Damn it, he did that on purpose.
We are stupidly smiling at each other when I hear what has to be his mother’s voice.
“Damien, it is so good to see you, my dear son.”
It’s strange I’ve never met her, and I’m now married to her son.
Damien breaks his eyes from me, and we turn our focus over to the awesome threesome standing before us. His mother, Meredith, is dressed to the nines in her floor-length sequined gown. She has blonde hair and blue eyes, like Damien’s. She is stunning. There was no way that his parents wouldn’t have beautiful children. In the pictures I’ve seen of Rebecca, she was remarkably exquisite.
Damien’s dad, Jon, is just as I remember him. He’s an older version of Damien but with green eyes. Of course, in the middle of his parents is Cassandra, looking absolutely heartbroken. She’s even more gorgeous than I remember with her perfect body, super tall stature, and blonde hair. I think the slit in her skirt is even higher than the last time I saw her in Vegas. One wrong shift, and all her unmentionables would become mentionable.
I’m trying to suppress my groan at how sad she looks. She probably just had a quick closet hookup with Ben and who knows whom else. Slut.
Damien stiffly greets his mom. “Mother, Father, Cassandra, You haven’t been properly introduced to my wife, Allison.”
I try to stand tall and confident as I smile. I offer my hand first to his mother.
At first, she looks as if she has swallowed something vile, but she regains her composure and gives me a weak handshake as she checks her surroundings. “Nice to meet you, Allison.”
Her voice is nothing what a mother’s should feel like. Instead, she is cold and distant.
Politely, I respond. “You, too. It’s nice to see you again, Jon and Cassandra.”
I offer my hand to both of them, and if their handshake were any limper, it would be like shaking hands with a wet noodle.
His dad takes a deep breath and is working on reining in his temper. The bulging vein on his neck is proof of Jon’s sentiment toward me. I decide not to move forward with any small chat. There’s no need to press something that is unwanted. They have to know that with one misstep, they will be escorted off the premises, and I don’t want to antagonize them. Plus, I can’t imagine his mother wants to cause any type of scene in a social gathering.
Damien pulls me to him and wraps his hand around my waist. His fingers splay somewhat across my stomach, and he begins very lightly moving them. His parents and Cassandra’s eyes zero in on his movement.
Oh. My. Gosh. I’m gonna kill him.
He’s letting them think I’m pregnant. His smile is large. Even though he only confirmed us being married, they’re going to assume.
Shit.
I just stand there and continue to smile pleasantly. A tear slips down Cassandra’s cheek, and both of his parents go to her side and give her a consoling squeeze. I mean, yes, if her far-fetched story about miscarrying a baby and losing the love of her life were true, then this would be terribly sad and horrible. But the fact that it’s all made up, and she just wants Damien for fame, fortune, and who knows what makes me totally unsympathetic to this entire situation. Damien’s parents believe every word she utters.
Jon is the next to speak. “I hope you two—”
He is immediately cut off by Meredith. “Jon, dear, let’s not have this discussion here. Damien, we would like to have a reception for finding who took our dear Rebecca.”
It’s obvious who wears the pants in this family, but she’s smarter than what I had thought.
My husband is losing his patience with the entire situation as I feel his fingers dig ever so slightly into my hips. I hope his parents can read their son because it’s just about time for them to stop pressing him so hard with how they are acting.
It breaks my heart because I can see this conversation is not going as Damien even remotely hoped. Deep down, he wanted his parents to be happy for him, but they’re just too selfish for that. When we talked about getting married and he mentioned potentially doing a reception with his family, I heard such hope. The only reason they are even throwing something is to get Damien there to strengthen their social status.
Makes. Me. Sick.
And just like that, his mother has lost Damien again. Eventually, he’s going to stop coming back to give her a chance.
“Mother, let’s do a brunch on Saturday. Our schedule is busy while we are here this time.”
“Oh, honey, I wanted to have a big affair. A brunch is too simple.” She puts on her most dazzling smile, trying to manipulate the situation.
Does anyone else find this odd?
He has his no-nonsense tone when he responds, “It won’t happen this time.”
“Okay, let’s do a brunch, and then next time you are in town, we can do a big affair at the house.”
Their formality is such a foreign concept to me. My parents would have been hugging us, loving us, and peppering us with honeymoon questions. Showing affection was as natural as breathing to my parents.
“Sounds good, Mother.”
His mother provides her cheek for him to kiss, and Damien stiffly bends at the waist to give it. I try to step aside, but I’m held in place, which makes the whole situation even more awkward. I’m not even sure she was able to give him one before he straightened back up.
Cassandra walks up to us as his parents are turning to leave.
Gah, she is so frustratingly delusional. She needs to get her own man and stop trying to take mine. I can barely hear what she says.
“Damien, I still forgive you, and I’ll take you back when you realize you’ve been trapped by this girl. She got pregnant on purpose. It might not even be yours. Did you think of that?”
My head snaps up, and I am about to say something, but Damien begins talking before I get a chance.
