Beautifully Damaged

by Gina Sevani

  "All right, you ready to get your ass whooped?"

  "All I can say Damon is that you better bring it!"

  I shook my arms loose, stretched my neck, and cracked my fingers. He watched me closely with excitement in his eyes.

  "Problem?"

  "You're beautiful."

  Some of the boys heard, made gagging sounds, and a few of the girls swooned a little.

  "Don't try and sweet talk me, it won't work." I smiled.

  "You see all these guys watching, right? This could end in tragedy or a glorious victory. We have egos that need protecting you know."

  "Are you trying to talk me into letting you win?"

  "Just trying to throw you off your game, baby."

  "I'm in it to win it."

  "Let's do the damn thing," he said.

  I got situated behind the wheel and picked out all of the extras I wanted my car to have. I chose the black Charger like his but pinked it up a little.

  A pained expression settled over his face. "No… no, you didn't do that beast of a car like that!"

  "It's awesome."

  "It's girly!"

  "It's my car!" I yelled. "I'm a girl."

  His car took off while I was in the middle of screaming at him.

  "You freaking cheater," I shouted.

  I was way behind but he would choke and mess up. I just had to sit back patiently and make no mistakes.

  "No mistakes, Ariel," I whispered.

  "Are you talking to yourself, babe?"

  "Yeah, actually I am."

  "Keep doing it, maybe it'll help you get third or fourth place." He chuckled.

  "No I think I'll take the lead very soon."

  "No way."

  "Damon, you remember when you told me I didn't need certain things for your house tonight?" I had to be subtle so the little kids wouldn't know what I was talking about.

  A few seconds passed before he caught on. "Now's not the time," he growled.

  "Well, I thought about what you said and right before we left, I took them off."

  I heard his car crash and he hit the steering wheel with the palm of his hand. He said a whole line of profanities under his breath; hopefully the younger kids couldn't make any of them out. I took the lead with one more corner to handle before I slid across the finish lane. I jumped up and graciously bowed… a few times. Damon cradled his head on the steering wheel and hadn't looked up, not once, since he wrecked.

  "Damon, baby, you okay?" I said in a cheerful voice.

  His shoulders shook in a little laughter, I think. "That was so messed up, Ariel!"

  "What?" I innocently shrugged.

  Our conversation was broken off by some boys giving Damon a hard time about not only losing to me in air hockey but racing as well.

  "Dude, you suck!" one in the background on my team shouted.

  Damon glared at the poor little kid and he backed up a step.

  "Maybe he let her win. I heard guys do that all of the time," said the tall kid.

  "I didn't let her win." Damon was still pouting.

  "Just say you did, it'll save your pride, man!" a cute, little boy shouted.

  I leaned down to the adorable, little boy.

  "When you're old enough for a girlfriend; if you ever have to let her win, choose another girl," I said.

  "Yes, ma'am." He grinned. Little cutie was missing more teeth than he had.

  I noticed Damon smirking at me. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

  "Girlfriend?"

  "I didn't mean…"

  "Wife… sounds better." The smirk became a smile.

  I rolled my eyes at him, trying to ignore his last comment. "You're not one of those boys that cry and whine when they get spanked, are you?"

  "No, but I do get even."

  "Promises, promises, let's get out of here."

  "You sure there isn't anything else you want to kick my ass in?"

  "Hmmm, I think I'm good for now."

  Damon told the kids bye. I watched him ruffle the hair of the little one I'd talked to earlier. I hadn't had that much fun in a long time, and it had completely taken my mind off of everything.

  Once outside, Damon opened my car door and before I could bend down and slide inside, he pulled me close.

  "Did you have fun?"

  I smiled and kissed the corner of his lips. "I did. Thank you, Damon."

  "I love your smile, Ariel."

  "Are you trying to get me naked, Damon?"

  "Hilarious." He reached behind me and squeezed my ass then caged me against the frame of the car, pinning me with his hips and chest.

