by BJ Bentley
“You seem to be forgetting something.”
“What’s that?” He grinned, having absolutely no remorse for trying to bully me.
“I’m not going out with you.”
He carefully laid the dress across the foot of my bed and turned to me. “You’re forgetting something, too.”
I arched an eyebrow. And then I gasped because his mouth was on mine and I couldn’t remember what we had been arguing about. Later, I would silently berate myself for losing myself to him each time he kissed me. His kisses were like napalm to my self-control. Each stroke of his tongue was another bullet in my armor. I didn’t know where all these violent metaphors were coming from, but warfare was certainly an apt comparison for what was happening. Sexual warfare. And I was about to lose this battle.
Feeling off-center and struggling to regain my balance, I clutched at his broad shoulders. The lust fog was so thick, it took several moments for the chill to register. Damon broke our kiss, and I glanced down at his rapidly descending head as he squatted down in front of me. It was then I belatedly realized that my pajama top was missing. And now, so were my pants and socks. How the hell had he managed to undress me without me noticing?
My brain was coming back online, but my body was still under Damon’s spell. That was the only reason I could think of for standing still while he pulled the dress down over my head and turned me to zip up the back. He pulled the clip from my hair and pulled the blonde tresses forward over my shoulders, lightly finger-combing them.
“Utterly gorgeous,” he murmured.
“What the hell just happened?” I whispered.
Damon bit his lip, either in need or because he was stifling a smile, I couldn’t tell.
“Here, doll.” He set a pair of black peep-toe pumps at my feet.
I looked at him in confusion.
“Can’t go to Cece’s barefoot.”
I nodded, seeing the logic in his statement, and slipped my feet into my shoes. I let him take my hand lead me back down the stairs and out the door to his Ferrari, and I never once uttered a protest.
***
“How’d you do it? No, really, I want to know.” I leaned across the table at Cece’s where Damon and I had just been seated.
He shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s the Damon Hatch experience, doll.”
Holy shit, it was a real thing, and I was still under his spell because I didn’t make fun of him for talking about himself in the third person again. There was no other explanation for how he’d gotten me changed, in the car, and into Cece’s without me putting up a fight. My determination to not go out with him was obliterated the moment he kissed me. I had to make sure he didn’t kiss me again. It was far too dangerous, and the last thing I wanted to do was find myself dancing naked on a bar in Tijuana while Damon recorded it for America’s Got Talent.
Been there, done that, and kept the sombrero as a souvenir.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I hope you enjoy this evening, because it won’t happen again.”
“You’re cute when you’re delusional.”
“Delusional?” I huffed. “I’m onto you, now. My guard is up, and I can promise you, you won’t get another chance to undress me.” I’d finished speaking just as our server appeared, trying to hide his smile.
I sat back in my chair, glaring at a smirking Damon. The server rattled off the day’s specials, but I already knew what I was going to order, so I only half listened. Cece’s made the best cannelloni in the tri-state area, and everybody knew it. With our orders placed and the server sent on his way, Damon changed the subject.
“Have you always wanted to be a teacher?”
My previous ire lessened at his question. “Always. I love kids. When I was little, I used to dream about what it would be like to have kids of my own. Not because I was eager to ‘play house’ like other little girls tend to do, but because I felt like there was nothing more important than imparting my infinite wisdom to someone less knowledgeable than myself,” I laughed. “People always talk about how teenagers think they have everything figured out, but no teenager could possibly have anything on my five year old self.”
“Tierney adores you, you know.”
I felt myself soften further. “I adore her. She’s so bright. She must get that from you.”
“A compliment, Miss James?” He held his hand over his heart in mock surprise.
“Hey.” I waved my hand in front of my face. “Even I can admit that you don’t build and maintain a multi-billion dollar company without a little know-how.”
“How very magnanimous of you.”
“Mhmm. Why don’t you have Tierney enrolled in one of those fancy private schools? Much as I hate to admit it, a public education might be a little...pedestrian for a child as bright as she is.”
“Because I’m me.” He gave me the same answer when I questioned him about Tierney having a different last name. “In certain social circles-”
“You mean rich people,” I interrupted. “You can say it.”
“Fine,” he chuckled. “Wealthy people tend to know other wealthy people. In a private school, where the student population is much smaller, it would have been more likely for Tierney’s parentage to be discovered no matter what her last name might be. Public school offered her a shot at real anonymity and me a real shot at some semblance of peace of mind. Besides, she seems to be faring well where she is.”
“Well, she has an excellent teacher,” I deadpanned.
We sipped our wine and ate our meals while chatting more about Tierney, my work, and a little about his company. I had to admit, even if only to myself, what Hatchling Tech did was impressive. Alternative energy, biomedical engineering. I had to give respect where respect was due, and Damon’s ideas were innovative, ambitious, and admirable.
“I don’t think I can eat another bite,” I said, setting my fork down. I had cleared my plate of cannelloni and ate a slice of tiramisu. My dress felt like a sausage casing.
Within moments, Damon had paid the check and we were back in his car coasting down the highway. Arriving back at my house, Damon once again walked me to the door just like he had the night before. Only this time, he didn’t turn to leave. Instead, he followed me inside.
