My Love Forgive (18 page)

I found myself smiling back. Risa ducked her head again. She could be so shy sometimes. I hoped it was a trait that never went away. I found myself alternately wanting to protect and bait her, if anything just to hear her outraged complaints.

Hmm, timing was everything though and now wasn’t the time.

Reluctantly, I set her down. Risa’s skin was already cool in the winter air. I needed to dress her again and then get us both back to the house. Maybe a bath would be just the thing to start off the rest of our afternoon?

As soon as I let go of Risa, she bent over and sucked me hard into her soft mouth. I slouched back against the boulder and gave into the delightful sensations that only Risa could give me. She cleaned me thoroughly with lips and tongue.

“There. All done,” she murmured a long minute later.

I slit my gaze. “You’re such a dirty girl, aren’t you?”

“Yes. Yours, Damian.”

Mine indeed.

I tugged her back to me and closed my arms over her. I kissed the top of her head and asked, “You forgive me for this weekend?”

She took her time in answering. I didn’t like the nervousness tightening around my chest. Risa had to understand why I did what I did.

“I do forgive you, Damian. I just wish you could’ve told me your feelings without, you know.”

“Chaining you up?”

“Yes. I wish you could’ve done it without that.”

I tipped her chin up and waited until I had her full attention. “Would you have really listened or would you have run away because you were scared? Tell the truth, Risa.”

My warning command had her snapping her mouth shut. A guilty light entered her eyes. “I don’t know if I would’ve listened.”

“I
know
you wouldn’t have. You would’ve either mentally closed me out or taken off as soon as my back was turned. Sadly, it’s your M.O., Risa.”

“Okay, you’re right.”

“I know I am. Never doubted it.”

She stuck her tongue out. An impish grin then flared. “Just who keeps a chain like that, Damian?”

“Someone like me when he has someone like you.”

“So it’s just been my chain?”

Her nonchalant tone didn’t fool either of us. Risa had a jealous streak. It was a very good thing indeed that I was a firm monogamist or we’d have serious problems.

“Brand new and just for you, little girl.”

“Oh. Well, that’s good then.”

I shook my head mentally. Jealous indeed.

“As much as I’d love to keep you half-naked, Risa, it’s time we get back.”

A shiver snaked through her curvaceous body as if she’d just registered how cold it was. “I agree.” Her hands touched my belt and then looked up for permission.

I shook my head. “I need to get my little girl dressed quickly before she catches a cold.” Making quick work of tucking myself back into my pants, I retrieved her underwear. Once she stepped in them and I adjusted them just so, I pressed a quick kiss over her mound. From there I wasted no time in putting her jeans, socks, and boots back on.

“Ready?”

She slipped her hand in mine. It felt perfect as always.

As we walked back in companionable silence, I wondered if and when I should approach the subject of my house and then the rest. How would she react when she found out that not only was I
not
an IT Director but rather the owner of her company plus a score of others?

Maybe I’d be lucky and she’d just assume I broke into the mansion?

We approached the house on the hill not too long after we started walking. I was surprised I’d made it this far considering how limp I still felt from that fantastic fucking Damian just gave me. Surprisingly, it was my first time ever having sex outside. I’d be up for it again as long as we were secluded like we were today.

Although I give into everything Damian wants so easily I’d probably do it in front of a crowd of millions if he wanted me to.

I really should’ve been more ashamed of myself.

Our feet crunched across gravel as we made our way to the massive door. I looked about more closely now that I’d had the chance. It truly was a gorgeous home with tons of windows framed by heavy shutters. Boxwoods lined the foundation in uniform, neat groupings.

It definitely felt French which struck me as odd considering the part of the country we were in.

I glanced at him, a little unsure of what I could way and how I should act now that we were officially not just dating. This was all new to me because I’d never gotten so far with anyone else. I didn’t know the rules and since Damian was full of those, I needed to know where I stood.

Still, I’d never know unless I tried. That had always been my motto. Besides, it was one thing to be submissive. Another to be passive. I’d been passive for far too long.

“Damian?”

He let out a little hum.

“Whose house is this really?”

“I already answered you, Risa.”

“Yes, but c’mon. Is it your dad’s or someone else in your family? Maybe a friend?”

“Is it so hard to believe it could be mine, little girl?”

My belly fluttered as it always did when he called me that. I loved how special and adored it made me feel.

“Well, yes. I know you make good money at your job but not that good.”

Damian came to a stop. His tone dropped by several degrees. “Just how do you know my salary, Risa? Has Julie been too forthcoming with people’s information? Employee
personal
information?”

“Of course not! It’s just that unless they’re paying IT millions of dollars a year…” I wondered if I’d offended him. I didn’t care about his salary. I made my own way and didn’t need him to pay my way.

His smile was far too brief. “That would be something, wouldn’t it?” Damian started walking again, pulling me behind him so that I had to hurry up to match his long-legged stride.

I couldn’t tell if he was mad or not, but I didn’t regret asking. I just regretted that Damian didn’t give me a straightforward answer.

