First

by Penelope Sky

  He turned off a couple lights then got into bed beside me. He lay on his back and stared at the ceiling for a moment before he closed his eyes. His final deep breath left his lungs, his body sinking into the mattress.

  It was obvious he was miserable.

  I welcomed myself to his side of the bed, immediately feeling the warmth that radiated from his body like the sun. My face moved to his shoulder, and my arm hooked around his waist, comfortable instantly.

  He didn’t ask me to move.

  I liked sex…but I liked this better.

  I watched his calm expression as he quickly drifted off to sleep. He was perfect at every angle, the shadow on his jawline giving him a rugged look that was irresistible. Soft lips sat in a face of sharp cheekbones and intense eyes. He was beautiful, the definition of perfection.

  I didn’t want to sleep because I wanted to continue to stare, but he made me so comfortable in his bed, made me forget about all my problems that would still be there when the sun rose.

  When I woke up the next morning, he was in the shower.

  I could hear the water running.

  I was so comfortable that I didn’t want to move. Even after a full night of rest, I didn’t want to get out of his nice bed. I wanted to roll over and go straight back to sleep. The sheets smelled like him, and the imprint of his heavy body was noticeable under my fingertips.

  He stepped out of the bedroom with a towel around his waist. His hair was slightly messy from the dampness, and the drops of water that gently dripped down his chest made him look like a cologne model.

  He noticed my open eyes. “How’d you sleep?”

  “Good. Too good, because I never want to leave.” I didn’t care about my smeared mascara or the foundation that stained his pillowcase. He’d seen me at my worst, so I couldn’t look that different to him.

  “That makes a problem for both of us. Because if you stay here, I’ll never leave.” He was in a much better mood today, just needing to sleep on his misery. The sun peeked out from behind the closed curtains, so it was obvious it was a beautiful day outside.

  “That sounds nice to me.” I propped my head on one palm and dropped my gaze to the towel around his waist. A thick vein ran down the center of his torso and disappeared under the white cotton. He was so fit that his body couldn’t be any tighter. Veins and muscles were plump under his tanned skin.

  He grabbed the top of the towel. “Want me to drop it?”

  I nodded.

  He smiled slightly before he tugged it loose. Underneath was a semi-hard dick, but it was quickly ballooning to its full size. Drops still dripped off his sac, the scent of soap noticeable on my nose.

  “Ooh…breakfast.”

  His smile disappeared, and he pulled back the sheets. “Hungry?”

  “Starving.” I grabbed his thick bicep and pulled him on top of me, wanting that warm skin to be in contact with mine, to feel his heavy mass press against my chest so I could hardly breathe.

  His muscular frame covered me, his thighs parting mine and getting ready to take me. One hand moved into my hair the way I liked, and he gave me a confident stare before he leaned in and kissed me.

  Ooh…I liked that.

  He went for my bottom lip first, nibbling it between his in a gentle caress. His mouth was warm, minty from brushing his teeth just minutes ago. His jawline was smooth because he’d just shaved the excess hair away. He kissed me again…and again.

  That was all it took to make me wet.

  He kissed me harder and harder, our mouths moving together in a heated embrace. His tongue moved into my mouth a moment later, making contact with mine in the most intimate way possible. His fingers fisted my hair tightly, wanting to control me like a cowboy with a rambunctious mare.

  He made me melt in a way no one else ever had. Not even Liam. It seemed to be more potent, more intimate. It was like Damien had never had another woman like me, like he never wanted to stop, like he could do this every night forever.

  My hands explored his body, loving the way his abs were just as strong as his chest. Every inch of his body felt like warm concrete. It was so good, so hard against my impatient fingertips.

  I didn’t want to share this man.

  He broke our kiss long enough to get a condom out of the drawer. He rolled it on while looking me in the eye, like he couldn’t wait until he sank inside me, feeling every inch that he was already so familiar with.

  His lips moved to mine again as he positioned himself at my eager entrance. Then he gave a hard thrust, pushing his impressive girth inside with an aggressive announcement.

  I moaned against his lips, enjoying the size while wincing at the pain.

  He seemed to know I could handle it because he thrust instantly, pressing my ass into the sheets as he ground into me.

  My ankles locked around his waist, and I pulled him hard against me, demanding all of him. “Damien…” I hadn’t said another man’s name in bed since I became a single woman. He was the first man to make me writhe hysterically, to point my gaze to the heavens and thank god for making a man like him.

  He grabbed my wrists and pinned them above my head even though there was no resistance from me. His fingers dug into my flesh as his hips kept hitting me in just the right spot. He was so strong, he could do everything at once, concentrate and perform at the same time.

  He looked me in the eye as he thrust, his eyes dark and clouded with venomous desire. The look was almost one of hatred because it was so intense. His eyes were focused on me like nothing else existed.

  Like Sofia didn’t exist.

  15

  Damien

  I leaned against the doorframe with my hands in my pockets. I watched her bow her head as she signed the checks for all her employees, her dark hair in a high ponytail that stretched down her back. Her pregnancy was noticeable in the thickness of her cheeks and neck, along with that inexplicable glow that came from within her soul. “This is where you killed him?”

