by Tanya Kelly
Kim shook her head, which caused her temples to pound. “You don’t have to do that. I can manage on my own. At least one of us should show off these gorgeous dresses for more than an hour.” She forced a smile to put her friend at ease.
But Lacey wasn’t buying it. She searched Kim’s face. “I didn’t know you got migraines. Is there something you’re not telling me? About that Damon guy?”
Kim swallowed and turned away from her friend’s eagle eye. “I haven’t had them for years but I can feel the start of one and I think it’s best to go and lie down before it gets worse.” She hated lying to her best friend but it wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have tonight. She wasn’t entirely lying anyhow. She did have a headache. “Damon is someone I knew from Willow Lake but he has nothing to do with my headache. I must have got too much sun and not enough hydration in the gardens earlier today. It’s nothing, really.”
“Okay,” Lacey replied, still not looking convinced. “Let me at least see you into a cab.”
“Thanks. Please give my apologies to everyone at the table.” Kim squeezed her friend’s hand and they made their way to the door. As soon as the exited the ladies room, she frowned when she saw Damon waiting for them.
If she didn’t know better, she could have sworn he looked concerned before he blinked, his expression once again shuttered.
He came toward them in long strides. “Are you okay?” he asked, blocking her path to the exit.
“Just a migraine. I’ll be fine. Excuse me.” Kim moved to walk past him but he placed a hand on her arm, his touch sending sparks of heat through her.
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes, before it gets worse.” She looked down at his hand and tried to control the erratic beat of her heart. “It was nice seeing you, now if you’ll excuse me,” she said coldly.
“I’ll take you home.” Damon kept hold of her arm, ignoring Lacey’s open mouth expression and began to steer Kim toward the exit.
“Damon, that’s not necessary. I’ll just grab a cab,” she protested and came to an abrupt stop in the lobby. Lacey still hovered, looking bewildered. Exactly how Kim felt. Damon had that effect.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” He kept a firm grip on her arm, as if expecting her to bolt off like a deer. Which was precisely what she wanted to do. “You’re not well and I have a car right outside. I will have you home in no time.”
He glanced back at Lacey as if just becoming aware of her presence. “This is Beechfield,” he said to both of them. “Cabs are not exactly lined up outside in a small town and it might take a while to get one. I’ll make sure Kim gets home right away safely.” He spoke directly to Lacey, completely ignoring Kim and she had to fight the urge not to scream at his bossiness.
Taking her silence for consent, Damon placed a large hand at her lower back and once again steered her toward the exit. Her skin was on fire but she didn’t want to alarm her friend any more than she appeared to be.
She smiled at Lacey reassuringly, even though she felt nothing of the sort. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Have fun.”
“Okay, feel better.” Lacey returned the smile, while her eyes still held concern.
Once they exited the resort, Kim stopped again and took large gulps of the cool night air before facing Damon. “I’m sure it will only take a few minutes to get a cab so you can stop playing knight in shining armor. It doesn’t suit you, and I’m fine.”
Damon’s nostrils flared, his mouth pressed into a tight, angry line. He leaned closer, their faces inches apart, and Kim inhaled the rich scents of warm spices from his cologne. His eyes narrowed, making the scar above his eyebrow more prominent. Her hand itched to trace it, like she’d done so many times that summer.
“I think we both know I’m no knight in shining armor.” Her heartbeat accelerated at the dangerous look in his eyes. “Just as I don’t think it’s a headache that has you running for the hills like a scared kitten.”
Kim’s mouth gaped open, a million scathing replies would normally be pouring forth, but for some reason, so close to him, nothing came to mind.
“So why don’t you sheath your claws until I get you home.” He placed his hand firmly at the small of her back and steered her toward the parking lot. Kim fumed quietly beside him as they walked the short distance.
