“He’s a lucky son of a bitch, you tell him that from me,” said Blake.
“She doesn’t have to. I’m already well aware of it,” came Damon’s voice as he stepped out into the smoking area. His gaze wandered from me to Blake and then back to me. I stood and went to slide my fingers through his. A charged moment passed between Damon and Blake, like they were silently coming to an understanding. Then we told Blake we’d see him tomorrow before stepping back inside the bar.
“Did he behave himself?” Damon whispered, his breath tickling my ear. I shuddered and clenched my thighs, which were still sore from all the dressing room sex we’d just had.
“He did.”
“Good,” Damon said sternly, right before Alicia appeared in front of us. She glanced between the two of us before her attention came to land on me.
“Sorry to interrupt but I need to borrow Rose for a minute,” she said with a smile.
I thought it was funny that Damon eyed her with almost the same amount of suspicion as he had Blake. She waved her hand in the air.
“No need to get your panties in a twist. I have nothing but pure intentions,” she said as Damon continued to eye her. I let go of his hand and took a step toward Alicia, joking, “Seems like I’m quite the popular lady tonight. I’ll come find you in a minute.”
Damon nodded gruffly, kissed my cheek and then went to join Julian over by the bar. Alicia tilted her head for me to follow her to a small table in a quiet corner.
“So,” she began as I took a seat. “I’ve got a couple apologies for you.”
“You do?” I quirked a brow.
She nodded. “Uh huh. First, I just wanted to let you know that I’ve made my peace with the fact that you and Damon are soul mates. As much as it makes me want to barf, I understand now and I won’t try to get between you again.” She shot me a friendly grin and I smiled, rolling my eyes.
“And second, I’m sorry for how I treated Julian. You were right, he’s an amazing person. He deserves someone amazing and I feel ashamed for my actions. I’ve already apologised to him and he’s forgiven me. I just hope you can, too.”
I shrugged. “If Julian’s forgiven you then there’s nothing else to say. Just…please don’t string him along again. You were right when you said you were too alike. I’ve known him since we were kids, and I know he needs someone who’s the opposite of him. I’m the opposite of him. It’s why I’m the only person who’s lasted so long in his life.”
“And I need someone who’s the opposite of me,” said Alicia. “So we’re all agreed. Here’s hoping one day I find my reliable man and Julian finds a girl like you, but one he actually wants to have sex with.” She laughed and I joined her.
“I’ll drink to that.”
A little while later, after I found Damon and we did our rounds, we both felt it was time to call it a night. Not least because of the fact that a heady tension still lingered between us.
I wanted him again.
When we got back to my place, Damon tugged me directly to the bedroom before quickly ridding me of my clothes. It was a long, long, deliciously wonderful night.
The following morning, neither one of us woke up before midday. I opened my eyes to find the bed empty and the delectable scent of bacon streaming in from the kitchen. Stretching my body out, I savoured the exhaustion in my muscles and bones, the wonderful ache between my thighs a mark that Damon had been there not long ago.
“Morning,” he said, looking scruffy and handsome as he re-entered the room with a tray.
“Is this breakfast in bed? You do realise you already have my heart, right? You don’t need to try steal it a second time.”
He cast me an amused grin before joining me in bed and feeding me bacon. Did I mention how much I loved this man? It was just as we’d finished eating and Damon started planting kisses down my body that a thought struck me. I sprang up, almost knocking him off the bed as I grabbed for my phone. Damon chuckled in amusement, perplexed as he watched me. He started running his hand up and down my back as he peeked his head over my shoulder.