  "What are you thinking about right now, this second? I'll know when you're lying, so don't even try it."

  Fine.

  "I'm thinking about how much I love your hands on me."

  "Where on you exactly?"

  "Everywhere."

  "More specific."

  "You're dangerous." I slid down into my seat and left him leaning against the car door frame. He banged his head on the roof of the car. I laughed, but he still didn't move. His hips were in direct line of sight with my face and his shirt had risen up just a little so I could see an inch of his abs. I ran the tip of my finger along the edge of his jeans before I even realized what I was doing.

  "Ariel."

  Thankfully, it was mostly dark where we were parked. His hips jerked and before I could get all the way across a second time with the tip of my finger, he pulled away. He quickly adjusted himself and made sure I didn't have any body parts hanging out the door before he shut it.

  Damon got behind the wheel and cranked the ignition. The engine came to life with a loud rumble. With the vibration of his powerful car under my ass and thighs I became even more turned on. He revved the engine up then placed his hand on the gearshift. One long look at his muscled forearm had me crawling over onto his lap.

  "Whoa, baby, what are you…?"

  My lips found exactly what they were searching for, and he wasted no time in granting me access. Damon was so good with his mouth and although I started the kiss, he took over complete control. My hands were holding his hostage with the tightest grip I could possibly have. I didn't know why I was holding him down, but the control felt so good. He kissed me like he was drowning, and I was his only salvation for air. He poured his heart and soul into every kiss.

  I didn't think there was anything sexier than when someone wanted their other half as much as that person wanted them. Even his simplest touches were erotic. He was gorgeous, fascinating, strong, loving, sweet, and just purely sinful. I moved my lips down his neck and back across his ear. I bit gently as I rotated my hips against his. Damon tried to move his hands but I wouldn't release him.

  "Ariel, let go of my hands… now baby," he growled so sexily.

  I didn't listen to him and within two seconds he got out of my hold, his hands fisted in my hair as his hips pushed up against my core. We found our perfect rhythm. Everything clicked to me. I was out of breath, achy, and I felt like my body was on fire with the need of release. Finally the courage came to say out loud what I desperately wanted.

  "Make love to me, Damon," I whispered.

  He moaned and pulled his head back to search my eyes. Damon uttered a curse and hit the light switch inside the car.

  "Baby, once you give that to me, there's no going back."

  "I want you." I squeezed his legs beneath my thighs to emphasize. His entire hand cupped me, he put just enough pressure against me to momentarily stop the ache, and once he pulled his hand away it came back full force.

  "Damon, please."

  "Shit! Stop talking to me like that. I'm only a man with so much control and I'm not taking your virginity in a freaking car."

  "It doesn't matter." I tried to argue with him.

  "Ariel, lean back against the steering wheel." His voice told me there was no denying him. He flipped the light off. Damon placed one hand on my hip, the other he laid open palm right against my chest until my upper
body did exactly what he asked.

  One of my favorite songs by Ed Sheeran—"Thinking Out Loud" started playing on the radio.

  Damon tapped his fingers to the beat of the music across the side of my hip as he stared up at me. I could barely see him because of the low lighting, but I could feel him and I knew he was looking right at me. He slid his hands across the bottom of my shirt and pulled it to where it sat right below my bra. I sensed him lean up, his wet warm lips nibbled and kissed down the side of my ribs.

  "Holy shit." I gasped and I felt his smile against my skin. He pulled my shirt over my breasts and kissed and licked between them. Damon moved along to the swell of each. His right hand had the back of my shirt fisted, his left hand was holding my hip tightly, guiding my movements, oh so slowly against him to the beat of the song. I was panting for him. My body was climbing higher and higher, I wasn't sure how much more I could handle.