Damon hit a button on his key fob and she heard a beep and the lights flashed on a nearby red car. Only it wasn’t just any car. Kim’s mouth dropped open as Damon helped her into the passenger seat of the sleek Ferrari. He closed the door and her eyes took in the surroundings of the luxurious sports car. Soft leather cushioned her back and legs. She had an idea of the price tag of such a luxury vehicle and let out a small breath, afraid to touch anything.
Damon slid his tall frame into the driver’s seat with ease and turned the ignition on. Kim’s whole body tensed since the car didn’t allow her as much space between them as she would have preferred. The engine roared to life as he left the parking lot and headed onto the road.
There was a time she couldn’t get close enough to him. She still remembered—vividly—how it felt to be snug against him when she rode on the back of his motorcycle. She would wrap her arms around his muscled body, her thighs gripping him and her breasts pressed flat against him. She’d loved riding with him. Their rides always somehow ended with them practically ripping each other’s clothes off once back at his place.
Her nipples tightened painfully at the memory and tingling sensations pooled between her legs. Kim’s breath caught in her throat as Damon rounded a corner at high speeds. She slid against the soft leather, baring more of her leg in the slit of the dress. Damon’s eyes left the road for a second and travelled the length of her bare leg, which came dangerously close to the top of her thigh.
Their eyes met and desire flared between them before Damon’s gaze went back to the road. With her heart pounding, Kim tried to adjust her dress and heard Damon’s soft chuckle.
“You never much worried about modesty when you straddled me on my bike.”
Chapter Two
Damon heard her sharp intake of breath. Glancing sideways, he watched as her cheeks reddened.
“I did not straddle you on your bike in a skirt,” she hissed.
He raised an eyebrow and smiled. Liar.
“One time, and I didn’t expect you to pick me up on your bike.” Kim crossed her arms and the movement pushed her luscious breasts upward, exposing her creamy cleavage. Damon forced his eyes back to the road and cursed inwardly as his dick twitched in his pants.
Which it had been doing all night every time he looked at her, inhaled her scent, or even sensed her near. And now it was hard as rock as he recalled picking Kim up at the country club. She wore a short dress with a flared skirt and when she got on his bike, and pressed her body against his, he trailed his hands up the naked length of her legs, his cock straining against his jeans. He drove to his house as fast as he could, her dress blowing in the wind and her laugher in his ears.
It had been a warm summer night and Damon had ached for her, which wasn’t unusual. He seemed to be in a constant state of arousal when Kim was near, his hunger for her nonstop. He picked her up and carried her into his place as soon as they got there. Her eyes had sparkled playfully as he kicked open the front door with his boot. They barely made it in the house when he ripped her panties off, undid the zipper of his jeans, and sank into her sweet pussy. She called out his name, arching her back and wrapping her legs snug around him, gripping his cock in her tightness until they both came. Thank God while he lived with his uncle that he had his own apartment above the garage.
“Where do you live?” he practically barked, trying to force the memory to the back of his mind. He knew exactly where her house was but he didn’t want Kim knowing about the in depth investigation he’d done.
“Turn left on Bayfield and then it’s your third right on Cedar street.”
They rode in silence as Damon concentrated on thinking straight and not letting Kim
’s beauty distract him.
He had to be in control—always.
Yes, he was planning to ignite the passion between them, which was already smoldering. But this time he’d be the one to take what he wanted.
Revenge. Bittersweet revenge was why he was here. After what she and her family had done to him and his uncle, the idea of giving them a dose of their own medicine was the only thing that drove him sometimes. He gripped the steering wheel tightly. After a few years as his success grew, he began to slowly formulate his plan and now, he was ready to put it into action.
He pulled into her driveway, turned off the engine and got out. Kim exited at the same time.
“Thank you for the ride,” she said stiffly and walked to her front door, digging out her keys. He noted the way her hands shook as she tried to put the key in the lock. When it didn’t go in, she fumbled for a different one on her key ring and then dropped them. She uttered a small curse and Damon strode over, picking up the keys from the ground.
“Here.” He inserted one into the lock and then opened the door.
