Corrupted (9 page)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Time has stilled. It seems to have decided to just take a break. Stop. Well, that’s what it feels like anyway. Every second of today felt like minutes, every minute felt like hours.

It doesn’t help that my eyes stray to the clock every minute and have for the last eight hours. It’s been a long fucking day to say the least and I’ve been eager for this time to come. Waiting all day. Horny. Needy. Giddy. Anxious. Excited.

Ex-fucking-cited.

I sit on my bed with a huff, my chin drops to my chest. What the hell is happening? How can I be excited to go out with Damon? All day I’ve been elated and eager for seven o’clock to hit but now it’s almost here I’m having doubts. My knee bounces as hate simmers low in my stomach. Hate for myself.

I’m trying to convince myself that I’ve been acting giddy all day because I can use this night to gain more control of the game, but if I’m honest with myself I know it’s not because of that. I know why I’ve been excited.

I like spending time with Damon.

That is my problem now. How the fuck can I like this man, enjoy spending time with him?

That’s the thing about Damon. He makes me forget everything else. I can just be me with him. Not the me I need to be, the me that I am. The person I was before I lost my sister.

The sister I lost because of the man who is taking me out tonight. The man I’m excited to see.

Fuck.

My head is swimming. My emotions are dizzying, like the tumble cycle of a dryer. I can’t hold on to any one emotion long enough to sort it out.

I began this with plans to seduce Damon, hook him, marry him, break him, then take him down. Now I wish I didn’t have to. I want to pretend this is all real.

I wish it was real. 

Waiting for my date to turn up, excited to get to know him, the thrill of falling in love. I want all that and for some reason I can see that with Damon. I shouldn’t, but I do.

I wish I met him under different circumstances. I wish we could be just a man taking a woman out, without a history behind them and demons that tie them. Just me and him. My first chance at finding my own happiness.

But it can’t be like that.

I can’t have that.

Ever.

Not with Damon anyway. I sigh knowing it can’t be like that with us, not for real anyway. All day I’ve been looking forward to this but now I feel sick to the stomach. I’ve dressed myself up to impress him. I’ve even brought a new dress just to make him want me.

I shake my head at my own stupidity. Even if this was real it wouldn’t have lasted. As far as Damon is aware we’d bumped into each other a few times, literally, only enough for him to take interest, then I slept with him.

We had a wild night of passion. I don’t know where those primal instincts that took over me came from that night. Damon seemed in awe after every orgasm we had. He couldn’t get enough of me. I couldn’t get enough of him. I completely let myself go, gave my body over to him.

Every time since has been the same. The connection we have is raw animalistic need. It could never last.

A soft knock on my door pulls me out of my thoughts. “Ella?” Damon’s voice call’s through the door. I take a deep breath, standing, and go to open the door. I didn’t even hear him come in.

He is beautiful. His hair is damp from a shower, I presume, and he’s changed outfits from this morning. He’s more casual than earlier, wearing charcoal grey slacks with a blue and white stripped dress shirt. His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, the top three buttons have been left undone, showing off his strong, muscular neck.

Damon lifts his arm, the muscles in his shoulder and bicep tensing with the motions, making his shirt look ready to burst, and cups my face.

“You take my breath away,” he rasps, almost as if he’s not thinking, just saying his feelings. “You’re devastatingly stunning.” The reverence in his voice leaves me speechless. This man makes me melt. He turns me inside out. Makes me want forever. I close my eyes and lean into his touch, swallowing past the hard lump in my throat. “Hey,” he says gently. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” My voice is hoarse and small. I know he won’t buy that for a minute.

“Look at me,” he quietly demands. I pause before opening my eyes. The concern in his beautiful eyes makes me want to cry.

This man genuinely cares for me.

I’ve been purposefully hurting him whilst he’s been building real feelings for me. Tears spring to my eyes and before I can blink them away. Damon notices. “Tell me, beauty. Let me help you.” He wraps his hand in my hair at the nape of my neck and pulls my head into his chest, wrapping his other arm around my waist.

Secure. Safe. Protected. Warm. Loved. Cherished. That’s everything I feel when Damon has his arms around me, body surrounding me. He smoothes his hand down my hair and his lips brush against my head. He stays silent, letting me draw from his strength.    