In a voice of ice and steel to where I can barely even hear him replying, he says, “You listen here, you bitch. You stay away from me, and you stay the fuck away from Alli. I will never regret my decision in breaking up with you. What you did was the best thing you could have done because it brought me to Alli. We were fuck buddies, and that’s it.”
If I hadn’t locked my jaw into place, I would have to pick it up off the floor right now. The utter contempt in his voice was palpable. With that, he turns, still holding on to me, and he moves us in the opposite direction. He’s radiating with fury, and his stride is stiff and fast.
I try to lighten the mood by letting him know that I’m okay. “Well, that went better than expected.”
He looks at me incredulously as I shrug.
“Damien, it could have been worse.”
He’s still looking at me like I’ve grown a second head.
“Don’t look at me like I’m crazy. I didn’t deck her, so I’d say it was a success.”
He grabs my face and gives me a kiss in front of anyone and everyone willing to watch. It stays gentle, and he pulls back all too soon. I want more. I need more as the desire comes flooding back.
“You were made for me. Never stop loving me,” he says.
I smile at him as someone clears his throat behind us. I quickly whisper, “Never.”
It’s probably a sponsor. When we turn, I see it’s actually Dustin, the wide receiver for the team. Last time I saw him was on the football field. I was taking pictures of the team for fun while Damien was off with the press. Dustin almost tried to forcefully take me on a tour of the stadium.
I know he’s on the list of suspects Bane is investigating, but nothing has come up—yet. He gives me the creeps.
Damien’s finger grazes across my hip bone, practically causing me to start panting just by that small movement. I just want some alone time with my husband.
Dustin greets me first. “Allison, it’s good to see you again.”
“Hello, Dustin. Thank you.”
He turns to Damien. “Mr. Wales.” Dustin’s expression changes to a somewhat unpleasant one.
“Dustin, Frank showed me your times. They’re looking good,” Damien says.
A cocky smirk appears on Dustin’s face. “Thanks.”
Damien shakes his hand and is about to say something when a balding man with a belly taps Damien on the shoulder. Damien pulls me a little closer to him as he starts to talk to the other guy.
Dustin moves a little closer to me. “How’s the photography going? I heard you resigned from the magazine you were working at.”
“Yes, I did. It’s going well.” My mind is going all sorts of places. Serious weirdo vibes.
Dustin leans over and whispers, “I’m still looking forward to taking you on a private tour.”
My face heats at his tone, and I’m about to respond when he immediately turns and strides away.
Damien’s low voice causes me to jump.
“What did that fucker say to you?”
Matching his volume, I respond, “Same as last time. He wants to take me on a private tour. He gives me a bad vibe.” A shiver involuntarily runs down my spine.
Damien’s line of sight connects with Bane, and he gives a head gesture toward Dustin. Immediately, Bane speaks into his earpiece and nods back at Damien in acknowledgment.
“What’s he doing?” I ask.
“Watching Dustin.”
We turn as the next person approaches, and Damien’s caress goes down my bare back. The Dustin situation and my anxiety about him begin to fade.
Damien continues to stroke my arm every so often. It’s driving me insane, and I’m about to burst into flames right here and now. Quite frankly, I couldn’t care less what anyone here thinks of me at this point. I’m tempted to strip down to hurry this process along. I’m trying with all my might to keep a smile on my face and answer any questions directed at me.
As his hand grazes the part of my stomach that causes that flip-flop feeling, I decide I’ve had enough. What feels like the hundredth person is leaving. This is my chance. Another executive is on the prowl toward us.
Damien looks at me and asks, “Are you doing okay?”
Really? Is he seriously asking me that? If this is how he’s going to play, fine by me.
I give him my patented sweet smile. “I’m great. I do need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back.”
He looks at me, scrutinizing my entire body.
Yes, jerk, I am a throbbing mess because of you.
As I start to walk off, he grabs my waist. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Dinner will be served soon.”
I look up at him, and I know he can see the exasperation in my eyes.
He leans in and whispers, “We both know why you want to go. It’s not time yet, and there’s no way in hell I won’t be the one to get you off.”
I blow out a frustrated breath as I hear someone call Damien’s name from behind. We turn around, and this time, I’m more in front of him than I have been. Putting on my I’m-getting-irritated smile, I prepare to go through another torturous round.
Damien brings me closer to him. Part of me wants to stomp on his foot. Then, I feel it.
Holy hell, he’s getting aroused with me in front of him as we are talking to this complete stranger.
Turnabout is fair play, and I bump into him gently, causing his erection to jump against me. His hand ever so inconspicuously comes to my hip to hold me in place. Of course, my response is another nudge, and I hear a harsh intake of air.
Take that, buddy.
I’m even more in a haze as our current conversation comes to an end. Bane then approaches.
I just want two minutes alone with my husband. That’s all it will take at this point. Is that too much to ask?
Whatever it is that Bane is telling Damien, it’s not good news. Damien’s brows pinch together, and he starts searching for something, or rather someone, in the room.
He takes out his phone, holding me in front of him. I’m sure he has what is now a raging hard-on.
“Ben, it’s Damien. Fix the seating chart, or it’s your job.”
