Chapter 29

Chapter 29
Damon

It took all my inner strength not to return to that pub and insist, yes, insist, Vivianna come with me.

She was with another man.

So fucking soon?

My sheets were still warm from her beautiful body. Her rose perfume filled my space. And she was out with a guy?

Maybe they’d known each other for a while. He had his arm around the booth, looking very familiar, and they were all laughing when I walked in.

Fuck.

I tried texting her but no answer. Uncertainty kept me there on that main drag. If I went back in, it would seem as though I was being a control freak. If I didn’t, she’d end up sleeping with that guy.

Fuck.

I heard “Damon” and turned to see Vivianna running up to me.

Her lips parted as she hurried towards me, reminding me of how she looked bouncing on my dick, and my jeans tightened.

“I wanted to invite you to join us, but then you left.”

“I didn’t want to bust in on your party,” I said.

“It wasn’t that. Those guys just joined us. Amy’s like that.”

“Like what?” I had to know if this friend of hers was a bad influence.

“Well, she’s friendly.” She pulled a coy smile. “I didn’t invite them to sit with us. But they’re nice people, I suppose.”

“I’ve been trying to call you all day.” I hated how desperate I sounded.

I was fucking desperate. I wanted this girl. Now. Naked. In my arms.

Maybe a week away together. Perhaps after that, I could get her out of my system.

I couldn’t concentrate. Everything revolved around Vivianna. Especially now that I’d had a taste.

A taste? A fucking banquet.

Her eyebrows knitted. “Oh. Did you need me to do something? Like organise your files or cleaning?”

My heart swelled with affection at how innocent she seemed. Her face resembled that of a girl’s all of a sudden. Endearingly so. I wanted to smother her with cuddles and buy her everything her heart desired. If only just to bask in her pure soul.

Wearing a questioning, wide-eyed stare, Vivianna made me smile sadly. “No, Vivianna. I just wanted to see you.”

“Oh.” Her brows puckered as though me wanting to see her was some abstract concept.

“I don’t want you to work for me anymore.” I took her hand and stared into her eyes. “I’d prefer it if you allowed me to set you up in your own place.”

She removed her hand abruptly as if my palm was made of broken glass. “To be a kept woman?”

I hated how that sounded too. I shook my head. “No. I just want to give you everything. Help you.”

“I don’t need your or anyone’s help. That goes against my nature.” Under the streetlight, her eyes shone with intense emotion. “I’m seriously independent. I’ve had to be.” Her voice cracked.

I took her hand. “I respect you for that. I didn’t mean it to sound sordid.” I took a deep breath to consider my words. “I just want to help you earn that degree without you having to worry about money. I’ve got plenty of it.”

“I get that.” She looked down again and drew a circle with her toe. “But it wouldn’t seem right to me. I’m not good at taking gifts at the best of times. And now… with us…” She exhaled and that faltering smile of hers pushed away her earlier fire.

She stepped out of the way of a couple of staggering men.

“What are you doing now? Or are you going to hang out with those guys?”

She shook her head decisively. “God no.”

I had to smile at the way her expressive face twisted into a grimace.

“I’m sure they’re crestfallen,” I said.

Her head drew back sharply in that self-deprecating way of hers. Vivianna didn’t see herself as the male magnet she truly was. “I doubt it. Anyway, Amy told them I was gay.”

My eyebrows flung up, and I laughed. “Well, I’m glad you’re not.” I retraced that comment. “I meant nothing against gay women.”

She laughed, which unclamped my shoulders.

“Can we perhaps go somewhere and talk?” I slanted my head.

“Did you have something in mind?”

“I’ve got plenty of ideas. That involve just you and me.” I raised a brow. “We can stay here for the night.”

Her eyes met mine. “In Mayfair, you mean?”

I thought of Evan, and what I wanted to do to Theadora involved lots of hot, noisy sex. I wanted to hear her moan and for me to groan loudly, like I did when we climaxed together.

That was a first for me.

Everything about Vivianna was a first.

“Why didn’t you answer my calls?” I asked.

Her eyes searched mine. “My phone broke down. I just bought a new one and haven’t set it up yet.” She kept staring at me as though I was an enigma. “Um… can you wait while I say goodbye to Amy?”

“Of course.”

As she moved away, I watched her swaying bottom in those tight jeans. My heart picked up pace. The anticipation of touching her soft curves and her writhing, voluptuous body rubbing against mine made my blood thicken. I also just wanted to listen to her voice. To hear her talking about anything and everything.

She warmed the air around me.

A few minutes later, she walked gracefully towards me. As a contagious smile grew on her lips, our eyes locked, and the street crowd turned into a blur.

“Have you eaten?” I asked.

“Not really.”

“Let’s go to Lovechildes. It’s not far. I’ve got a penthouse suite there.”

“Oh, you’re staying there?” She frowned. “I used to work there.”

I twisted a strand of her hair. “I know.”

“I might have even cleaned that room. How weird is that?”

I sniffed. “Yep. It’s a coincidence all right. A beautiful coincidence.”

She looked up at me, and I kissed her on the lips. Her soft mouth was cold from the night air.

“Evan’s at Mayfair. We have a private suite that’s ours. My father used to stay there, but he’s since moved into a new penthouse with his boyfriend.”

She stopped walking. “Wow. Your dad’s gay?”

I nodded. My father could have turned into a weed-smoking Rastafarian for all I cared. With her soft, petite hand in mine, life felt nice. Really nice.

Vivianna even made eating erotic. Or was it the way her little tongue kept sweeping over her plump lips?

“That’s so delicious,” she said, pushing her plate aside. “I’ve cleaned this room, but I’ve never been a guest here.”

“It’s so strange how things work out,” I said. “Your working here, I mean.”

She sipped on her wine. “I don’t think I can be a kept woman, Damon.”

That sudden shift in subject jarred, despite our arrangement needing to be addressed. Silly of me to think I could just get down and dirty with this girl and leave tomorrow for tomorrow.

I walked over to the window and stared at the crescent moon sitting perfectly over Big Ben as though digitally enhanced.

“I admire that in you. Most people would have their hands out.” I turned to face her. “Giving is something I enjoy.”

She joined me at the window and shook her head. “Are you really this nice?”

I shrugged. “I have my moments.”

“Are you really a war hero?” Her eyes met mine, and I smiled tightly.

I didn’t like talking about my time as a soldier. “I was just doing my job.”

“But you saved a school, Jamie said.”

“I just talked a teenager out of blowing himself up.”

“My god.” Her eyes widened with shock.

Yes, it was shocking. That pimply teenager resembled any boy who played war games on PlayBox, not in real life.

“He was about to pull the string. Luckily, I managed to talk him out of it.”

She shook her head in disbelief. “That’s insane.”

I nodded.

“You look sad.” She tipped her head.