Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“And you shouldn’t have let me go, Damien. We can play this game all night.” I stepped back from him, my eyes growing wet. “I loved you…and I still do. I hate the energy between us anytime we’re alone in a room together. I hate the fact that I think about you all the time. I hate the fact that I have to concentrate so hard not to let you into my mind when I’m with him. I hate the fact that I miss you when I don’t see you for a while. I hate…everything about this.” A few tears escaped, and I quickly wiped them away with my fingertips.
His anger was tamed by my emotion. “If you weren’t married, would you leave him for me?”
I dropped my gaze and gave a nod.
He sighed loudly. “Life is too short not to be with the person you really want, Annabella.”
“I know,” I whispered. “But…”
“Don’t you think he would step aside if he knew? If he really loved you, he’d want you to be happy.”
I released a sarcastic laugh. “No. He’d fight to the death for me.”
His eyes fell in disappointment.
“And even if I wanted to…he would kill you.”
“He wouldn’t, Annabella. And he would be my problem, not yours, so don’t worry about it.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m sorry…”
He stared at me with drooping shoulders, as if he didn’t know what to do other than accept my painful decision. His eyes didn’t have the same light they’d possessed earlier. Now he was empty, like the sun had set and darkness ensued.
If Liam hadn’t offered to sacrifice his passion for me, maybe I would feel differently. But I knew that Liam was dedicated to this marriage, that he loved me with all his heart, and he would be devastated if I left. Once he knew Damien was the man I’d picked over him, he would feel foolish, betrayed by everyone around him…including me. He was a good man, and he didn’t deserve that.
Damien stared at me for a while before he moved in close, his hand cupping my cheek and his fingers sliding between the strands of my combed-back hair. His other arm wrapped around my waist, hugging me to him.
I didn’t fight even though I should. I let him take me because I didn’t have the strength to stop it. I needed the comfort as much as he did. The man I loved felt the same way…but I still couldn’t have him.
His forehead rested against mine, and he held me that way for a long time, squeezing the fabric of my dress with his large hand. It was right above my ass, touching me like I was his…even though we both knew that would never happen.
His fingers found the clip in my hair and pulled it free, getting my hair to come loose and fall down my back. Now, it was just the way he liked, so he could feel it with his fingertips, touch me the way he used to. His breath fell on my nose, and when we were close like this, I got lost in time…traveling back to nights when he was mine.
I wanted to stay there forever.
His hand moved up my back to my bra strap, and he squeezed me there too. He didn’t kiss me, even though the thought probably crossed his mind. He lifted his chin and pressed his lips to my forehead, kissing me with his warm mouth.
I inhaled a deep breath, treasuring the touch.
He let his lips stay there for a long time, as if he didn’t want to step back and leave this beautiful moment. But when he did, he pulled away and looked at me, his green eyes fixed on me. His palm brushed against my cheek, and his thumb swiped at the corner of my mouth. “I love you, Annabella.” He looked me in the eye as he said it, taking the opportunity to tell me what was in his heart before he lost his chance altogether.
I shouldn’t say it back. I shouldn’t feel this rush of affection, this heart-pounding pain all over my body. In that moment, I knew my feelings for Damien were true. They weren’t misplaced lust, confused infatuation. The love in my heart was pure…and I loved him with every fiber of my being. “I love you too…”
21
Damien
I fell asleep in the leather chair, my feet on the desk and my head resting against my open palm while my elbow was propped on the armrest. Instead of going home, I headed back to work, getting lost in drugs and money to numb the pain radiating from my chest. I didn’t want to go home alone, and I didn’t want to go to a bar…so I just stayed here.
A loud thump made me jolt.
Heath stood in front of my desk, wearing a long-sleeved shirt and black jeans. His tattoos were visible up and down his arms, and the smirk on his face told me how much he enjoyed catching me off guard. “Baby didn’t get enough sleep last night?”