He disconnects the call and makes a simple adjustment to his pants inconspicuously before escorting me to what appears to be balcony doors leading outside of the banquet hall.
He leans in and whispers, “Just keep going. I don’t care who stops us. Keep going.”
I giggle and mentally sigh. I’m about to get what I have needed since we left the hotel room. As we get to the doors, he turns his head to the two security guards that have flanked us on our way.
“No one comes out or gets near this door. Understood?”
In unison, they both reply, “Yes, sir.”
With that, he pulls me outside and shuts the door. Before I have time to react and take in my surroundings, he takes me and kisses me to the point of completely scrambling my brain. His tongue is commanding, totally invading and possessing me. It takes everything I have not to put my hands in his hair, but some part of me realizes we have to go back into the fundraiser.
As I’m coming back to reality, I realize my skirt has been hiked up to my hips, and my thong is ripped from my body.
He picks me up and puts me on the thick stone ledge of the balcony. As he steps closer, he unzips his pants and frees himself. I lick my lips at the thought that his thick length is about to be inside me.
Oh yes, I need this so badly.
He poises himself at my entrance and puts his hands on the sides of my hips. I whimper in anticipation as I watch it, needing the penetration.
“Look at me, Alli.”
My gaze immediately goes to his.
“What we have together, I have never had with anyone else.”
He slowly pushes himself in, and I cannot help but moan at the relief.
Finally.
“You’re my one and only, baby.” He slowly pulls himself out. “Don’t ever doubt my love for you. You surpass all women to me.” He slowly pushes himself back in.
I try to move, and he seizes my hips to hold me completely immobile.
“You are my life.” He slides excruciatingly slow back in.
I close my eyes as I work on keeping the desire at bay.
“Look at me, Alli.”
My eyes snap open to meet his. I love his commanding tone, which has my desire climbing higher and higher.
“We were made for each other. Never doubt that our connection is as deep as they come or that you’re not good enough to be my wife.”
I moan my assent and bite my lip in order to keep from closing my eyes as he moves back into me, hard and slamming home.
“Say it.”
“I’m yours completely, body and soul.”
With that, he picks up the pace, hitting that spot. I’m so close after all the foreplay that I’ve been through. I explode and fly into an intense orgasm that seems to go on for an exquisite amount of time. His lips kiss me to swallow up my moans of ecstasy. Keeping my eyes trained on his causes the orgasm to be more powerful as he climaxes inside me. I instantly feel the warmth spread through me.
So. Worth. The. Wait.
“How was that, baby?”
I smile up at him. “You really do know how to show a girl a good time, you know that?”
He gives me that devilish grin, and I swat him on the chest. He pulls out of me and stands me up gently off the balcony ledge. He readjusts my dress first prior to zipping himself back up.
Giving me a gentle kiss, we head back inside, and I feel so much better as I mold myself to his side. The orgasmic haze has me not caring at all about what’s going on in the ballroom. I don’t know how he knew what I needed tonight and when I needed it, but he did. My sexual frustration kept me off balance just enough to keep me from overreacting to his family and Cassandra and from being debuted as his wife.
I walk back into the banquet hall feeling better, and I’m ready to
take on anything that comes my way. Damien looks knowingly down at me and gives me a lopsided grin.
Gah, he knows he was right and is being smug about it.
I cannot help but just give a small giggle as he pulls me closer.
He’s mine, and I am his.
“What were you talking to Ben about on the phone before we came out here?” I ask.
Something tightens in his eyes, but he’s still feeling the aftereffects of his orgasm, too. Being able to have that type of effect on him is a powerful feeling.
“Cassandra was seated next to you at our table. It’s been handled.”
I actually laugh. I don’t know why, but now that I know what’s going on between Ben and Cassandra, I can’t help my reaction. “They’re ridiculous.”
He wraps his arm around me as we make our way toward our table. “Well, it’s been taken care of. Let’s go have a nice dinner, Mrs. Wales.”
“Sounds fantastic, oh husband of mine.”
I wake up to someone kissing me on the forehead, and I whine in protest. It has to be too early to get up.
Damien gives me another kiss. “Baby, I’ve got to go to a meeting. It’s only five in the morning. Go back to sleep. I’ve left Sam’s room information on the table. It’ll be later this afternoon before I get back. If you need something, just let me know. I’ll be at the convention center across the street.”
Sleepily, I give him a kiss back. “Okay, love you.”
“I love you, too, baby.”
He gives me one more kiss before I drift off again. If it’s only five in the morning, my poor guy has gotten less than three hours of sleep. He might have to stop his late-night extracurricular activities with me when he has early morning meetings.
I can’t really think about anything else before sleep claims me.
An insistent beeping on my phone pulls me out of my deep sleep. Gah, why can’t everyone just let me sleep a little bit?
Damien’s a wild man at night, and I just want some rest. Finally, I grab the phone and try to focus on the screen with my sleep-laden eyes. After squinting a few times, I’m able to read the text.
Sam: Get your ass downstairs. I’m hungry and want to play. Security won’t let me up the stairs. Jeremy and I are about to have a throw down. I’m in fear for his life.
Love Me (Trust Series #2) Page 9