“Funny, I don’t remember inviting you in. Again.” I couldn’t help the smile that crossed my face. I wanted to be annoyed with him, but we’d had a nice evening, and my belly was full of delicious pasta, so I decided not to be crabby.
“Let me stay with you tonight.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Then you should probably stop thinking.”
The next thing I knew, my hands were gripping his hair, and his hands were on my ass. Our tongues tangoed, and I felt his hardness press into my belly, demanding attention.
Damn it, it was happening again, and I was powerless to stop it! All I could think about was the next touch and the tidal wave of desire that flooded my body. Why wasn’t it like this our first time together? That time I had control. I set the pace. Now, though, now it was like I had let go of everything that made me who I was trying to be. Serious Sophie, the responsible adult had left the building, and in her place was Slutty Sophie chasing her next hit of the addictive endorphins that Damon seemed to inject directly into her libido.
I had no idea how we’d made it up the stairs, but with the bottom of my dress already pulled up around my waist, Damon spun me around to face the bed as he slid the zipper down the back and peeled the fabric from my now sweat-glistened skin, taking my panties with it. Damon’s fingers on the skin of my calves sent an unexpected thrill through me. Since when were my calves an erogenous zone?
Damon stood in front of me, looking me in the eye as he shed his suit jacket and shirt. I should have told him earlier how good that navy dress shirt looked on him. Wait, what was I saying? Look at that chest! Those abs! My eyes traveled the length of him as he continued to undress, but his eyes never left mine. I realized that when I looked back up to f
ind him looking smug.
“Are we really going to do this?” I asked softly.
Damon shoved his hands in my hair and kissed me.
I took that as a ‘yes.’
“I can’t decide where to start with you, Soph. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, and now that I’ve got you, I’m overwhelmed with the possibilities.”
I shook my head. Everything he’s ever wanted? That was a line if I ever heard one. “Don’t, Damon.” My hands squeezed his waist. “Don’t ruin this with false promises. I just want you inside me.”
His brow furrowed. “False promises? No, Sophie, that’s not what this is about, but we can discuss that later. But, right now, doll, if you want me inside you, then that’s what you’ll get.”
He retrieved a condom from his wallet, and with his hand at my belly, gently shoved me back until the back of my knees hit the bed. I crumpled into the bedding like my bones had liquified and marveled at how his touch so easily reduced me to jelly.
“Scoot up, doll face,” he instructed me, tapping two fingers to my outer thigh.
I positioned myself so my head was on the pile of pillows at the head of the bed. I looked at Damon quizzically when he kneeled at the foot of the bed instead of coming over me.
“Spread.”
My breath hitched at the command, and I could feel myself getting wetter. Meeting his gaze, I slowly spread my legs apart and watched Damon’s eyes flare in response. He might be into issuing orders, but it appeared that I had more power here than I’d thought. Before I could figure out a way to use that power to my advantage, Damon leaned forward and planted his mouth between my legs.
Based on previous experience, I thought it was pretty safe to say that most men are absolutely clueless when it comes to going down on a woman. Not for lack of enthusiasm, but because they never bother to gauge a woman’s response. They just went whole hog, face first with no regard for whether or not their method, which was akin to a slobbering bloodhound slurping up Gravy Train, actually yielded the desired result.
Damon did not fall into that category. Damon, it turned out, was a connoisseur of cunnilingus. He used his lips, tongue, teeth, and fingers, to masterfully manipulate me from clit to taint and back again. By the time I came, there was nothing I wouldn’t have done for him. Any promise, any sacrifice he would have demanded, I would have granted. The revelation was more terrifying than the knowledge that his kisses turned me to putty. Damon Hatch was far more dangerous than I gave him credit for, and since I was already on guard, that was saying something.
And he wasn’t done with me yet.
The ripping of the condom packet registered, and I watched him deftly roll it on and position himself to take me.
“Just so we’re clear, Sophie, this pussy is about to be owned.”
I scowled at his arrogance but forgave him the moment he thrust into me. My back bowed off the bed and my head became lost in a sea of pillows. He stretched me, and I had nearly forgotten just how well-endowed Damon was. I dug my nails into his back as I thrust my hips up to meet his, eager for each breach of my defenses. I was aware it was happening, and yet I was completely powerless to stop it. I didn’t want to stop it. I wanted him to take me. Ravish me. Destroy me. Damon was a vengeful cock god, and I was a fool of a peasant hoping to appease him with a pitiful offering of whimpers and moans.
His hands swept over my skin, leaving fire in their wake. Suddenly, every inch of me ached for his touch. “Damon,” I moaned, not sure what I wanted to say, just knowing that I needed more of whatever he was giving me.
“Sophie girl, you have no idea how fucking phenomenal you feel squeezing my cock,” he grunted, never losing pace.
“Damon,” I moaned again, still at a loss for words.
“Keep saying my name like that, baby, it makes my dick happy.”
I dragged my nails down his back to his ass and clutched at him. I was so close to the edge, I just needed one little push… I gasped when Damon shifted to his knees, changing the angle of his thrusts. “Yes! Oh, God, yes!”