  She looked up at the sound of my voice, her expression initially guarded when she stared at me. She dropped her pen and ignored the remaining checks needing her signature. “Yes.”

  I stared at the spot where the puddle of blood had soaked into the hardwood. Housekeeping did their best to erase the stain, but the subtle evidence was still visible—if you looked hard enough. “You never changed offices?”

  “I like knowing he’s dead. Gives me satisfaction every day.” She leaned back in the chair with her hands on the surface of the desk, her sparkling wedding ring reflecting the light on the ceiling.

  I nodded. “Badass.”

  “Well, I get worked up when people fuck with my husband.”

  “Then maybe I should go…”

  Instead of growing angry at my comment, she had a look of pity. “Took you long enough to come around.”

  “Who said I’ve come around?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “You want to get lunch?”

  “On one condition.”

  This should be good.

  “I get to pick the place.”

  We went to her favorite Italian place around the block.

  She dove into the basket of bread right away, dipping it in the balsamic vinegar and the extra virgin olive oil. “You don’t want any?”

  I shook my head. “Not if I want to look like this.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Well, I’m pregnant. I can eat whatever I want.”

  “You can always eat whatever you want. Bellies and thighs are sexy on women. It just gives them more curves. But men…I’d look gross with a belly.”

  “You can’t expect to be fit forever.”

  “I’m gonna try.” Annabella had the hots for me. She couldn’t get enough of me. She was addicted to my orgasms and constantly demanded more. If I wanted to keep her around, I had to keep everything tight.

  “So, what took you so long?” She spoke between bites, her mouth moving as she stared me down.

  We already had our iced teas, and we were no
w waiting for lunch. She didn’t waste any time getting to the point. “Just busy.”

  “Too busy to apologize?”

  “I’m especially busy when I have to apologize.”

  She dabbed her bread into the oil again before she took a bite. “Well?”

  “Well, what?”

  “I’m waiting for that apology.”

  I should just get it out of the way…especially since I was a huge dick to her. “I’m sorry.”

  “And mean it.”

  “I never apologize unless I mean it.”

  That must have been enough because she didn’t press for more. “Why did it take you so long to respond?”

  “I was busy—that’s the truth.”

  “Why are you so busy?”

  “I’ve had some issues on the drug side. The Skull King is expecting me to pay royalties for a bullshit service.”

  “Who’s the Skull King?”

  I forgot Hades had hidden most things from her. “An asshole. Then I caused problems with one of our clients at the bank, and Hades threatened me to make it right.”

  “Did you?”

  I nodded.

  “Seeing anyone?”

  I shrugged. “I’m always seeing people.”

  “I meant anyone special.”

  If I were to describe Annabella, I’d probably use that word. “I’m seeing this one woman…she’s pretty cool.”

  “Cool?” she asked. “I don’t think that’s what men are looking for in a woman.”

  “You want me to say she’s super sexy and a wildling in bed?”

  “Yes.”

  I forgot how down-to-earth Sofia was.

  “See it going anywhere?”

  I didn’t think about it much. We’d had an expiration date the moment I laid eyes on her. “She just got divorced, so I doubt it.”

  “Would you want it to go somewhere?”

  “I don’t know… I’m not really in the right headspace for a relationship. I’ve got so much shit on my plate. Without Hades, everything has fallen to me, and I’m low on time.”

  “You could hand over the reins.”

  “No.” I dismissed the idea right away.

  “You could get a partner.”

  “The only partner I want is Hades—and he’s done with me.”

  Sofia dropped her gaze. “Why did you snap at me that day?” She stirred her iced tea before she looked at me again.

  It wasn’t my finest hour, and no excuse would justify treating her that way. “Hades…we just haven’t been getting along lately…more than usual. I’m sure he told you about it.”

  “Actually, no. He hasn’t mentioned it at all.”

  Wow, I was even more worthless than I realized. “He hates me with his gaze every single day, and anytime we speak, his words are loaded with insults. Just yesterday, I told him I fixed a problem, and he said some shit to me…said I would never be an example to my son because I would ruin that relationship too.” There was something about that comment that stung so much. I couldn’t put my thumb on it.

  Both of her eyebrows rose. “He said that?”

  “And he’s said worse.”

  “I had no idea. I thought the dust had settled.”

  “No…it’ll never settle.”

  She stared at me for a long time, sympathy in her gaze. “I’ll try talking to him—”

  “Don’t bother. Please.”

  Now she pitied me even more.

  “Can I say something? Between us?” She was the only friend I had left in the world. Annabella and I talked, but I knew she wouldn’t be around forever.

  “Of course.”

  “I thought I would stop caring once enough time had passed. I would hate him as much as he hates me. But I feel like a punching bag…that gets hit over and over. He wants nothing to do with me, but it doesn’t change how I feel. I’m so alone…so lonely. A beautiful woman in my bed doesn’t erase what I lost. Life without him has only shown me how much he meant to me…that I’m not me without him.” It was the lamest, most pathetic thing I’d ever said in my life. I didn’t even sound like myself as I said all that bullshit. But I meant it, and that made me feel worse.