  "Damon." I put everything in that one word and pleaded with him to understand what my body needed. He reached for the button of my shorts, unclasped them, and released the zipper. He pulled my face toward his and as his tongue explored my mouth, his fingers caressed me. Once he pushed me down against his length that was all it took. In seconds, I found my release. I screamed into his mouth, and he moaned his approval.

  His strong hands gripped my hips as we steadied our breathing. I couldn't ever remember feeling so out of control and loving every second of it. I leaned my forehead against his and tried to get my breathing and heart rate back to normal. Damon's hands ran lightly over the exposed skin on my back.

  "You're so damn sexy and amazing, Ariel."

  "You make me feel that way."

  Damon helped me right my clothes, and I could tell he was a little more than uncomfortable as he adjusted himself to drive home.

  "Stop looking at me like that, you did it." He laughed.

  "I'm sorry…"

  "Don't be. So what's next Ariel, anywhere you want to go?"

  "I thought making love was…" I didn't know how to finish that sentence.

  "Woman, you're insatiable," he said, with a smile on his face.

  I was! "Only with you."

  "I just want to make sure you know what you're asking for," he said.

  I didn't know how much more clear I could possibly be with him. I was lucky to have a guy care so much but it was getting crazy.

  "I know you've slept with a lot of women, and I also know you just give them what they want without the third freaking degree. What makes them so special? Why do they get a part of you that I don't?"

  He looked pissed and speechless at the same time.

  "Hmmm, is it that you're more turned on and out of control with them than you are with me?"

  "Don't ever say that stupid shit again, Ariel!"

  I threw my hands up in the air. "Whatever, just drive!"

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  "YOU'RE SO DAMN WRONG. THERE ISN'T a single thing about any of those girls that was special to me. You are! I never cared about them or what they wanted. I never cared to make sure it was special or something they would remember forever, and I sure as hell never watched their bodies come undone and admired them the way I do yours."

  I knew in my heart what he said was true, I just couldn't shake the feeling I wasn't enough. We drove for miles in silence.

  Damon had a long gravel driveway, I hadn't paid much attention before but it didn't seem like he had any neighbors for miles. His house sat off the main road and was surrounded by a lot of land. I got a glimpse of Damon and his entire body leaned away from mine toward the driver's side door. I would put money on him being pissed off considering his posture was so rigid. The car didn't creep to a stop; he pretty much slammed on the brakes. I reached for the door handle fast because it'd been about ten minutes too late from when I needed to get my ass out.

  "Don't open your door!"

  "Excuse me?"

  But he was already out of the car; he either didn't hear me or just chose to ignore me. I watched him stomp across the front of the car, and then he jerked my door open.

  I stepped out of the car. "Always the gentlemen, I see."

  "One of these days that mouth is going to get you in a whole lot of trouble."

  "Why did you bring me here when it's clear you don't want me? Just take me home." I crossed my arms and kicked at the gravel with my shoe.

  "Why can't you just understand?"

  "I do freaking understand you want my first time to be special. I understand that you want me to be one hundred percent sure." I clenched my teeth. "Well guess what, I'm one thousand percent sure. I love that you care so much about my needs, okay? I do. I'm certain because I love you, and there's not a damn thing I can do about it." I shouted.

  Damon appeared to be in shock, staring at me with his sexy freaking face. He was seriously pissing me off.

  "Say it again."

  I gave him a dumbfounded look; I didn't have time to fight with him. "Screw this!" I turned my back to him and walked to the opposite side of the car. I searched for my phone.

  "Who are you calling, Ariel?" Damon walked up behind me.

  "Let's see… this pathetic girl has five contacts." I held each one of my fingers up to the sky. "One… is you, can't call it. Two… Grams, not calling her. Three is Trish, she has kids. Four is Big Joe, and he would kick your ass for making me mad. So that leaves us at Five — Xavier.

  His nostrils flared. "Why are you trying to piss me off?"

  "I'm not. It's a gift."

  "Say it again."

  "Are you crazy? Say what Damon?"

  "Say you love me one more time." His hand cradled my face as he pulled me into his body.

