I’d been holding my breath for a while, and I let it out as I responded. “What does that mean?”
“It means I won’t see anyone else.” His hand rested against the side of my face, his fingers on my neck and cheek. “If that’s what you want.”
“When I said I wasn’t looking for anything serious, I meant it. It’s so soon after my divorce. But I wasn’t expecting to meet someone like you. I don’t know what I want for the future, but I know it drives me crazy when I imagine you with someone else. I don’t want to share you as long as you’re in my bed and I’m in yours.”
His eyes shifted back and forth as he looked into mine, taking in every word I said. “Alright.”
That was it? It was that simple? “Could we stop using condoms, then?” I’d never used them while I was married, and I missed that. Damien felt good covered in latex, but he probably felt amazing when it was just him. “I’m on the pill.”
“You want me to come inside you?”
Just the thought turned me on. “Hell yeah.”
His eyes darkened in intensity, like he imagined the sensation and it turned him on too. “I’ll get you my papers.”
“Alright…I will too.” I was happy I got what I wanted without chasing him off, but I was disappointed that his feelings weren’t clear. Did he want the same thing? Or was he just doing it for me? And he never answered my question.
He seemed to know what I was thinking. “I wasn’t with a woman last night. Just a very obnoxious man.”
“Do you want this too?” It was still a casual relationship…just one with a few parameters. I wasn’t asking anything of substance. I wasn’t going back on what I’d said that first night on the sidewalk.
“Do I want to come inside you?” he whispered, his voice deep. “Yes, Annabella. I want to come inside you every night until your pussy breaks.”
I got to the restaurant first.
I was an innately confident person, but I was nervous for this interview for several reasons.
One, I actually wanted this job.
And two, she was a friend of Damien’s, so I wanted to make a good impression. I cared more about that than actually getting the job.
A pregnant woman walked inside, dark hair pulled over one shoulder, with diamond earrings in her lobes. She was in a tight black dress, which made her small stomach more noticeable.
That couldn’t be her, so I looked out the window again, my thoughts returning to the handsome man who had commandeered my thoughts. I used to wonder what Liam was doing throughout the day, who was in his bed at night, but now I rarely thought about him. I hadn’t noticed until that moment.
“Annabella?” The pregnant woman approached my table, giving me a genuine smile.
This was the woman. “Yes.” I got to my feet and smoothed out my dress. “Such a pleasure to meet you.” I shook her hand. “I’ve always been an admirer of your hotel. I’ve never actually stayed there, but I’ve had lunch a few times, and those flowers in the lobby have always been special to me.”
That seemed to have significance to her because her eyes softened at the compliment. “Thank you…that means a lot to me.” She released her hand and moved to the chair across from me. “I’m Sofia Lombardi, by the way.”
Sofia? The same Sofia who was texting Damien that night? “Beautiful name…” Could she be the same person? Why would Damien stop talking to her and then she offer me a job? It couldn’t be.
“As is yours. So, tell me about yourself.”
“Well, I got divorced a couple months ago. I’m sure Damien mentioned that. It didn’t end well, and I had to start over. I got married very young, so I didn’t spend that time preparing for a career. I assumed I would be a stay-at-home mom…but that wasn’t meant to be. But I’m very bright, I learn quick, and I’m easy to get along with.”
“I can tell by the way Damien speaks about you.”
“Yeah?” I asked, wondering exactly what he’d said.
“Yes. And Damien doesn’t say nice things about anybody.” She grinned. “He’s kind of a grouchy old man, you know?”
I laughed because her assessment was right on the nose. “Very true. He can be moody.”
She got down to business and started talking about the responsibilities of the job, but I wasn’t nervous anymore. It seemed as if she’d liked me before she’d even seen my face, that whatever Damien had said about me was good enough for her.
I wondered what he’d said…
17
Damien
The receptionist handed me the envelope as my phone rang.
“Thanks.” I opened the flap as I walked outside. My phone continued to vibrate in my pocket as I stepped onto the sidewalk. I fished it out and looked at the screen. It was Sofia, so I answered as I pulled the report from the envelope. “So, what did you think?” I stopped near my car and read the results.