Chapter 13

“I could come up one weekend,” I suggested. “Rent a cabin …”

His eyes darkened at the statement, since both of us sensed that was not needed. “Free of charge,” he slyly relayed with a tightened grip over my arm.

He pulled me over to him, bringing me dead center in front of his chest before he placed heavy lips over mine. He kissed me without reserve, overpowering me in a way that was full of aggression. Hands clasped over the back of my shoulders to keep me close, nails nearly barring itself into my skin as he took more of me in. I was left frozen by his touch, caught off guard by the headiness of his kisses that overpowered my own.

He was moving me backwards, gently urging me in that direction until I bumped into his kitchen chair. Damian released me, finally; watching my chest heave with amazement as I tried to catch my breath.

It’s like he had the strength of a man that is two times his size.

Damian continued to watch me, taking in my open mouth that was desperately trying to catch my breath. His right hand fell off my shoulder, and then cupped the side of my cheek possessively. “Are you alright?”

I nodded my head at him while instinctively leaning a hand over his chest to prevent him from kissing me again.

Damian looked down at my hand that had applied pressure to the top portion of his chest. “Sara,” he hushed in a soft voice. “Was it too much?”

“Not really,” I lied. “It was intense.”

“I’m not one to shy away from my feelings,” he assured me. Damian’s hand glided away from my cheek and dipped inside of my hair, letting it get lost in the red glow of shiny hair that fell down my back. “Especially when I know what I want.”

“What do you want?” I carefully asked him, which immediately brought a smirk to his face.

“I am staring right at it,” he confidentially told me. “If you didn’t know already.”

I lowered my head to reflect over his words. “You’re so sure of it?”

“Never more so, than now.” He took a step back, and then turned around to turn off the stove. Damian went over to the fridge to lift up a small container, taking out freshly made cheese and ham that looked like the last of the package. “Have a seat,” he instructed, and quietly prepared our breakfast with his back to me. I took in the only painting I’ve seen in his house so far, a scenic forest with a large river in the center of it. It was peaceful, and I thought it reflected Damian’s personality well.

He approached the table with a bowl full of eggs and then turned around to retrieve more things. A container of freshly made coffee was next, an alluring aroma that made me wake up a little more. Damian kindly set the sugar container closest to me, and the cream on the other side. “Let me get a few more things,” he suggested, only to return to the table with a plate nicely decorated with cheese and ham. “Oh, what did you think of the wine?”

“I liked it.”

“A bit different, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Raw,” he unexpectedly said. “Full-bodied flavour.”

“Yes,” I agreed with him.

He let his finger stroke up and down his chest, trying to hold back something he was dying to reveal to me. “I like it with my dinner,” he quietly revealed, though I felt he was going to say something else. “You should join me for dinner sometime.”

“I did last night.”

“Just the two of us,” he clarified with a meaningful look.

“Oh.”

“But your friends might be insulted.” His mouth crooked upwards with amusement as he stroked his fingers deeper into his Henley shirt, revealing the toned chest that laid underneath the smooth fabric. A lustful look escaped him, one that he couldn’t keep under control. “Umm …” he nervously laughed and then pulled out a chair, deciding to keep that thought to himself as well.

“What were you going to say?”

“Tonight,” he awkwardly relayed. “Would that work?”

“What are you cooking?”

He looked behind him, staring at the closed fridge. “You’re not a vegetarian, are you?”

“I wouldn’t be sitting at the table with you if I was,” I retorted with a most wicked smirk. “I’d be running out the door as fast as I could.”

“Because of the meat in the fridge,” he knowingly replied.

“You are like an animal, Damian.” His face darkened at that, significantly wounded by my words. “I was only teasing you.”

“There is nothing wrong with being an animal,” he muttered in a low tone of voice.

“I never …” Damian grabbed hold of a boiled egg and harshly slammed it against the side of the bowl. “Damian?”

“What?”

“I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“I know you didn’t mean it,” he lied through barely parted lips. His bottom jaw jutted to the right, and then his eyes darkened with anger.

“It was a joke.”

“But I’m not laughing, am I?” he sneered.

“Fine.” I responded, deflated. He darted his gaze towards me, realizing I was at a loss of words. “I’ll keep my mouth shut from now on.”

“You make me feel like a savage,” he admitted aloud. “And I’m not.”

“I know you aren’t.”

Damian broke apart the eggshell with his hands, tossing it to the corner of his plate before he set it down neatly. I felt like there was two conflicting gestures to him; the neat and orderly kind, and then the one that was wild and unruly.

I reached for a loaf of bread, piling the cheese and ham over it with some relief. Damian’s food was thankfully good, much better than what my friends were supposed to be making this morning.

Damian’s voice was unexpectedly sharp when he asked, “are you going to keep bringing up the meat in the fridge?”

“What? No!” Damian had abandoned his food to simply glare at me. “I’ve forgotten all about it.”

He dropped his gaze, believing my words enough to continue with his breakfast.

My voice was rather shaky as I inquired, “did you have another fit again?”

“Last night?”

“Yes.”

“A little,” he replied in a low tone of voice. “The shower helped.”

“You took one this morning too?”

“I did, why?” He looked down at his grey shirt. “I smell?”

“No, Damian,” I nearly laughed.

“I like to go on long walks outside,” he informed me. “But when I come back I smell like the forest.”

“I know.” I was hovering my spoon over my cup of coffee as I questioned him, “you went out this morning?”

“Sort of.”

“Sort of?” I questioned Damian while squinting at him.

“Not far.”

“Oh.” He noticed how determined I was in my stare, not fully believing the lie he cleverly gave me. “I know you went for a walk, Damian.”