  "I never said…"

  "Yes you did, hush and think back."

  "Shit…" I did say it. He pissed me off, and I just said it without thinking about it.

  "Now… since we're on the same page. You can put that phone back where it goes because I don't feel like beating the shit out of anyone tonight. That boy is stupid, and he would actually come for you."

  "I would never call him to come here."

  "I know, because you love me." His eyes lit up.

  "How could I not?" I said.

  "Why were we fighting?"

  "Because, you like pissing me off!" I smiled at him.

  "Do you want to go inside or stand out here and fight all night?"

  "You are so turned on right now, aren't you?"

  He licked his lips. "You have no idea."

  "That's sick." I pushed him away from me and walked toward the house.

  "I can't help you're sexy when you're mad. Baby I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you walk away." He jogged to catch up with me. I decided he didn't even need a response so I just flipped him off instead.

  "You know you love it when I stare at you."

  "You're right I do, and if I ever catch you staring at someone else, those sexy eyes of yours might not look so pretty," I said.

  He smiled wickedly.

  "What's with your face, Romeo?"

  "Well, other than I'm incredibly hot, manly, and sexy, if you must know, last night when you were hammered you told me I had sexy eyes."

  "I kind of remember that, anything else?"

  "Yeah, you said everything about me was sexy."

  "Everything?"

  "Everything," he said.

  We stood in the entryway to the house and I turned to face Damon. I didn't hide the fact that I was checking him out. One minute I could be so pissed at him and the next insanely turned on. It was absolutely crazy, but even if I could I didn't think I would change anything.

  "You done?" He spread his arms wide in questioning.

  "Take off your shirt."

  He ripped it from his body faster than I could even blink and threw it at my face.

  "Turn around." I made a motion with my hand for him to do as I said.

  "No, I need to go shower," he said with a grin.

  "Please, just humor me."<
br />
  Slowly he did as I asked. His body was amazing. "Dayummm," I whispered to myself. "How fast can you shower?"

  "You in a rush?" He turned back around and reached for me. I quickly sidestepped him. I didn't need his hands on me at that very moment. "Are you giving me orders, Ariel?"

  "Yeah… I guess so. Are you going to obey?"

  "I will this once but you have to do something for me."

  "What's that, Romeo?

  "When I get out that shower, you better be laying in my bed…" One side of his mouth quirked into a half smile. "Naked."

  "Yes, sir!"

  Damon unbuttoned his jeans and slowly took them off. My eyes were glued to his muscular frame, if the house was on fire I wasn't sure I could have moved. He threw his jeans at me as well, when I thought he was going to turn for the shower he stopped, and dropped his boxers.

  Wow, now, that's a nice ass.

  I whistled at him as he took off to shower. I figured I had a few minutes so I grabbed water out of the fridge and walked toward the room that held all of his music equipment. I hadn't paid attention before, but that room was amazing and even larger than I'd thought at first. Painted a deep gray, with skylights in the ceiling. A long, black sectional couch sat off to the side. Several photos lined the wall. I suddenly got the urge to play. I sat down behind the piano, and the first song that came to mind was— "Stay".

  Ever since the night we'd danced to it, I hadn't been able to shake it. I sang it all the time. That entire dance and time spent together played in the back of my mind constantly. My eyes were closed when Damon slipped behind me. My body was so in tuned with his. He had perfect timing for the guy's part of the song, but I was prepared to sing it like I usually did. Damon didn't leave me hanging; he started singing. His voice was so alluring and smooth. A stranger could listen to him sing anything and totally believe it. Once we started singing together, I glanced at his bare somewhat wet torso all the way down to his bare feet. He wore loose charcoal gray pants. I swore they looked silk and my fingers itched to run across the fabric. I let my eyes wander back up his body at their own pace until I reached one of the most beautiful parts of Damon, his eyes.

  "Hey, beautiful." He smiled.