Damon Read online

  3

  DAMON

  Twenty minutes ago I didn’t believe in true love. Always figured it was just something people made up to put a polite polish on lust. And don’t get me wrong, I’m more than ready to sink myself in Kate’s luscious body but not until I’ve held her close and kissed the worry out of her eyes. Back at my rental car, I’m rooting around in the duffle bag I’ve packed to go to the gym after I leave here. There’s an old t-shirt with ARMY across the front. I pull it out but the sweatpants are going to be too big for her. She would only end up tripping and breaking something. I take the towel out too because I’m not sure if she has more than dishrags at the bar. Tucked in the corner I find a fresh pair of boxers I didn’t even know were in there. That will at least give her a little more coverage under the shirt. I lock up and head back to the bar.

  Kate is still standing where I left her just inside the door. She unlocks the door for me and looks at the pile of clothes in my hands like she’s been reprieved from death row. I look down the hallway for the bouncer. He’s just coming back around the corner so I wait for him. “Report?”

  “Gone, sir. I’ve got names on all of them. I’ll file a report tonight before I go home.”

  I nod, killing them would probably be overreacting. “Keep this shut until we’re back up front, soldier.”

  “Sir.” He takes up position in the hallway outside the bar.

  I take Kate by the elbow. “You’ve got a stock room or something back there?”

  “There’s a little office slash storeroom.”

  I walk her that way.

  “Um. You really don’t need to come with me? I’ve been getting dressed for quite a few years all by myself.”

  I let a disapproving grunt say it all and keep walking her to the back. When we get there I undo my jacket from around her and slip it on a hook by the door. Then I extract the towel and start with her hair, working my way down slowly. Despite her continuing protests, she’s all talk and no action. I sling the towel over my shoulder to undo the buttons of her shirt. The wet material is making the tiny buttons slippery but when I part it and see her bare skin with a layer of tiny goosebumps it’s all I can do not to curse. I press the towel down her front while I reach back and unhook her bra. I spent most of my seventeenth year practicing how to do that one-handed and some skills never die.

  I take one of her hands and after pressing a kiss into her palm turn it and press so she’s holding the towel in place. Only then do I kneel and peel her leggings and panties down.

  “Why are you being so nice to me?” she whispers over my head.

  I’m not sure how to answer that, these feelings are too new and unfamiliar. I settle for the simplest, truest answer. “Fate.”

  I help her into the shorts and then pull the t-shirt over her head, tugging the towel until she releases it. I look down at her. “Fuck!”

  She looks up startled. “What?”

  “You’re dry but you’re not decent. I don’t want anyone else seeing you like this.”

  She looks down bemused. The shirt is huge on her but it doesn’t disguise the soft bounce of her breasts. I look around the small room desperately. Then I spot it. An old black canvas apron. I grab it and sling it over her neck reaching around her to tie the strings at the waist in a way that doesn’t pull the front tight.

  Kate starts giggling. “Maybe I’ll get pity tips.”

  I growl. She knows that’s why I gave her that twenty. Was it only yesterday? I can hear voices which means the bouncer has waiting customers. “Kate?”

  “Yeah?”

  “We need to discuss some things tonight. I’m not letting you leave here alone so you need to decide if we’re going back to your place or my hotel. I don’t much care either way.”

  She takes a deep shuddering breath and then meets my gaze squarely. “Are you just messing around here, Major? Got a wife and kids tucked away somewhere?”

  “Not yet. Pretty sure when I do you’ll be present for all of it.”

  She’s looking confused.

  “Kate. I’m single, not dating, not attached. But I am pursuing you and on a condensed timeline which I’ll explain later. Now I think we’d better get back out there before there’s another riot.”

  She nods more decisively and we both go out to the bar. Kate gives a wave to the bouncer and I take over the middle bar stool right in front of her main work area. No way am I letting her out of arm's length for the rest of her shift.

  KATE

  I’m still in a daze. You might think it was from being assaulted with water but that just left me feeling sad and cold. I’m dizzy from being undressed by a gorgeous man who’s hotter than anyone I’ve ever seen. And now he wants to ‘talk’ in his hotel room? Not going to happen. If I’m going anywhere with him, it’s my place so that when he cuts and runs at least I don’t have to try and drive through my disappointment. Although how disappointed can you be when it’s clearly inevitable? Very a little voice whispers in my head.

  Customers keep trickling in, I don’t know if it’s because they heard about what happened or they think they’re going to be on the receiving end of free drinks like yesterday but I’m so distracted the rest of my shift passes without incident. When Orson raises his hand for last call I take my first direct look at Major Hot-ass as I’m now calling him to myself since he sat down. He’s not looking at me, he’s watching the small crowd. When they start standing and dropping small tips in the jar he nods approvingly. For the first time since I started the place is empty and I’m ready to head out on time.

  “So where did you decide?” he asks me quietly.

  “Are you sure we really need to talk? I can bring your clothes back tomorrow or mail them to you…”

  “Not an option, babe. We have a lot to discuss. Your choices are the same as before. Your place or my hotel.”

  I sigh. “My place then, pretty sure you’re not going to want to stay all that long.”

