Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 57067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 285(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 285(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
“Oh.” What am I doing? “I thought you were going to say there were photos of your exes in there.”
He grabs my hips so fast and so hard I don’t have a chance to push him away – not that I would even if I did act fast enough. He presses his hands down firmly, warm flutters surging across my body.
“I’ve never been much of a dater,” he growls. “Simpler that way. Safer.”
“For who… you or the woman?”
“Both,” he snaps.
He lets me go and turns away. I grab his hand and pull myself into him and lean up for a kiss. He groans as he returns the kiss, his rough lips claiming me as though it’s been weeks since the last time we touched.
He stops, taking a step back, his teeth gritted. “You’re a head fuck, Celine.”
“Yeah? Ditto, Damian.”
He finally walks away, the muscles in his corded back twitching.
CHAPTER 16
DAMIAN
The next morning, I sit in the living room. Surrounded by Christmas decorations. I rarely spend much time in here, but ever since Celine gave it its makeover, it’s like I can’t stay away.
Why did I tell her about that stuff last night? I could’ve lied about those clippings, invented some excuse. There was no reason to make her believe I was some angel. Hell, helping those people doesn’t make me a good person. Doesn’t even make me decent. Just not a complete monster.
That might be why. I don’t want her to see me as the Beast… even if her seeing me as the Beast is the thing that’s going to keep her alive.
I lean forward, scrolling through my laptop. I wonder if Celine knows I’m aware she’s standing in the doorway, watching me. I can feel her presence. Smell her hot cocoa and just her. Her scent tempting me.
“What’s that?” she finally asks.
I should slam the laptop shut. Tell her to mind her own business.
“A gambling addiction recovery center.”
She sits on the other chair, crosses her legs. She’s wearing shorts that leave little to the imagination. Thick, delicious thighs on display. My rod twitches as I try not to devour her with my gaze.
“Oh?” She murmurs, adjusting her shirt.
A tank top, white, pale green bra beneath, visible through the material. I think about leaping across the room and tearing the shirt off, freeing her tits with my teeth. Biting her softly, then sucking her nipples, making her moan, making her ache.
“It’s… a project.”
“You might as well tell me,” she says. “Does it have something to do with the attack on you?”
“The attack,” I repeat, thinking of Julian’s evasiveness.
I’ve purposefully ignored my suspicions. My instincts. I don’t usually do that. But dammit, do I really believe Julian had something to do with it? No, there must be another reason he lied about Rico. Has to be.
“Yeah, remember.” She taps her face. “The one that gave you that sexy scar.”
A smile touches my lips. “Most people would think it’s ugly.”
“Nope. I think it’s cute.”
“I’ve never been called cute before,” I grunt.
“That’s because you never had that cute scar before,” she says.
“You’re a trip, Wintertide.”
“Do you ever run out of nicknames?”
“Do you ever run out of questions?” I retort.
She inclines her head. “Touche.” Nods at the laptop. “Well?”
I grind my teeth. This is a mistake, but I want to share it with someone.
“I think the mob is using this center to do… something.” I sigh. “Before the attack, I noticed the real lowlifes in the Family, the Ricos and the others like him, talking about it. Little comments here and there, snide looks, like they were involved in some big joke. When I mentioned it to the Don, he got pissed. Too pissed. Suspiciously pissed. I swung by one evening and saw how heavily it was guarded. That made me certain something was going on. Something the lowlifes and the Don didn’t want the rest of the Family to learn about.”
“What is it?” Celine asks.
“No clue,” I grunt. “The next day, I was jumped. Guns and knives from the shadows. Now I’m here. If I go back there and someone sees me, the game is up. They’ll know I’m not dead.”
I don’t mention the fact that I’d been planning on informing my contact in the FBI. Thomas keeps a low profile. Only contact me if you have something concrete…
Celine places her hot cocoa on the table, sits up straight. She looks beautiful and powerful. “I can check it out.”
I slam the laptop shut so hard I’ve probably broken it. “No.”
“If something bad is happ—”
She cuts off when I leap to my feet and walk across the room. Loom over her like I’m still the Beast and she hasn’t caught a glimpse of goodness in me.
“No,” I repeat, firmer. “You’re too involved already. Get that out of your head.”
For a second, I think I’ve won. Then she stands. Her curvy body bounces. Bravery paints her beautiful features. Pride expands in my chest, tugs at parts of me that should’ve died a long time ago. Every moment with her is a goddamn resurrection.