“I wish... everything isn’t how it should... I’m not.” A shuddering breath leaves me as I try to put into words my emotions. I know I can’t tell him everything but I can let him see how I wish things could have been different. A sob tears from my throat.

“Shh. It’s okay, Ella. Breathe.”

I take a breath as Damon rubs soothing circles into my back. I pull myself together as he holds me tightly against him. Trying to sort my conflicting emotions out I tell him my main regret.

“I wish things could be different. I wish we could have started a different way.”

He pulls his head away, bringing his hand around to grasp my chin, making me look at his eyes. His search mine, confusion swimming in the brown depths, before he speaks, “What do you mean beauty?”

“Just how fast everything has gone. The way we met, everything that happened that first night.” I sigh. The first night I felt this crazy connection between us. This pull. I want to say but can’t. “I just wish I knew you before.”

His eyes burn into mine. Piercing me, looking deep inside, and finding the young woman who had hopes and dreams. I know he can read every feeling I have for him, right there on the surface. Every want. Every need. Every wish.

“We can start again, start fresh. Say you’ve met this sexy, rugged god and he’s falling over his feet just to get your attention. Just wanting you to see him, to notice him. He’s asked you out on a date and here I am.” He steps away from me and holds his hand out. “The names Damon Hunt.” He smirks. “Go out with me tonight. Not the jackass who will no doubt want you in his bed tonight. Fuck him off and come out with me.” He winks before his expression sombre. “Let me show you what you deserve. Let me earn that part of you.”

His thumb comes up to brush my cheekbone as he steps forward, slowly bringing his head down. His lips strokes mine in a soft caress. I melt into him, his words and sweet mouth on mine make me want to take what he’s offering. I could forget everything, just go along with his plan to start fresh. I want that.

“Let me try to keep you. Let me learn to deserve you,” he murmurs against my lips. I moan at his hoarse words. He pulls away with a grin on his face. “What do you say? Can I get your name and steal you away from your date for the night?” I laugh before taking his outstretched hand.  

“Ella Knight... I’m not too sure that would be wise. He is amazing in the sack,” I wink, before breaking out a smile. Damon growls before pulling me to him.

‘I’ll be better than him.” I laugh at him, feeling happy.

“Only if you can promise you’ll be better than him at making me scream,” I flirt.

“I don’t need to promise. You’ll see.” With that he smashes his lips to mine for a brief kiss before pulling me out my room and on our way to dinner.

CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN

I moan as Damon feeds me a spoon of tiramisu. Chocolate dusting coats my lips and the creamy taste hits my tongue followed by the warmth of brandy. I close my eyes in delight, hoping Damon decides he doesn’t want any. I decided to forgo dessert but Damon told me I had to try the tiramisu and ordered one for himself, telling me I had to sample. I want the whole piece.

“You’re killing me. Those little noises have my cock begging to get in you.” I laugh at his pained expression.

“Sorry.”

“No need to apologise. Looks like cold showers for me for the foreseeable future.” He grins.

Tonight has been amazing. We have been relaxed and comfortable, just enjoying each other’s company. We’ve talked about all sorts of things, favourite films, music, foods, colours, and hobbies. I learned we have a lot more in common than I would have believed. Now he’s telling me about Spencer’s idea to take Hunter Enterprises to a new level. Hotels.    

“Anyway, he draws this terrible image on a napkin and expects me to know what I’m meant to be looking at. In his excitement to tell me about his idea that popped up when he was chatting to a stunning redhead,” he rolls his eyes, “whilst he was getting coffee, he forgot to say he was talking about hotels. I just sat there looking at him lost.” I’m captivated by his passion as he talks about work. His obvious love for his brother is evident in the way he speaks
about him.   

“He wants to do hotel party tours. The idea is you book the whole hotel out. Lik
e renting a house for the night, or however long the party is for. Rooms will be included for all guests, we can organise anything they need for their stay. It can be for birthdays, weddings, hen nights, stags. We can turn the ballroom into anything they want. They want a Vegas wedding but can’t get there. You book with the hotel, we’ll turn the whole hotel into everything Vegas. You want nightclub, we’ll get you one. It’s brilliant really. He’s so excited by it. I’ve told him to look into more details and come back to me.”

