Page 68 of Deliah

“Yeah, for sex. Not public kidnapping.”

He chuckled and pulled me closer, his voice teasing. “You didn’t complain.”

“No, but Cherry’s definitely going to be calling me in the morning once she sobers up.”

“I’ll answer,” he said smugly. “Tell her I did the world a favour.”

“Oh my god,” I groaned, burying my face in his chest. “You’re actually worse than I thought.”

“You love it.”

I paused, letting that settle. Then quietly, I said, “Yeah. I do.”

His hand stilled for a second, like he felt the weight behind those words.

I looked up at him, softer now. “I feel safe with you, Damion.”

He didn’t smirk. Didn’t tease. Just looked down at me, his voice low and sure. “Good. That’s the whole point.”

I nodded, emotion catching somewhere between my chest and my throat. “You make me feel… wanted. Not just in the sexy way. In the real way.”

He brushed a strand of hair from my cheek. “Because you are. All of you. The brat, the drama, the softness underneath.”

“I don’t usually get soft,” I admitted. “Makes me feel weird. Exposed.”

“You can be both,” he said. “Strong and soft. You don’t have to pick.”

I reached for his hand, lacing my fingers through his. “I was thinking of teasing you into round two…”

His grin returned immediately. “Oh yeah?”

“But I’m ninety percent sure my legs wouldn’t survive it.”

He laughed—full and real. “Good. Means I did my job properly.”

“Smug bastard.”

“You want to be careful throwing that word around in this bed, baby girl.”

I bit my lip, looking at him with a tired but cheeky glint in my eyes. “Is that a threat or a promise?”

“Both.”

I laughed again, then let my head fall against his shoulder with a happy sigh. “I’m just soaking it all up. You. This. Everything. Like I don’t want to miss a second.”

His tone softened. “You don’t have to rush. This isn’t a one-night thing.”

“You sure about that?”

“Dead sure.”

He kissed my forehead then—slow, deliberate, grounding. And something in me melted all over again. Eventually, he tucked the blanket around me, his arms still around my waist. He whispered, “Rest now, baby.”

I let my eyes flutter closed, a soft smile on my lips. I fell asleep wrecked. Safe. His.

Chapter 24 –

You Think You’re Funny?