  She inhaled a deep breath and sighed with sadness, like those words pierced her right in the heart. “I’m so sorry, Damien. I wish Hades would let go of the past. I think it’s just hard for him because I’m involved.”

  “Yeah. I get it.”

  “I can tell it bothers him too. We’re happy together, but there’s a piece of him that’s missing. I think you’re that piece.”

  “You must be mistaken…because he loathes me.”

  “They say hate is another form of love. If you really don’t care about someone, you don’t think about them. You’re indifferent to them. You feel no emotion whatsoever, like anger or bitterness. But hatred is fueled by emotion, a stimulus that continues to linger under the skin. Hades is so aggressive with you because he cares—he still cares.”

  That shouldn’t make me feel better, but it did…just a bit.

  My hand was resting on the table, so she leaned forward and placed her hand on mine. “No matter what, you still have me. You’ll always have me.”

  “Why?” My fingers wrapped around hers. “After what I did to you…”

  “You didn’t do anything to me, Damien. You’re a good man. I’m not just saying that to make you feel better.”

  “Hades doesn’t agree.”

  “Because he can’t think straight when it comes to me, and instead of facing the truth, he chooses to blame you because it’s easier. Easier than blaming the dead person who can’t be punished because he’s gone.”

  Even if Hades knew that, I doubt it would change anything.

  “I really believe he’ll come around…someday. He’s just not there.”

  I could be dead by then. “How’s the baby?” I pulled my hand away.

  “Which one?”

  “The one in there.” I nodded to her stomach.

  “He’s a lot like Andrew—kicking all the time and being very disruptive.”

  “You mean just like Hades.”

  She chuckled. “Yeah, that must be where they get it from.”

  I knew Hades when he was a womanizer, hitting up whorehouses every day after work. Now, he was a devoted husband and father. It was hard to believe he was different in the past because he fit this new role so well.

  “He told me the truth…about everything.”

  I stared at her in confusion.

  “About the prophecy…about the woman in Marrakech…that he’s cursed to love me forever…and that we’re soul mates.”

  I stared at her in silence because I didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t sure if Hades would ever tell her the truth because it was impossible to believe. “You believe him.”

  She nodded. “Of course I do.”

  I could hear the sincerity in her voice. “I thought he was crazy at first…until the predictions turned into reality. I wasn’t sure if he would ever tell you.”

  “He said he wanted me to know before he asked me to marry him again.”

  I was invited to the first wedding—but not the second.

  “He took me to Marrakech to visit the woman.”

  My eyebrow raised. “What?”

  She chuckled as she nodded. “I wanted to see it for myself…and ask her to read my fortune.”

  “Seriously? What did she say?” Anything that came out of her mouth was a curse.

  “That we would live happily ever after. And when we’re old and gray, Hades will die before me. I’ll pass away two days later, dying of a broken heart.” She continued to smile. “If that’s true, I’m very happy.”

  “I’m sure it is true.”

  Her phone started to ring beside her, and she eyed it. “Oh no…it’s him.” She silenced the call.

  “Don’t ignore it because of me. That will just piss him off more.”

  “You’re right.” She picked up before it went to voice mail. “H
ey.”

  His tone was so different from how it was at work that I hardly recognized him. “How’s my baby?”

  “Which one?”

  “You,” he said with a chuckle. “But let me know how he’s doing, too.”

  “I’m great,” she said as she looked at me. “And he’s kicking a lot since I’m eating.”

  “I was going to ask you to have lunch. Are you in your office?”

  “I’m around the corner at the Italian place I like.”

  “With whom?” he asked, his voice immediately turning suspicious.

  I wanted her to lie because he would be ticked if he knew I was there.

  “With Damien,” she said, refusing to lie to her husband.

  After a long pause, he responded. “Why?”

  “He apologized and offered to take me to lunch.”

  Hades was quiet, clearly pissed. It didn’t help that he wanted to see his wife and I was hogging her.

  “Join us,” she said. “We haven’t gotten our food yet.”

  “I’ll pass,” he said coldly. “I’ll see you at home.”

  She sighed in disappointment. “Alright.”

  “Love you,” he said quickly, wanting to get off the phone.

  “Love you too.” She barely finished the sentence before he hung up.

  She set the phone down and sighed. “Grouch.”

  “Still have hope?” I asked sarcastically.

  “I’ll always have hope, Damien.” She moved her bread plate to the side when the food arrived.

  The entrees were placed in front of us, a lasagna for Sofia and a Caesar salad for me.

  She grabbed her fork and sliced into the layers of noodles and marinara. “So…tell me more about this woman you’re seeing.”

  “Not much to say. Like I said, it’s not serious.”

  “What does she do?”

  “She’s a waitress.”

  “How old is she?”

  “Not sure, but probably a few years younger than me.”

  “What’s she like?”

  “You ask a lot of questions.”

  “Sorry, I’m curious. We don’t talk anymore, so I’m interested in everything I’ve missed.”

  I hoped we wouldn’t have another drought of activity. “Her ex-husband cheated on her, so she left him.”