  He raises a disbelieving eyebrow. I just shrug and go in the back to collect my wet clothes and my purse. I lock up while he stands close and then he walks me to my car. That’s when we both realize we overlooked something. My beautiful Audi, a cherished leftover from my high-salaried attorney life has been backed into repeatedly and at speed. My “Shit!” comes at the same time as Damon’s “Babe.”

  Then he takes out his phone and places a call to building security. He’s direct and to the point. “Deal with the mother-fuckers or I will. And get the police report started or I’ll be pointing out that there clearly have been no security sweeps of the garage in the last six hours. I’ll take her home. We’ll deal with the rest tomorrow.” He hangs up and turns to me. “Anything you need in there for tonight?”

  I shake my head and then can’t hold it in. “Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. I can’t afford this right now.”

  He pulls me into his arms, wrapping them tight around me. “It’s going to be okay, Kate. I’m taking back that choice I gave you though. Let’s go back to my hotel room, it’s got room service and a jacuzzi tub. I’ll take you by your place in the morning to change and then bring you here.”

  Double-shit, I didn’t want to have this conversation in an underground parking garage. “I really don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Why not?”

  “Uhhh. Because I only met you today. Because I look like a drowned rat. Because I don’t do one night stands (technically true!). Because I’m pretty sure I’m too old for you.”

  “That everything, counselor?” his eyes are twinkling but I can feel my guilty flush spread.

  He smirks.

  “How did you know?” I ask curiously.

  “Takes one to know one.”

  I gape. “You’re a major and an attorney?”

  “They’re not mutually exclusive, you know.” He remarks dryly.

  “Now I really feel like an underachiever.”

  He rolls his eyes in response and starts gently pushing me farther into the garage. “Come o
n. I’ll deal with your objections while we drive.”

  I trail along next to him because I don’t see that I have any better options right now… and if we’re being completely honest because I don’t have the guts to walk away from this guy that turns my insides to mush. I know nothing is going to happen but… I only drive to work because the bus doesn’t run this late at night in this part of town.

  He holds the door for me on his maroon mid-size rental and I fasten the seat belt.

  Pulling out of the garage into the warm summer night he pauses to check for traffic. “Now, if I recall your first argument was that we haven’t known each other very long. My counterpoint is there’s only one way to remedy that which is to spend time together and to talk. Any objections?”

  “In pure theory, no,” I grumble.

  “Good, and my second point to your first is that I’m only here for the rest of the week. Then I’m on three weeks' leave to pack up for my next deployment which will be somewhere in Europe… for the next two years.”

  “See? That proves my point that nothing could come of it anyway.”

  “So we shouldn’t even try? Kate, if you give up that easily…”

  Now I’m the one growling.

  “Then your second point was your appearance. I think it’s a minor one but you look adorable and irresistibly fuckable.”

  “I do?” I’m bewildered. That is not what my sister or my mother said when they saw me. It didn’t matter if I was going to the library or my one foray into a dance club. Boring, messy and frumpy were their usual adjectives to describe me.

  “Affirmative. Next point, you don’t do one night stands. Not a problem. I’m planning to marry you and make this forever. Since I’m now thinking that needs to happen sooner than later because I am not leaving you on a different continent. I won’t survive it.”

  “Are you nuts?”

  “Negative. Merely doing as I’ve been trained, counselor. Mission objective defined, risks identified, battle plan made. Just leaves executing.” He reaches over and takes my hand. He brings it up to his lips and takes my thumb into his mouth, never taking his eyes off the road. He sucks, pressing his tongue to the pad of my thumb and I can feel my belly tighten in response. He lets go of my hand gently. “And your last point was that you’re a few years older than me.”

  I glance over at him waiting to see how he’s going to wiggle out of this one.

  “You’re under oath here, counselor. How many years between eighteen and now have you spent entirely without sexual contact?”

  “I am not under oath and I’m not going to answer that!”

  “Kate, answer the question. How many years?” His voice has gone stern and in the dim light coming from the road, I can see his hands are clenched on the steering wheel. Is he … jealous? Of these non-existent, fictional past lovers? I think about my book boyfriends. “Does touching myself count?”

  “Fuck. No, not for this.”

  “Um, well then all of them.”

  He slams on the brakes and stares at me.

  “Um, Damon? Not exactly a good place to stop.” I point out gently.

  He looks back at the road and eases forward slowly. He puts one hand under his collar and tugs like it’s choking him.

  “Right, so my point… I was not expecting that answer but my cock and I are thrilled with it… my point is all those years are like being in stasis on those sci-fi shows. You know the ones? Where they go into little capsules and wake up a hundred years later but they aren’t really a hundred years older? You’re like that, stuck in relationship stasis. Which means if you’re actually eighteen in those terms then I’m a lot older than you.” He slants his gaze in my direction to see how I’m taking this load of malarkey. I’m too busy laughing.

  “That is the most charming pile of horse shit I have ever heard.”

  “I hope you don’t use that kind of language in the courtroom, counselor. What’s your argument against?”

  “Umm. Your parents? Your military command?”

