Don't Tell (Don't 1)

From where I stood I could see his arm. I followed the lines of a crisp white shirt to the cuff at his wrist. I couldn’t make out the letters monogrammed on his cufflinks. His watch caught the small bit of light coming off the building. He had large hands. I also noticed his legs were long and muscular in a pair of fitted dark pants.

He strummed his fingers. He was waiting.

“Mademoiselle,” the driver urged.

“Right. Yes.”

I ducked, climbing into the backseat. The door closed behind me. And I came face to face with His Royal Highness.

5

Damon

I had waited longer than I should have. I checked my watch again. I had paid out the highest tender of my life. I wasn’t leaving here without her. I reminded myself she wasn’t a regular tally. There had never been another woman like her at The Titan before. I wouldn’t have paid half a million otherwise.

Georgon closed the car door as she slid into the leather seat next to me. Finally.

“Good evening.”

“Hi.” Her voice was soft, filling the silent recesses of the backseat.

Fuck. Her lips were even more edible up close. Her cheeks were bright. I knew she wasn’t drunk. It was against the rules. She was either nervous or excited. I considered there was nothing wrong with a combination.

The car lurched forward.

“Where are we going?” she eked. She watched the club fade out of view as Georgon drove toward the coastal highway.

“Does our night extend by the minutes you kept me waiting?”

“Excuse me?” I watched the curve of her neck as she swallowed.

“You’re American?” I questioned. Most of them were. They kept the pipeline running.

“Is that a problem?”

The car careened as we exited, tipping her off balance. She leaned into me, her hair brushing against my shoulder as she pushed away to right her body.

“A defensive American.” I rubbed my chin with my thumb. “Tell me your name.”

“Seven-seven-seven,” she whispered. She didn’t make eye contact. “But Sapphire is the other one they gave me.”

“Your real name,” I corrected her.

“I thought we weren’t supposed to do that.”

I reached for a bottle of water in the bar and grabbed a second one for her. I twisted the lid from the top and put it in her hands.

“Do you know who I am?” I asked blankly.

She nodded. “I was told you’re one of the royals.” She took a sip.

“One of the royals?” I scoffed. “I must be losing my reputation around here.” I turned to face her squarely. “I’m the royal.”

She fidgeted with the bottle cap. “I know. I was just trying not to make a big deal about it. Maybe I’m not supposed to acknowledge you’re the king of Galona. I-I’m not sure.”

“At least you know my title. You know I have certain exemptions. One of those specifically deals with the name clause. What’s your name?”

“Molly. Molly Washington.”