"That's running away from it, not confronting it," he says.
I ponder his words. In the recesses of my mind, I realize he's right, but I'm still not about to make a fool of myself in front of him.
"You're going to rehearse this now. Go over there and start talking." He watches me with a determined glare.
"Well, you're bossy."
"Oh, you have no idea how bossy I can be." There’s a sizzling energy in his voice that sends ripples through me. "Come on."
I pick up the tablet with my essay and go to the front of the room. My palms clam with sweat the second I start reading from my tablet, and I pull at the silver bracelet on my left wrist. I keep my gaze on the tablet, only raising it occasionally to eye the door and even the window, wondering if I can make an escape.
I don't look at Damon at all until he interrupts me, saying, "You can't ignore the audience, Dani. I know you already know that speech by heart; you don't have to glue your eyes to your tablet. Look at me."
I draw a deep breath, raising my eyes ever so slightly. I pull at the bracelet on my wrist harder, wincing when the silver cuts into my skin.
"You’re doing great. Go on," he beckons.
Encouraged by his words, I start speaking again, making frequent eye contact. I expect him to start smirking at some point, or laugh at my ideas, but he doesn't. My stomach loosens, as do the muscles in my limbs. I’m smiling by the time I finish.
"Now, that wasn't so bad." Damon grins.
"It was much better than usual. But it's just you and me here. As soon as there are more people, my tongue will turn to stone, and I’ll get all sweaty."
"So pretend it's just you and me."
"It's not that easy."
"You're right." He sinks further down the couch, his grin growing even wider. “We have to make you think you’re alone with me.”
"How do we do that?"
"I know! Give me your panties."
I do a double-take, heat creeping up my face. "No, I won't."
"I can be persuasive."
"I'm not walking like that in front of the class."
Damon strides to me with such determination, I'm convinced he'll strip me naked. But when he reaches me, he merely pushes a strand of my hair behind my ear.
"Okay, but you'll wear the red scarf I gave you. And get that bracelet off; you'll cut yourself."
"That's a fair deal," I murmur, watching him remove the bracelet.
"You have a way with words."
"Yeah, written words. Speaking them is the tricky part. Thanks for doing this. I needed it. You can read my mind."
He traces a circle on my wrist with his finger, making my heart swoop. He looks intently at my hand, his brow furrowed as if he's trying to figure out what to say next. "I can't. But just like you can feel when I need a swim to cool off...I can tell what you need, Dani." My insides turn to jelly. "Right now, you need more confidence." He's right, of course. I mean, I know my strengths, but sometimes I do feel like I’m my worst enemy when it comes to championing myself.
"You are a smart, beautiful woman," he says.
"I'm not a woman yet." Swallowing hard, I fidget with my hands. Damon's eye glint and the intensity of his stare spears me, fire traveling through my veins.
"I'll enjoy making you one. And you’ll like it so much, you'll become addicted to it."
***