Being qualified in events planning I know just how much work something like that would take. Having to change the decor for every different event, having to make anything people want become a reality with only your own imagination to make it everything they want and need.

“Planning events like that will take a lot. You’ll need some pretty strong minded planners to make it successful. Making weekly changes to something as big as a hotel in order to make it perfect for the customer will be pretty time consuming.”

“You speak like you have knowledge of what it would take?”

“I studied event planning straight from school. I loved making places look magical. I loved making someone’s visions come to life.” I smile at the dream that has long since passed. His hand reaches over to hold mine on top of the table.

“Would you maybe like to talk to Spencer to let him know the type of things he needs to look into and do
, just to help give him an idea of what this will need?” Damon asks completely serious. My breath catches. Me? Help Hunter Enterprises?

Before I have the chance to respond, Damon’s hand goes rigid over mine, squeezing it. My eyes shoot to his but he’s not looking at me. He’s looking behind me, over my shoulder.

“Damon?” I question.

“Excuse me
,” He bites out. Shocked, I sit there without responding as he stands and walks away from me. When the shock wears off I turn in my chair to look in the direction Damon went. He’s standing near the entrance talking to a blonde. He looks to be angered by her presence as he harshly talks with her. I can tell he’s speaking quietly to her as no one around them seems to be paying them any attention.

Who is this woman, I wonder. She’s small and seems to be drawn in on herself. Each word from his mouth makes her wince. Her head whips to me, her gaze zeroing in on mine. I quickly turn away and continue to eat the yummy dessert.

After a few bites I look back towards Damon and his female companion. Her head is bent over as tears stream down her cheeks. Her small body shakes as she sobs. Damon puts his arm around her in a soothing gesture. Jealously ignites inside me. It’s so fierce that it jolts me with shock.

He’s comforting a woman who is clearly upset and I’m feeling jealous? I shake my head and laugh at myself. That’s what this man does to me. He makes me want to claim him as mine. I don’t want his hands on any other body part on any other woman. His hands should be for me only.

Damon gets the attention of the hostess and asks her something before guiding the weeping woman outside. I’m stunned. I hope he’s not just going to leave me here. I don’t know what to do. I’ve never been in this situation before, on this side of the situation where I’m left at the table whilst my date leaves. I’m usually the one who has left dates behind.

Contemplating my options as I finish the dessert, I decide to enjoy the tiramisu and if Damon isn’t back by the time I’ve finished I’m going to settle the bill and go back to my house.

As I’m spooning the last bite into my mouth, Damon comes strutting through the restaurant, back towards the table. He takes his seat again but avoids eye contact with me. I look at him closely and can see worry and distress aging his features.

“Is everything ok?” I ask him, carefully watching his reaction. He exhales deeply before bringing his eyes to mine. A small smile that does
n’t reach his eyes curves on his lips.

“Yes. Everything is fine. Have you finished?” he nods his head towards the now empty bowl. I duck my head in embarrassment. I ate his whole dessert. I feel a blush creep up my neck to stain my cheeks.

“Yes. Sorry I ate it all,” I apologise shyly.

“Good. I’ll settle the bill.” He gets the attention of waiter with the raise of his hand.

As our waiter approaches I breach the subject he’s tried to avoid as nonchalantly as I can. “Who was that lady?”

“No one of importance.” He replies. I sit there stunned.

“I’m sorry. I don’t understand. You went rigid when you saw her. It didn’t look like a pleasant conversation, and you escorted her out as she broke down in tears. How is that not important?” I snap. How can he be so caring and kind to me but act so indifferent when speaking of this broken woman?

He doesn’t answer me but instead leaves with the waiter to pay the bill. He quickly returns, collects me and gets us on our way back to his house without saying another word. The drive is filled with tense silence. It leaves a nasty taste in my mouth. Silences between me and Damon have never been like this. They’ve always been comfortable. Easy.    

I prepare myself for the discussion I know we will be having tonight. I won’t be able to rest until this sudden cold drift between us has been sorted. I sigh, hoping tonight will end as good as it’s been all evening until these last ten minutes.