tasted more like crepes than pancakes, too, but I happened to love crepes, even if they did go straight to my ass after eating them.
He nodded. “Eat. Unless I missed it, you haven’t consumed much since yesterday morning.”
I was ravenously hungry, and I made short work of the pancakes.
Once I was done, I got to my feet to go rinse my plate and put it in the dishwasher. Damian was right behind me, so I did the same with his, too.
I couldn’t say he’d totally regained his previous demeanor. He still seemed repentant over everything that happened, but a whole lot less shattered than he’d been the night before.
I turned around when I was finished, and looked at Damian. “I’m ready to go home now. I think I have all the answers I need. I’m going to try to get a flight out tonight or early tomorrow morning.”
I’d gotten all my answers, and Damian seemed more like himself, but being around him was killing me.
That’s why I had to go as soon as possible.
“I know I need to apologize again for everything that happened.” Damian’s voice was low and rueful. “Last night included. I didn’t even think about the fact that I was overpowering you, or that my actions might make you feel like less of a person until I pulled my head out of my ass. I had no business trying to make you stay, in any way. I’m sorry, Nicole. I wanted to help you, not hurt you. You looked so damn exhausted and disheartened that I temporarily lost it.”
And just like that, my heart melted. I actually believed that he hadn’t thought about the fact that he was taking advantage because he’d never been anything other than Damian Lancaster. The man was a fixer of problems, so his intentions were probably in the right place, even though his execution had sucked during the first part of last night’s discussion. “Apology accepted. Just try to remember that not every single person in the world has the same privileges you do.”
“Say you don’t hate me for doing it.” His words were actually a request and not a demand.
For the first time, I actually saw true fear in Damian’s eyes, and I realized I actually wielded my own power over him. For some reason, he didn’t want to lose my respect, and that made him vulnerable, but I wasn’t about to take advantage of that susceptibility.
I shook my head. “No. I was just angry at the time.”
“And do you plan on forgiving me for being a lying wanker?” His voice was a little lighter, like he was relieved I didn’t hate him.
I understood his motivation, and his desire to take care of his twin brother. It was just what Damian always did. The man was a caretaker, and I couldn’t really find fault in a characteristic that had been part of the reason I’d fallen in love with him in the first place.
“I really need to know if you’re ever going to be able to forgive me, Nicole,” he said, more impatiently this time.
“I think I already have.” My voice was sad and wistful. “It hurts that you felt like you had to lie to me, and that you roped your mother and Leo into those lies, too. But I can hardly fault you for trying so hard to protect a twin brother you love.”
Damian prowled closer until he was right in front of me. “I told you that it wasn’t about that once we got here to England, Nicole. Were you hearing me last night? My motivations changed. At some point, it wasn’t about Dylan anymore. It was about us. I was afraid you’d walk away. I wanted more time.”
I nodded. “I’m having a really difficult time buying that you kept up that whole ruse just to be with me. I know it was mostly all about Dylan, and I’m okay with that.”
His expression was intense as he slapped a hand down on each side of my body, trapping me against the counter and his muscular form. “Bloody hell! I’m not okay with it, Nicole. Not at all. I’m not okay with any of this. Soon after we got here to England, it was all about me. My desire to be with you. My need to make you mine. There were times that I was losing my fucking mind because of the way I feel about you, and you’re okay with thinking this was all about my twin brother?”
I