“Thanks,” she said again and moved inside, removing her keys as she passed and turning to close the door but Damon had stepped inside behind her.
“Um, thank you for the ride, but if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take some aspirin and go to bed,” she said, trying to usher him out.
Damon’s eyes raked over her and his cock swelled again, especially when she talked about going to bed. Did she still sleep naked? The cool sheets draped around her bronzed skin.
Her blue eyes shone back at him as she waited for him to turn and leave. Shit! She was beautiful. The blonde hair, blue eyes, and tanned skin were the stuff most guys fantasized about but when you added her killer body with legs that went for miles, it was hard not to imagine her naked, writhing beneath him in ecstasy while he fucked her.
Damon took a step forward, closing the distance between them and Kim’s eyes widened, her mouth parted slightly as she watched him warily. He closed the door and reached out to tuck a stray hair behind her ear. He held back a satisfied smile when her body shivered at his touch.
“W–what are you doing?”
Damon leaned closer, trailing his finger down her cheek. He breathed in her scent, the floral perfume filling his nostrils. Her eyes were glassy and her breathing uneven as she swayed ever so slightly toward him.
If he leaned forward just a bit more, he’d taste the sweet nectar of her lips. His entire body tensed with need. Gone were all thoughts of revenge. His pulse raced. Her lips parted in invitation.
With a groan, Damon cupped her neck and his mouth descended over hers. Her lips were soft and full under his. Kim tilted her head up with a moan and his tongue snaked into her mouth. He savored the sweetness of berries from the wine she drank earlier. Damon deepened the kiss, his hunger growing.
He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to his body, until she was plastered against him. Her small hands went up his neck and into his hair as their tongues danced.
Kim sank into him and Damon pressed his rock-hard shaft against her, seeking friction. She made delicious noises low in her throat as his cock rubbed between her legs. He lowered both his hands to her ass, gripping firmly and lifting her to her tippy toes as he devoured her. She grasped his neck tighter and gyrated against him.
Damon growled, wanting nothing more than to rip off every piece of her clothing and fuck her hard and fast against the wall. He pulled the skirt of her dress up until it was bundled at her waist and thrust his cock against her pussy. A guttural groan escaped her lips as she rotated her hips against his erection. He hardened even more, straining painfully against the zipper on his pants.
Fuck! He didn’t think he’d ever forgot how good she felt against him but still, he was unprepared for the blaze of heat between them. His dick begged to be let out.
Damon slipped his hands into her panties and cupped her naked ass, pressing harder against her. She whimpered, pulling slightly on his hair.
He backed her against the wall, their kissing urgent—primal with need. He had to fuck her. Now. Breaking their kiss briefly, he lowered her panties. They fell to the floor in heap of pink lace. Kim stared at him, eyes dark with desire, and red, swollen lips. Damon’s hand hovered over his zipper.
He hesitated. Shit! Shit! Shit! He wanted nothing more than to drive into her, hard, until he came. He needed release. His cock throbbed under this hand.
But something stopped him. A niggling voice in the back of his head reminded him of his plan and need for control. He couldn’t throw it all way for a quick fuck. But damn it, thinking straight around her was next to impossible. Maybe if he fucked her, quick and hard and got his release, he’d be able to think clearly.
Mind made up, he moved to pull down his zipper and release his cock, but his hesitation had been too long. Kim blinked and her eyes cleared, a small frown forming over her lips. Her gaze travelled down to the hard bulge in his pants he was about to expose.
“Oh God,” she groaned, her cheeks turning crimson. She quickly pulled her skirt down to hide her nakedness and moved to escape him but Damon placed a hand on each side of her, caging her in.
“Move,” she demanded coldly.
Their eyes locked for a second before she looked away and leaned against the wall, shoulders slumped, as if she wanted to sink into the floor. He should be pleased that he’d rattled her so easily. But instead, he felt like an ass.
“Look at me,” he said, his voice rough to his own ears.
