Beautifully Damaged

by Gina Sevani

  "Hi."

  "Did you get lost?"

  "Yeah, kinda." I laughed. "Play for me?" I looked toward his guitar.

  He answered me by reaching for his guitar and arched his eyebrows, his way of asking me what song.

  "Thinking out loud?"

  "Sheeran?" He rolled his eyes as he pulled the piano bench away from the piano to have more room.

  "Oh, stop it. You act like I asked for the Backstreet Boys or something!"

  "Fine, he's talented, and the song is special to me now anyway."

  I smiled as I remembered what happened in his car.

  "Carry on, then." I loved that song. I moved to the couch so I could watch all of him and be comfortable. He never took his eyes off of mine as he sang the lyrics. Toward the end of the song I made my way back over and stood directly in front of him. I was so close he had to lean his head back so he could look up at me. I ran my fingers through his wet hair, and thankfully he didn't stop singing to me. I caressed the side of his face, rubbing along his stubble; he smiled into my palm. With my fingertips, I traced along the side of his forehead down to his lips. I'd never seen anything as beautiful as him. No wonder women fell at his feet. I moved my fingers to his forearm and I could see goose bumps rise along his skin. He suddenly stopped playing.

  "One more time," I whispered.

  I walked around the back of the bench and watched his muscles flex with every strum of the guitar. I massaged his neck, shoulders and kneeled down to kiss all the way down his spine.

  "Ariel…" He gasped sharply but still managed to play with perfection. He cut the song short, stood up and placed the guitar in the stand against the wall. I remained on my knees as he walked back over. His eyes were fixated on mine. Damon took his hand and caressed my face, I leaned into him. He held his hand out for me; once I stood he pulled me against his body.

  "I love you, Ariel," he whispered against my lips.

  "I love you, Damon."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  DAMON'S LIPS COLLIDED WITH MINE AS he slid his hand under the back of my shirt. He stripped it from me, along with my bra. His hands guided down my back and under my ass as he quickly lifted me. Damon walked us slowly to the nearest wall and pushed my body against it. He growled as he laid hot kisses across my neck. His thin pants weren't hiding anything from me, the more I felt him pressed against me, the more my need for him grew. Damon ripped his lips from mine and searched my eyes.

  Apparently he found what he was looking for, because he carried me through the house all the way to his room. For the entire journey, his lips never left mine. I slowly slid down his body to stand and the backs of my knees brushed against his bed. Once he lowered himself in front of me and unbuttoned my shorts, he looked up at me. I felt my knees go weak from just one look. I had to hang on to his shoulder for support. I slid my shorts down past my hips and he guided them the rest of the way off. He sat back on his heels and ran his hands across the back of my calves, all the way past my thighs and squeezed my ass with the perfect amount of pressure.

  "Damon…"

  He hooked his fingers in each side of my panties and his eyes followed them the entire time he pulled them off of me. I could see all of his abdominals flex and his arms bulge as he slid them down my legs. His lips touched me softly right above my core, and he nibbled across my stomach as he explored. My knees trembled and grew weak.

  Damon stood and slid his body up mine. Our mouths collided. He broke away long enough to unclasp my necklace and place it on the nightstand. His lips were hard and demanding. I groaned and he picked me up and gently laid me on the center of the bed; he pulled back.

  Watching him take my body in was almost unbearable. I needed his warmth against me like I needed my next breath. When we met each other's gaze; we held it. It was like I was stuck in time, we were the only two people who existed. My need for him consumed me, powerful and raw. What was even sexier was I sensed he felt the exact same way.

  Damon slid his pants off in one fluid motion, and as much as I wanted a glimpse of him, it was his eyes that kept me fixated. He reached for my ankles and pulled me closer to the edge, closer to him and spread my legs wide. I could see his chest rise higher and higher the longer he watched me. Desire was thick in his eyes and in the air around us. He licked his lips and reaching for one of my ankles, he placed the sole of my foot against his chest. His body was on fire. He slowly massaged all the way down my leg and up again, until I was panting with need. I threw my head back into the mattress moaning as I fisted the sheets.