  “I see you’re sidestepping my theory of relativity. My father is nursing a theory that I might be gay. My mother is dead, and I’m beginning to suspect is directly involved in our meeting because she would absolutely love you. As for the military, they like their personnel married—they’re not too particular on the details. So you see, you’ll be doing me a favor.”

  “Your father thinks you might be gay?” I ask in disbelief.

  “He brings it up every time I go home as in ‘you know it’s okay to bring a man home with you; it’s not healthy to be single.’ I think he says it to rile me because I dared to go into the army instead of the navy but you can ask him after we tie the knot. Anything else?”

  “Err no, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to marry you.”

  “Stop thinking so hard, Kate. Let your heart have a vote.”

  Damon pulls the car into a well-lit spot near the entrance to the long-stay hotel. “Come on, babe. Let’s get some food and then I want to hear how you ended up in that place.”

  4

  KATE

  I feel awkward standing around the small living room area of Damon’s suite. He heads straight into the bedroom, leaving the door open and strips out of his uniform. I sort of try not to watch but not really. He’s beautiful. His movements are graceful and swift.

  He comes back in sweats and a t-shirt, walks over to me and suddenly I’m being kissed by a man who does nothing by half-measures. He pulls back slightly with a groan. “Food. Talk.” Pulling me over to the small kitchenette he picks me up like I weigh nothing and places me on a barstool. “I’ve mostly got things to stick in a microwave but I can make spaghetti or there’s some chicken enchiladas we can reheat.”

  “It’s already after midnight, reheating sounds like a better plan.”

  He nods and opens the tiny fridge pulling out a foil container and a bottle of white wine. He pours two glasses. “Okay Kate, what happened between lawyering and bartending?”

  I sigh. Might as well get this over with. “Did you hear about the MacPherson case?”

  His eyebrows shoot up. “You mean the Senator’s son accused of selling secrets? That MacPherson?”

  “Yes.”

  Damon’s mouth has gone grim and he’s gripping the counter like he’s struggling for control. “Go on.”

  “My law firm wanted me to represent him. Seems the Senator is old buddies with one of the senior partners.”

  “Okaaay.”

  “They told me if I didn’t get him off I’d lose my job. I told them I wouldn’t take the case. So they fired me.”

  I take a sip of my wine while Damon shakes his head in bewilderment. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “That I already knew he was guilty and that’s not client confidentiality. I saw… something incriminating in my condo building.”

  “Did they threaten you?” He sounds ready to go to war on my behalf which surprisingly makes me feel better. I haven’t had anyone to talk to since everything went down that really understands the situation.

  “Not directly. I gave my statement to the FBI the same week I turned down the case. No matter how many resumes I send out, nobody calls me back. When I’ve called colleagues at other firms, off the record they all say that I’m perceived as bad for business. And it turns out that lawyers aren’t really good for much besides being attorneys so… no skills bartender.” I hold up my arms in a victory sign with a rueful smile.

  Damon is still glaring at an invisible enemy. “Christ, Kate. That sucks. I thought that case was in California?”

  “It was. So was I. This job was here and Cali is too expensive to be unemployed for long. Not that here is cheap but…”

  He nods. “Will you let me help you?”

  “With money? No.”

  His smile is wide and lights up his whole face. “You’re so predictable. That’s not exactly what I meant. I know someone that will view your actions as a career asset more than a liability. Even better if
you’re licensed in California. You still current?”

  “Yeah, until I have to cough up the fees again and then I don’t know.”

  “I’ll give Evan a call in the morning. Pretty sure most of his staff works remotely anyway otherwise I might have to be selfish.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask suspiciously.

  “Patience, Kate.” He smirks at me over the rim of his glass. Suddenly he’s on my side of the counter caging me in, his strong arms braced on either side. “We’ve got about five minutes before the food is ready. Why don’t you fill me in on why you’ve been avoiding men. Cause I know they haven’t been avoiding you.”

  I lick my lips out of nervousness and Damon’s eyes flare. “How do you know that?”

  He gently parts my legs with his big hands and steps between them. I’m still wearing the shorts and t-shirt he lent me at the bar so there’s not much between my pussy and the hard cock that he’s now gently but firmly pressing against it. “That’s how I know, counselor. Hard evidence.”

  I think I gulp and snort at the same time which can’t be attractive but it doesn’t deter the Major. His hands come up to cup my untethered breasts through the t-shirt. “Been wanting to do that all night.” He says softly and leans in for a kiss. My mouth opens instinctively and he dives in. I’m lost in sensation, his forceful tongue teasing mine, his cock pressing against my increasingly wet pussy, his big hands tangled in my hair. My hips shift looking for relief from the growing pressure and suddenly I’m off the stool and being held against the wall, my legs wrap around his hips instinctively.

  His lips are now moving down my throat. “Answers, Kate. Why are you still single?”

  How on earth am I supposed to be able to talk while he’s doing that to me? “Um, I guess I’m just not that sexual. And…I think too much. I’m kind of repressed.”

  Damon pulls his head back far enough to stare at me with wide eyes. “You can’t be serious? You think you’re repressed?”

  I shake my head. “I know I’m not that sexually attractive. You’re just tired and I’m… here.”