When her eyes lifted to his, they flashed fire at him. “What?” she spat. “You made your point so now just go.”
“What point is that?” he asked. “That we both still have trouble keeping our hands off each other?”
Her cheeks still glowed pink but her mouth tightened into a thin, angry line.
“I wasn’t trying to make a point,” he continued. He trailed his finger down the side of her face but she jerked away from his touch like it scalded her. “But it’s clear how much we want each other and while I want nothing more than to fuck you right now, I think we should move a little slower this time.”
Confusion crossed her features before the cold regard returned. “There isn’t going to be a this time.”
He chuckled and leaned in closer. “I always get what I want, which by the way, is you. But this time, and yes, there will be a this time, will be my way. I want all of you and I’m not going to settle for any less.”
Before she argued any further, he pressed a finger to her lips, effectively silencing her. She stared back with wide eyes and it took all his resolve not to kiss her again, knowing if he went down that path, he wouldn’t have the ability to stop a second time.
“I’ll be in touch,” he whispered, trailing his thumb across her red, swollen lips before leaving.
Damon got into his car and drove away, deep in thought. He cursed when he realized he missed his turn and for the first time, he second-guessed himself and his plan for revenge. One night around Kim and he’d had to fight hard for his usual composed self-control and remind himself more than once why he was pursuing her.
He pressed down on the accelerator and the car roared past the houses. It wouldn’t be easy but nothing ever had been in his life and that hadn’t stopped him. He would finish what they’d started twenty years ago, only this time, things would end much differently.
* * * *
Kim ordered an extra large black coffee rather than her usual medium. Maggie, the coffee shop owner, gave her a quizzical glance as she took in Kim’s dark sunglasses.
“Need an extra dose of caffeine this morning, dear?”
Kim forced a smile at Maggie, otherwise known as the town busybody. “Late night,” she replied and pulled her cell phone out, pretending to answer important messages. She wasn’t in the mood for chitchat after barely sleeping a wink.
She’d left her sunglasses on because even her most expensive concealer didn’t hide the dark circles under he
r eyes. After Damon had left, she’d leaned against the wall, too stunned to move, and replayed the evening in her head countless times. Which only succeeded in confusing her more. Why was Damon here and what the hell did he mean by wanting all of her?
She could not…would not…get involved with him again. She had nothing to give where he was concerned.
Unable to take any more agonizing over his words, she’d locked the door, taken an Advil and headed to bed. But sleep eluded her. Every time she tried, all she saw was Damon, his relentless stare as his mouth descended over hers. Her lips still tingled and she kept touching them with the tips of her fingers. Stupid butterflies took flight in her stomach every time she did.
She tossed and turned, emotions in turmoil. Her thoughts in turmoil, her body super sensitive, and her pulse racing. The sheets teased her hardened nipples and she clenched her legs against the tingling between them. Which only aroused her more. Her hand trailed across her stomach and itched to finish what Damon had started. Her fingers slipped between her legs. She was so wet. Her clit pulsed as she touched the sensitive bundle of nerves. She gasped and arched her back.
A groan of frustration erupted within her and she jumped off the bed. Kim always slept naked but she went to her dresser and dug out on an old pair of pajamas. She’d be damned if she’d masturbate to thoughts of Damon Black.
She wasn’t that weak.
There was no doubt the sexual chemistry between them hadn’t waned. They’d been incredibly hot for each other twenty years ago and time only seemed to intensify it. But that was no excuse for her behavior.
Her face flamed at the memory of how quickly he’d been able to get her panties off. A couple more seconds and she’d have been begging for his cock.
“Here you go, love.” The voice of Maggie jarred her thoughts as she deposited the coffee in front of her.
Kim thanked Maggie and continued on foot to Lace & More, the lingerie and swimwear store she and Lacey had recently opened. She was half an hour early but since sleep wasn’t possible, she might as well catch up on some paperwork. She locked the door behind her so as not to be disturbed until opening time.