Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 48709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Damien sits behind the wheel, looking like a man possessed by something, maybe the spirit to finally take me, to claim me.
He jumps out of the car, wearing his button-up with his sleeves rolled up. Sweat coats his skin like he’s on fire. The closer he gets, the bigger he seems, until he’s blocking the sunlight as he towers over me.
“Liliana,” he growls, his passion making my name tremble. “Liliana.”
He closes the distance, his hair in sweaty disarray; his scent is musky and potent and wrapping around me. My core gives another tingle.
“I have to tell you something.”
I whimper as his fingers sink into my hips, indulgently possessing me as though he’s holding me in the position he wants.
Our lips clash, and hot pleasure moves through my mouth, my lips aching, my tongue hungry as I moan, and he snarls, and we press even closer.
“What?” I gasp, my hands in his hair, my nipples rubbing against my bra as he pushes his rock-hard torso against me. “Damien?”
“It’s…you’ll think I’m insane.”
I giggle, gripping onto his neck.
Shame touches me when I think of Uncle Nick, of how easily I forget him. But I thought Damien might be dead. I thought I might never see him again.
“Maybe I already do.”
“Liliana….”
I tighten my hold on his neck, digging my fingernails in slightly, never wanting to let him go.
“You have to tell me, whatever it is. I thought you were going to die, and I couldn’t….”
Stop.
But I can’t, not even as sobs distort my words, not even as tears sting my eyes.
“I couldn’t take it, even the thought of it. You have to tell me, Damien. Please.”
He blinks. For a moment, I think he might cry too.
It’s in the way he stares at me, in the glassiness of his eyes.
“I….” He pauses, biting down, then goes on. “I want to have children with you. I want a future with you. A family. A life. I want you to be mine, Liliana. No…you are mine. You belong to me. I knew it at the party, right then, the moment I laid eyes on you. I knew you were never going to be anybody else’s.”
My touch gets even tighter, my desire to never let go even deeper.
“Are you tricking me?”
He laughs gruffly, kissing the edge of my mouth, our noses brushing. “I wouldn’t joke about this. And it’s not a trick. I told you I’d sound insane.”
“You want all that?” I whisper, almost screaming it back. “But how can you know? Don’t you care that I’m Cartel?”
His fingers stroke up my body, over my back, and he hugs me closer. He presses into me like he wants our bodies to melt into each other.
“I knew the second I saw you. I don’t know how. I just know how badly I want you. I just know you’re the only person. I don’t care if your father was in the Cartel, if those sick bastards tattooed you. If anything, it makes me want you more. So I can protect you, and never let anything like that happen again. I just know….”
You love me? I almost ask.
He leans back slightly but keeps his arms wrapped around me, so I can see his face.
The honesty there, the passion.
“You’re not trying to run away,” he says. “I think that’s a good sign.”
“I’m not trying to run because…,” I swallow, wondering even now if it could all come tumbling down. “I feel the same, Damien.”
Instinct makes me try to turn away, but he just pulls me closer to him. The result is I end up pressed against him, his arms wrapped around me.
“You feel the same,” he growls.
It’s not a question – it’s like he’s known all along – but I answer anyway. “Yes. I had a crush on you, a little, I think. It was all so confusing.”
“I don’t care about that,” he says huskily. “I care about the here, now. How do you feel now?”
He grabs my shoulders, spinning me around, and stares down at me. His wolfish eyes swim, his lips twitching like he might roar or smirk or kiss me again.
“I feel how you feel.” My hand is on his chest now, fingernails bending against his muscles. “I want it all. Now, here, Damien…I want a family together.”
“Who do you belong to?” he whispers, leaning down.
“You, Damien. Only you.”
We kiss again, losing ourselves in it, fireworks going off in my mind. A whole attack of them, making me smile through the kiss as he smooths his hands down my body and I run mine through his hair again.
“Wait.” He leans back. “We can’t do this here.”
I need to tell you something. Uncle Nick left.
We shouldn’t do anything until we talk to him.
But I don’t say the words. I’m too addicted to Damien. I’m too starry bright with the knowledge that he feels the same too.