“You need me. You want me so bad, even now, I can see your nipples, Sydney. I can see your eyes dilate, your breath
come in fast. Does he make you feel like this?” He touched her intimately, and her breath caught, her body leaning to his.
“Let go of me,” she breathed.
“I will,” he breathed against the top of her head, stroking her until she was shuddering, “I will let you go, when you promise to meet me here tonight,” he said tenderly.
She moaned in protest and pushed his hands away. “Please don’t ask.”
“I ask.”
She scowled. “And if I say no?”
“Then I’ll demand it.” “Damien…”
“I’m not done with you, Sydney, and neither are you. What do you think is going on between us now? Huh?” He leaned closer. “We’re lovers, Syd. You and I. You may love another man, but I’m the man you need, and I won’t share you with him. You can’t have us both. If you want me, then I demand you sleep every night in my bed. With me. I can’t pretend I don’t want you here daily…I can’t even think of you and not want you…”
Her eyes darkened with arousal, her teeth tugging on her bottom lip. “Okay,” she grudgingly admitted. “But if I ever see you so much as glance at another woman while we’re together…”
Damien smiled, and he kissed her softly. “You won’t,” he vowed. He had a feeling his luck was about to change.
Six models…six tall, beautiful…
Riding a cab back to the gallery, Sydney could still remember their lipstick on Damien’s strong, square jaw. She was sure she’d stepped into a bad cheesy porn movie. Damien Knight had been bare chested, gloriously handsome, in pajama bottoms, and surrounded by ladies in heels and coats and loose hair and lipstick—which they’d managed to get all over Damien.
Sydney’s stomach had plummeted so hard, she’d felt nauseous. Had she thought Damien would change? Had she thought a man like him would suddenly clean his act because of her?
But then those eyes…
She shuddered remembering the look in them, possessive and tender, determined and hot, taking her back to the memories of last night. She’d given him her virginity and she wanted him so much, she didn’t know if she had it in her to stop. But as long as she kept her heart to herself, there was no reason to stay away, right?
We’re lovers…
Her heart danced in excitement at the thought.
She stepped into the gallery and immediately spotted Court. He stood in the back of the room next to a canvas covered by a cotton cloth. Sydney’s eyes widened when she realized it was the ‘I love you’ work she’d commissioned for her best friend.
“Good morning,” she said brightly. He turned, his eyes sparkling at the sight of her.
“Hey,” he said, searching her expression. “Trini just brought this for you. Did I miss something?”
“Not really, it’s private,” she said, praying Court hadn’t lifted the fabric to take a peek at it. She just didn’t know anymore. You’re mine to pleasure. Mine to caress. Mine and you know this.
“You up for lunch today, Syd?”
“Sure. Though we can totally have lunch here so we can get things done. I want to leave early, if that’s okay with you.”
“Sure.” He followed her into the office. “Syd, I want to apologize.”
“What? Why?”
“Yesterday, you were trying to say something to me and I…didn’t handle it too well.” His hands were shaking at his sides, and he linked them together and tapped his thumbs together. “I didn’t know what to say.” He stared at her throat, then into her face.
“Court…” she began. “I’m not a virgin either.”
He stared at her. “But yesterday you said…”
“That was yesterday.”