Page 76 of Lumi

“Ye’re a sore subject around my house. I’ve never told Siobhan that I slept with ye the night she broke up with me, but I think she suspects it. And even if she would be fine with you donatin’ eggs, I wouldn’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because…” I trailed off and scratched my shoulder. “Because if ye and I had a child together, I don’t think I could…”

“You could what?”

My Adam’s apple bobbed as I pressed out the words, “I couldn’t stay away from ye. These past years ye’ve grown up to be everythin’ a man could dream of, and every time I see ye it feels like I’m fallin’ deeper in love with you.”

Lumi watched me as if she was trying to catch me in a lie.

“I mean it, Lumi! I’m so fockin’ in love with ye that I get butterflies in my stomach when you smile at me. That’s why I hate seein’ ye with Spencer.”

Lumi still looked skeptical. “Let me get this straight. You married Siobhan because she was pregnant, and you wanted a family. Now, staying with her means that you might never have a family, and yet you have stayed with her for years out of obligation.”

A deep groan came from my throat.

“I take that as a yes. And yet, you’re here, asking me to make love with you and telling me that you’re falling in love with me.”

My eyes locked with hers, and my heart pounded like a war drum. “Ye don’t believe me, but it’s the honest truth.”

“You’re right. I don’t believe you. We’ve been through this, and you didn’t want me. You told me a million times to find someone perfect for me, my own age, and now I did. Spencer is sophisticated, successful, wealthy, and with good family and connections.”

“I know I said that, but I changed my mind.” I leaned closer, trying to use my charm. “I bet he doesn’t make ye come like I did, does he?”

“All the time,” Lumi fired at me and got up from the armrest to create distance between us. “Look, I’m sorry that you’re stuck in a bad marriage, but I’ve sworn to never be second again in my life.”

I moved to the edge of my seat and pleaded with her. “But don’t ye see that ye were always first? Meghan felt it, and so does Siobhan. My heart always belonged to you, Lumi. I was waitin’ for ye to grow older.”

“You’re drunk, Damian. You didn’t wait! You married Siobhan, and now you’ll have to sort out your mess. I’m with Spencer.”

“Why are ye like that? Ye used to love me.”

Lumi folded her arms and lowered her brow. “I still love you enough that I wouldn’t let you cheat on your wife. We both know that you would regret it in the morning. And more importantly, I would regret it because I love myself enough that I will never be used and discarded again.”

I reached out to cup her face. “It wasn’t like that, princess. You were young, and Siobhan got pregnant. What choice did I have?” I tried to kiss her, but Lumi pushed away from me and stood up with a hand to her collarbone.

“Don’t!”

“But I love ye,” I said with my emotions bared.

Lumi didn’t soften like I’d hoped. Instead, she looked me straight in the eye. “You’ll get over it. Just like I did.”

Her words felt like a slap to my face, and I had no comeback.

“You were right when you said I had a youthful infatuation. That’s all it was.”

“But…”

“I treasure our friendship, Damian. You mean a lot to me.”

“Is it our age difference?”

Lumi shook her head. “No. It was never that. We’re just too different. Tomorrow when you wake up next to Siobhan, you’ll be happy that you didn’t cheat on her.”

“Siobhan and I… ehh… we haven’t shared a bedroom for the past year.”

Lumi reached out and touched my elbow. “I’m sorry, Damian. It sounds like you two have to decide if you want to work on your marriage or set each other free. Either way, it’s your mess, not mine.”