  I caught his hand and pulled him toward me. As he landed, he came in complete contact against me. We both groaned. I never wanted him to leave. His mouth met mine in a hungry kiss as he whispered my name against my lips. He angled his head and kissed along my ear, neck… shoulders. One of his hands slid over my stomach and up toward my breasts. Every part of my body ached and I knew he was the only one that could put out the fire that was ready to explode inside me. My voice was hoarse from moaning his name.

  His hand slowly crept down over my hips, inside of my thighs and finally to the place I needed him. He cupped me and circled his fingers around. I gasped against his neck. I breathed in the smell of his skin as he slipped a single finger inside me. Damon's other hand reached for the back of my head and he tenderly fisted it in my hair. His body eased back, just an inch or so, enough to see into my eyes.

  Damon was gentle, afraid to hurt me. I pleaded for more, and he went a little deeper, faster. I felt everything inside of me build, pleasure and more pleasure. He kissed me gently then rolled away from me. I immediately missed his warmth, and I whimpered as he put on a condom.

  He came back in full contact with my body, the unreadable look upon his face changed, and I suddenly understood he was worried and concerned… for me. I brushed the hair out of his eyes as I waited for him to tell me what was bothering him.

  "I can't wait to be inside of you, Ariel. I want you so damn bad, more than anything, baby… But the thought of hurting you is killing me."

  "I heard the pain only lasts momentarily," I whispered.

  "I don't know sweetheart. I just don't ever want to be the cause of yours."

  "Make love to me please, Damon. Forget about the rest."

  "I might not be good at it."

  He can't be serious.

  "That's impossible."

  "Ariel I've never made love before, it was just… sex." He looked a little ashamed or uncomfortable speaking to me about his past.

  "Look at me." I jerked his head up toward me. "We can be each other's first."

  Damon licked his lips, grinned and nodded. He pinned my arms above my head with one hand, my breasts lifted high for him. He was right at my entrance but not entering me at all. Waiting patiently, his tongue swept all around my breasts; he teased me over and over. I tried to lift my hips to take him in but he pulled back, smiling as he teased me. Everything had been slow paced, and he was driving me wild. I watched his eyes look down toward where our bodies would join. When I saw his deep inhale of breathe as he sucked his bottom lip in his mouth, it was almost enough for me to come undone. Damon reached down, grabbed himself and rubbed my most sensitive place. He bent down with a hungry kiss; as his tongue ran across my lips for me to open; he pushed himself in just a little.

  "Fuck!" He groaned against my lips as he held his body still.

  He pulled completely out, his eyes searching mine. "Look at me, Ariel, the whole time, okay?" Our hands and fingers were intertwined. I nodded my answer and he slowly slid back in. His face twisted beautifully in pleasure as he fought for control. He couldn't give in to it yet.

  My body tightened up, fighting his entrance, and I closed my eyes.

  "Relax, look at me," he whispered.

  I tried.

  "Feel me, baby."

  All I could freaking feel was him. He pulled back out once more to where he was barely inside of me. When our eyes locked, he thrust all the way inside. As the barrier broke, I scre
amed and clawed at him to release my hands. I clasped on to his forearms and dug my nails into his skin until the burning subsided.

  "Breathe." Damon kissed away the single tear that fell, and then the corner of my mouth. I inhaled and exhaled deeply. I hadn't even realized I'd stopped breathing. The pain slowly eased away. I tried moving my hips.

  "Holy shit, Ariel please be still… so tight," he whispered against my lips, his voice hoarse. Once he got himself in check, he pulled out and thrust back in a little harder than before.

  "You feel amazing," he murmured.

  My hands slid over his back, enjoying the flex of each muscle as he thrust and rotated his hips. He caressed down my thigh and reached behind my knee to angle my hips, and in doing so, he hit an entirely different spot inside of me.

  "Ooh, Damon." I threw my head back against the soft pillow.

  "That's it baby, give it to me. I want to feel you come all around me."

  Wave after wave washed over my body, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes and when it crashed down upon me. I clung to him and moaned his name over and over.