“Come for me, Sophie.”
Just like earlier, when he told me to spread my legs, his command was impossible to refuse. My arms flung out to my sides, grasping at the sheets, as my orgasm washed over me. My body tightened until it shook from the intensity. When it was over, I let out a contented sigh, my limbs now like limp noodles.
I opened my eyes to see Damon towering over me. I blinked in confusion. I was fairly certain he didn’t come with me, so why had he stopped? The twinkle in his eye should have warned me that something else was coming.
He pulled out of me and flipped me over onto my stomach. His hand came down on my ass with a firm slap.
“Present me with that divine ass, doll.”
Gathering what little strength I had left, I pulled my limbs in until I could get to my knees. I felt his hand travel up my back to stop between my shoulder blades, holding me down while he positioned himself and re-entered me from behind. The new angle meant a new litany of sensations.
“Damon.” My plea was muffled by the pillow my face was shoved into.
He pumped in and out slowly, occasionally swiveling his hips to hit every inch of my pussy, leaving no nerve ending untouched. It didn’t take long before I felt it building again. He began thrusting harder, stroking deep so his balls were slapping my clit. In no time, I was hurtling over the edge once more, and this time he followed me over.
Both of us lay panting for a few minutes before he got up to discard the condom. I didn’t have the energy to move or speak or I would have made a show of kicking him out. Instead, I let him climb back into bed with me, roll me to my side, and spoon me with his hand cupping my pussy in a territorial act of claiming.
“Owned, Sophie,” he murmured.
His words barely registered before sleep overtook me. Had I any brain function left, I would have recognized his reminder for the warning that it was.
Chapter 14
Damon
I was gone for her.
Done.
Sold.
Sophie James had just become it for me, and there was no turning back. It wasn’t about the sex, though that was the most decadent icing on this sixteen tier cake. It was the way she became putty when I kissed her. It was the smiles and teasing over dinner. It was the ferocity with which she loved her sister and welcomed Johnny into the family. It was the passion with which she spoke about her career and her students.
It was the way she looked at Tierney- adoringly and with pride.
As if she were her own.
And who knew, maybe she looked at all her students like that, but Tierney was the only one that was mine, so from my perspective, she was the one that mattered most. Of course, it helped that Tierney looked at Sophie much the same way.
I’d already decided to pursue Sophie weeks ago. If I was honest, it was actually months ago, at Johnny and April’s wedding. Despite how that night had ended, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. My obsession only grew each time I saw her at Johnny and April’s family dinners. I tried so hard to not come on too strong, since each time I did, she’d do her best to push me away. But seeing her on two dates with two different men was the last straw. It should have been me. Each time, it should have been me.
Now, lying here in her bed, with her in my arms, I never wanted to leave. The possessive hold I had between her legs may have been a bit caveman-ish, but I didn’t give the first fuck. I was officially laying claim on Sophie and declaring war on her heart. I smiled to myself in the dark, anticipating the battle that lay ahead and knowing that there was no way I could lose.
***
The rising sun peeked over the horizon and filtered into Sophie’s bedroom. We had shifted during the night. I was now on my stomach with Sophie pressed into my side and splayed partially over my back. She had one hand in my hair and the other trapped between my chest and the bed. I grinned at the way she clinged to me in her sleep and relished the idea of teasing h
er about it later.
I’d love to wake her up with morning sex, but nature was calling. I carefully extricated myself from her hold and slid from the bed. She didn’t even stir. My Sophie was a heavy sleeper. I used the bathroom and pulled on my dress pants so I could safely jog out to my car without being charged with public indecency. Grabbing my duffle bag out of the back, I went back inside, checked on Sophie- who was still dead to the world- and helped myself to a shower.
I was dressed in a clean pair of soft cotton lounge pants and frying bacon when Sophie finally joined the land of the living.
“What’re you doin’?” she mumbled as she shuffled across the kitchen floor.
“Making us some breakfast, doll. You want coffee?”
I interpreted her grunt as a ‘yes.’
“Sit. I’ll get it.” I poured her a mug of coffee and was sliding the cream and sugar across the table when I noticed her staring at my bare chest and licking her lips. I sank my teeth into my lip to stifle my chuckle.
“Can you put a shirt on?”
“Nope.” I grinned at her disgruntled expression before turning my attention back to the sizzling bacon.
I plated the eggs, bacon, and toast and served my girl with my best butler impersonation. Despite my wealth, I didn’t have servants at home. I had Chloe, who took care of Tierney, and I had a cleaning service that came in regularly, but Chloe and I shared cooking responsibilities on the occasions that we didn’t order in, and I didn’t have anyone who waited on me hand and foot. Truth be told, I didn’t care for a bunch of people in my space, and I was extra careful about who I let into Tierney’s life.
That being said, if Sophie wanted to hire household staff in the future- because, yes, I was already thinking long term- my only objection would be that I wanted to wait on her myself. Obviously, that wasn’t realistic, since I still had a multibillion dollar company to run, but at that moment, I couldn’t think of any greater privilege than catering to my girl.
