and her warmhands are tentative as she brings them back to my torso and starts exploring.

Goosebumps erupts over my skin everywhere she moves them, and I revel in her touch.

I never imagined it would still feel this electric, this deeply natural. This spark between us. It’s been burning since the first day we met. She just has to realize that.

“Damien,” she murmurs against my lips and I take that opportunity to slip my tongue into her mouth.

To claim her and take my time with it. Our kisses are languid. They feel right. My hands trail down over her body, resting against her ass. I’ve dreamed of fucking that ass. Of taking her so hard she’d feel me for days.

“You’re wearing way too many clothes right now,” she says against my lips, pulling at the bottoms of my shirt.

I smirk before breaking the kiss. Placing my hand under her thighs, I quickly lift her up in my arms. She gasps, “What are you doing?”

“Taking you to my bed before I fuck you on this staircase,” I answer honestly.

Her cheeks heat at that and all I can think about is my cock in her pretty little mouth. When we arrive at my bedroom, she taps my arm, signaling for me to let her down. She stands at the foot of my bed, the look in her eyes daring to me lose control.

“Take everything off.” She freezes, just for a moment. Then, slowly, her fingers trail to the hem of her dress. She slips it over her head, then piece by piece until she’s standing bare before me. Her bra hits the floor. Then her panties follow. My gaze rakes over every inch of her, claiming her with my eyes before I ever touch her. My cock thick and already straining for her.

“Come here,” I say, voice low, razor-edged.

Her eyes flick up to meet mine and I see the need in them. The hunger. The submission that’s begging to be pulled from her.

“Come here. Now.”

She takes slow steps toward me and stops between my legs, bare and beautiful, like a fucking gift wrapped in nothing but want.