  Once the trembling finally stopped, I opened my eyes to see Damon with a look of awe upon his handsome face. I rotated my hips; he gasped and moved both of his hands to my hips so he could hold me in place. I whispered into his ear and with a guttural groan he pushed into me as far as he could go as his tongue dipped into my mouth.

  He cupped the bottom of my thighs and my legs clamped hard around him. My hips tried to escape him, but he wouldn't allow it. The moment he stroked me with his fingers, and made circles around me, my body gave into him once again. That time I felt him and saw him trembling above me. It was an incredible sight. He never once took his eyes from mine. I watched as all of his muscles tightened up and with the deepest, lowest, sexiest sound I'd ever heard he found his release. At that moment I knew what it felt like to be loved and cherished, to become one with someone. It was amazing. I shivered with the thought of feeling so wonderful and complete.

  Damon still hadn't moved from me and he gave me a sexy, lazy grin as he kissed my forehead then my lips.

  "I love you, Ariel."

  He literally took my breath away.

  "Thank you for loving me."

  He kissed me again, gently, then rolled out of bed. I watched him walk to the bathroom and heard running water.

  When Damon came back he pulled the covers off of me and crawled up my body. He gently spread my legs. I gasped at the soreness. My legs were still mostly together but I felt the pain already.

  "I'm sorry." He pressed a warm, wet cloth against my skin. It felt so good.

  "Is it bad?" He nibbled on his bottom lip. He was so sexy. I could see his concern for me. I looked down at the light colored cloth and I saw my blood but thankfully it wasn't a lot.

  "I'll be fine, I promise."

  "Do you want to take a bath?"

  So damn sweet.

  "Yeah that might help," I said.

  I went to stand and my legs almost gave out from the lack of blood and the intense cramp that I felt in my core.

  "Dammit," he said.

  Damon reached for me.

  "Sit back down, Ariel. I'll get the water ready."

  Once he came back, he gently scooped me up and sat me down inside the tub. The water eased some of my discomfort and soothed my muscles.

  "I could have walked."

  "I didn't want you to."

  "You coming in?"

  "Yeah, babe."

  I scooted up so he could lay behind me; once he was in, I relaxed against his chest, content and so very tired.

  "I've got you, just close your eyes." It didn't take much convincing as I turned my head against his shoulder and slid further down into the warm water. My hands rested on his thighs. I wasn't sure how long he let me sleep but I was out. I woke up to his hands interlaced with mine as he whispered my name quietly.

  He chuckled. "Ariel, I definitely need to make a mental note to watch over you while you take baths. You fell asleep so quickly."

  I'd slept so deeply, in fact, that I had dreamed about everything we'd just done together, the way his body and hips moved against me. Hearing his voice turned me on even more. I angled my head and leaned up against him to kiss his lips. Wasting no time; I sucked his bottom lip into my mouth and bit down gently. I could already tell he was excited when I woke and felt him against my bottom, but now there was definitely no denying it. Damon moaned into my mouth and squeezed our hands together. He released one of mine and slid his hands across both breasts down toward where I needed him again.

  "We can't have sex again tonight, Ariel."

  "Why?" I whined, and wiggled against him.

  "Babe… you're sore, you may not think so right this second but once I try to get inside of you, it will hurt a lot don't you think — you're swollen."

  "But Damon, I'm—"

  "I know and I'll take care of you," he whispered. "Stand up, baby."

  He helped me stand, and I reached for the towels. As I handed him his, I used the opportunity to unabashedly stare, taking in his gorgeous body. My mouth watered and I didn't quite manage to suppress a feral sound from slipping out.

  His lips twisted into a smirk. "Like what you see?" He jerked me against him.

  I then noticed the deep red marks I had left on his forearms. With a gasp of dismay I reached for his left arm, which was the worst.

  "Damon, I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to."

  He proudly smiled. "Battle wounds from you, I'll gladly take."

  He took the towel from me and bent down to finish drying off the rest of my body. He placed soft kisses from my belly button down to my core. Blue eyes locked with mine as he placed his tongue against me and slowly licked all around. I fisted his hair; the need to pull something was strong. Today had been a lot of extreme firsts for me and I was so glad I waited for him. When I tugged on his hair a little tighter and whispered his name, he jerked his mouth away from me, panting. He stood up and suddenly took my lips in a scorching kiss.

