anything, but he had. For…me.
I let him pull me to my feet. “I’m not sleeping with you, Damian. Our fling is officially over.”
He grinned, and my heart rolled over inside my chest. “You are technically occupying the second suite at my house. But I must warn you that the shower isn’t nearly as good as mine.”
I rolled my eyes. “I need you to promise that you won’t try to charm me out of my panties.”
“Full disclosure in the interest of keeping everything honest with you from this day forward; I won’t push terribly hard, but don’t expect me not to try to change your mind.”
I gathered up my phone and charging cord. I’d picked up the bag containing my clothes from earlier in the day and then…I panicked.
I can’t do this! I can’t do this! No matter how much I needed more closure, I couldn’t spend another moment alone with Damian.
Being with him for even one more day would probably completely destroy me.
I loved him too damn much, and my heart was too fragile right now.
“I’m sorry.” My voice sounded raw, and the dam that held back my tears of pain opened wide again. “I can’t do this. I can’t go with you. I’m already broken.”
“Jesus Christ! Don’t cry, Nicole.” Damian’s tone was tender and rough. “Just come home with me. I’ll make all of this right. You’re not broken, love.”
“I am.” My words came out in a strangled sob. “I can’t go with you. I need to be on that flight early in the morning.”
Damian scrubbed a hand through his hair in apparent frustration. “I can’t fucking let you go. Not like this, and probably not ever. I know I said I would, but I was lying. Not to you—to myself.”
“Y-you have no choice but to let me get on that plane.” I couldn’t give in to him.
His eyes were wild when he answered. “You think you’re broken? Then bloody hell, I’ll fix you. I’ll put every single gorgeous piece of you back together again, Nicole. I promise.”
My chest was so tight I could hardly breathe. Damian Lancaster had just made me a vow, but no matter how hard he tried to keep it, I knew I needed way more than he could possibly give me.
Before I could open my mouth to say another word, Damian cursed, “Fuck! What in the hell am I doing?” I watched him as his expression went from dogged determination to complete desolation and despair before he continued in a resolute tone. “I came here to plead for forgiveness, Nicole. Instead, I’m trying to bully you into submission. Coming with me has to be your choice, not mine. It wouldn’t feel right anyway, not unless you really want to be with me. I give you my word I won’t interfere, at all. You know the truth now. The ball is completely in your court, love. I’ll do whatever you need from me. You can leave on that flight in the morning, come with me for the night, or however long you can stand to be around me, and I’ll make sure you get home safe in my jet whenever you want to go.” He stood. “Just don’t expect me to go too far until you’re safely on that plane this morning, and please know I’m willing to take whatever you give me. On your terms this time.”
Without another word, Damian Lancaster turned, strode into the crowd and disappeared.
But he hadn’t departed before I’d gotten one final look at his face. He’d looked completely ravaged, wrecked, and defeated.
I picked my jaw up off the floor, and closed my mouth.
What in the hell had just happened?
Had Damian really just left after making himself as vulnerable as a person could be?
He’d made it clear exactly what he wanted, yet he’d walked away from me without a single one of those things.
So I could decide what was right for me.
For a man as strong-willed as Damian, I knew just how hard it was to give up his power to someone else.
But he had.
For me.
My ass stayed planted in my chair for nearly an hour, my mind trying to absorb Dylan’s existence, and more importantly, the hell he’d put Damian through.
In the end, I couldn’t put all that much blame on Damian. He’d been caught between his loyalty to a brother he obviously loved deeply, and me. And he had planned on telling me, even though he’d still be taking a risk.
I swiped away the tears that had intermittently