Chapter 139 *
Scarlett’s POV
Ten minutes later, the bathroom door opened. I heard his footsteps in the hall.
Then he was back. Standing in the doorway. Hair damp. T-shirt clinging to his still-wet skin.
My mouth went dry.
He crossed the room. Lifted the covers. Slid in beside me.
The bed dipped under his weight. I felt the heat coming off his body even though we weren't touching.
I stayed rigid. Stared at the ceiling.
The silence was so loud it hurt.
"You're thinking very loudly over there." His voice came from the darkness.
I turned my head. "What?"
"I can practically hear your thoughts." He was on his side now. Facing me. "What's going on in that head?"
I bit my lip. "Nothing."
"Liar."
My face got hot. Good thing it was dark. "I'm just thinking."
"About what?"
The question hung in the air.
I could lie. Could deflect. Could make a joke.
But I was tired of lying. Tired of pretending.
"That night." The words came out quiet. "At the hotel."
His whole body went still. "What about it?"
I turned on my side. Faced him properly. "I keep thinking about how different everything was."
"Different how?"
"You didn't know who I was." My voice was barely above a whisper. "I didn't know who you were."
"No." His hand moved. Found mine in the space between us. "We didn't."
"I was just trying to forget." The confession spilled out. "Forget the party. Forget my family. Forget everything that hurt."
His thumb traced circles on the back of my hand. "I know."
"You were a stranger." I kept going. Needed to say it all. "Someone who didn't know me. Didn't know my history. Didn't expect anything."
"And now?"
I met his eyes in the darkness. "Now you're my husband."
The word settled between us. Heavy. Real.
"Now you know everything." My throat felt tight. "You've seen me at my worst. You've defended me. Protected me."
His hand tightened around mine.
"That night was about forgetting." I paused. "This is different."
"How?"
I took a breath. Let it out slowly. "Because I don't want to forget anymore."
Something shifted in his expression. Got more intense.
"Scarlett." My name sounded like a question.
"I know we said this was fake." The words tumbled out faster now. "I know we have a contract. I know this wasn't supposed to be real."
I moved closer. Just an inch. "But it doesn't feel fake anymore."
His eyes searched mine. "No. It doesn't."
"That night at the hotel." My voice dropped lower. "I kept wondering what it would be like."
"What what would be like?"
"If we actually knew each other." I could feel my heart pounding. "If it meant something."
He moved suddenly. His hand left mine. Came up to cup my face.
His thumb brushed across my cheekbone. "We can find out."
Then he kissed me.
It was different from that night. Different from every other kiss we'd shared.
This was slow. Deliberate. Like he was memorizing me.
I kissed him back. My hand fisted in his shirt. Pulled him closer.
His other hand slid to my waist. His fingers spread across my lower back. Warm even through the thin fabric.
When we broke apart, we were both breathing hard.
His forehead rested against mine. "We don't have to do anything."
"I know." My fingers were still twisted in his shirt.
"We can wait." His voice was rough. "We can take this slow."
"Damon."
"Yeah?"
"Stop being noble." I pulled back just enough to look at him. "I don't want to wait."
His eyes went dark. "You sure?"
"We've already done this once." I tried for humor. Failed completely. "Technically."
His mouth curved. But there was nothing funny in his expression. "That didn't count."
"Why not?"
"Because I didn't know your name." His hand tightened on my waist. "Didn't know anything about you."
He pulled me closer. Our bodies pressed together now. "This time I want to know everything."
My breath caught.
He kissed me again. Deeper this time. His tongue swept into my mouth.
I made a sound in the back of my throat. Couldn't help it.
His hand slid under my shirt. Palm flat against my bare skin. The touch burned.
"Tell me your name." His mouth moved to my neck.
I blinked. Confused. "You know my name."
"I want to hear you say it." His teeth grazed my pulse point.
"Scarlett." The word came out breathless.
"Scarlett what?" His hand moved higher under my shirt.
Oh. "Scarlett Wolfe."
He lifted his head. Looked at me. His pupils blown wide.
"That's right." His voice was rough. "You're mine."
This was nothing like Champlain Hotel.
That night had been rough. Fast. Desperate.
Two strangers trying to lose themselves in physical sensation.
This was different. This was Damon taking his time. Learning every inch of me. Making sure I knew exactly who was touching me.
"Look at me." His voice cut through the haze in my brain.
I opened my eyes. Met his gaze.
"I want you to see me." His hand framed my face. "Not some stranger in a hotel room."
My chest felt too full. "I see you."
"Good." He kissed me again. "Because I see you too."
His mouth claimed mine again, all traces of restraint gone. The kiss was deep, consuming, his tongue stroking against mine in a way that made heat pool low in my belly.