  "You taste so damn sweet… so good," he whispered.

  "I need you, Damon."

  "That's so hot!" He spread his hands around my hips and helped me to the bed. "Lay on the bed for me."

  I crawled up the bed and turn around facing him.

  "Lay back and spread your legs, open wide for me."

  Holy hell, I thought I was turned on before. Damon paused over me and the look in his eyes caused me to actually whimper.

  He arched one eyebrow when he heard it.

  "I can't wait to really taste you."

  "Now you're just playing with me." I craved his touch.

  Damon smiled and bent down; he grabbed me beneath my ass and pulled me toward the edge of the bed. He ran his tongue along me, through me, over and over again. Gently then more forceful, and once my legs tightened around him, he growled into me sending a wonderful vibration through me. My hips wanted to jump toward the ceiling but he held me down and continued his journey. Only seconds after his growl the pleasure I was searching for coursed through my body. I squeezed my eyes tight as I choked out his name.

  "I don't know what I ever did to deserve you but you're so amazing, Ariel. Watching you literally takes my breath away."

  I smiled and ran my fingers through his messy hair that I loved so much.

  "Come here," I whispered. "Did you ever think we would end up like this?"

  "Naked? I hoped. I am only a man after all." Damon winked. Then he grew serious. "No, Ariel… as much as I wanted and cared for you, and once I knew I loved you, I just…" Damon looked away from me briefly before meeting my eyes. "I was scared you would never let me in. In the back of my mind I'm always worried that you're going to run."

  "I'm not running anymore, Damon." I hoped like hell he wouldn't either. He still didn't know my deepest, darkest secret; it could erupt and ruin everything I'd fought so hard for.

  "Go to sleep, Juliet."

  "What about you?" I pointed
toward what was still so hard against me.

  "Tomorrow," he said.

  "Won't you be in pain?"

  "Yes… and by tomorrow I mean in a few hours, after you've slept some." He laughed and kissed my forehead. I turned on my side and he pulled me closer so we were spooning.

  "Sleep, angel," he whispered against my neck.

  Angel, I loved it when he called me that. He'd no clue the deep meaning behind that name for me. I was evil for never telling him. I was pathetic and weak. A few short minutes passed by, and his breathing evened out; he was already fast asleep.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  I WATCHED THE CLOCK; SLEEP NEVER came for me. Unable to wait another moment for fear I'd explode, I wanted to wake him up. Tear after tear rolled over my cheeks. The side of my face and pillow were soaked. My eyes were swollen from so many tears. Everything was so perfect and beautiful. He would never love me for who I really was. How could he? One of the sheets came untangled from the bed and fell on the floor; I crawled slowly out of the bed so I wouldn't disturb him, picked up the sheet, and wrapped it around me.

  I turned around and committed to memory everything about him. He was asleep on his stomach, one leg higher than the other, and his arm was still in position as if he was holding me. The blanket had pooled at the top of his waist.

  How could I have been so stupid? I knew better; I didn't think my heart could handle another loss. Why did I risk the hello for just another goodbye? Everything was my fault. Damon's shirt had been thrown to the floor; the urge to pick it up and engrave his scent on my memory was overwhelming. Everything about him would haunt me.

  I pushed my arms through the sleeves, still managing to stay wrapped up in the sheet. A cold shiver ran through my veins. I risked another glance at the beautiful man who'd stolen whatever was left of my heart. I inhaled deeply and made my way out toward the living room. I'd wanted to sit on the bench against the windows, but once there, the urge to go outside became overwhelming.

  I made my way through the door to the perfectly manicured back yard. A pool I hadn't noticed before reflected the pre-dawn light. I briefly wondered how he could afford a place so nice – it even had a gazebo and palm trees. I knew so little about him, had never met his mother, and he never talked about his father. That was my own fault, because if I had asked, he would have told me anything. I'd never wanted to, though, because I knew the questions would turn around to me.