I just hoped he didn’t break into here. I’d hate for the owners to come on us while we were rolling around in bed. I can’t even imagine calling my parents and asking for bail money.

“
Mom? Dad? Hey! Can you bail me and my boyfriend out of jail? What did we do? Uh…breaking and entering. Hello? Mom? Dad?”

He unlocked the front door. I snatched a look at the keys in his hand and recognized them as the same ones he always carried. Which meant…

Damian was telling the truth?

Okay. I looked about me with new eyes. Spacious foyer, wide staircase, and everything about us whispering tasteful
expensive
décor—not the kind one found in a big box department store.

Damian sensed my need to study our surroundings. Either that or the fact I stopped walking tipped him off. He let go of my hand. Looking over my shoulder, I waited for Damian to give me instruction. He shook his head and waited with hands in his coat pockets.

Hesitant, but full of curiosity, I walked about the first floor. Damian trailed me, not too far but not too close either. Silently, I entered the living room. Or was it called the salon?

Whatever it was officially called, the room was decorated in yellow, blue, and white with accents of gold scattered throughout. Exquisite crown molding anchored the soaring ceiling and the draperies puddled on the floor like only heavy silk could. I searched for personal photos, anything to give hint at Damian and the life I didn’t know anything about.

I left that room and slowly explored a few of the others. They all seemed to serve a purpose—music room, sunroom, dining room, kitchen. Every room complimented the one before in color and design.

I finally stopped back to where we started.

“Your house is beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m sorry I broke one of your windows.”

A tiny smile and then “I’m not.”

I didn’t know what else to say so I waited for Damian to fill in the gap. Never a chatterbox, he didn’t seem to mind the ever-growing silence. I cleared my throat. “So, uh, is there anything you’d like to share with me?”

“No.”

A small sigh escaped me. Damian obviously had no desire to satisfy my curiosity. If he wanted to tell me, he would. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t. It was all ridiculously simple in his mind even if it was inconvenient for mine.

Just ease my mind that you’re not some kind of criminal.

My irritation melted as quickly as it appeared.

I’ve known that about my lover and yet I still loved him and enjoyed being with Damian every chance I got. What difference did it really make how he got this house if it was his?

He’d tell me when he was ready and that was that.

“Okay. What do you want to do next?”

“Do you really have to ask?” His lusty stare left no doubt about what he had in mind.

I took one step back until I was on the staircase. “I guess I don’t.”

I didn’t wait for him to reply. Instead, I turned around and sprinted up the stairs. When Damian caught me within seconds, I was sure my laughter echoed throughout the house.

We spent the rest of the day in bed. It was decadent, glorious, and everything that showed me just how much I was missing before. Damian was still Damian, curt with his words and watchful as always, but there was a tenderness that permeated everything he did.

Not when he disciplined me, of course, but afterwards. Then he held me, gently wiping away my tears every time I became overwhelmed by my wayward emotions.

And when I say we spent it in bed, that’s pretty much what we did. The only time we left it was to eat, to bathe, or when Damian had to work. Even then he wanted me with him. Curled up in a chair, I spent more time watching him than reading my book.

Sunday spilled into Monday. I woke up early, unable to sleep and nervous at the thought of not calling into work. Although I tried to push it out of my mind I couldn’t. I started to slide out from under his arm but he stopped me. “What are you doing, Risa? Go to sleep.” He kissed the top of my head and rubbed my thigh in soothing circles.

I laid there, basking under his soothing touch but compelled to whisper, “Is there a phone here I can use?”

He opened one sleepy eye. It glittered like burnished gold in the predawn shadows. “Why?”

“I want to call in and let work know I’m not coming today.”

Damian shut his eye and smothered a yawn. “Completely unnecessary.”

“I’m not going to say anything about us, Damian, or what happened this weekend.”

“I know you won’t.”

“All right then. I just need to—”

Damian tucked me closer to him and shushed me. “It’s already taken care of, Risa. Go back to sleep.”

“But how?”

“It just is.”

I tried to let it go. A minute or so passed before I whispered his name. Once. Twice. Damian groaned loudly in irritation. I yelped and tried to roll out of the bed. His hand whipped out and caught me by the ankle, leaving me in a rather vulnerable position.

“You obviously wanted me awake. I’m awake.”

I tried to shake him off. Damian tightened his hold until I stopped. “I’m sorry I woke you up. You can go back to bed now.” He grumbled and sounded so peeved I couldn’t help but laugh. I swallowed it when I saw his disgruntled frown.

“It’s so funny that you woke us up when we just went to sleep two hours ago. My humor must be off.”

Or nonexistent.

“Well, okay maybe it’s not that funny.”

Damian’s large hand landed hard on my naked bottom. “I agree.” He smacked me again. I was already sore from our earlier play so it didn’t take too much pressure for me to cry out. “It’s not funny at all.”

“Not even a little?”

“No.” He spanked me again and this time my cry echoed far more loudly. Damian smirked. “Now do you want another one or would you rather curl up here next to me and go to sleep?”

There was obviously only one correct answer. Even a masochist needed a break every now and then.

But I was also stubborn. A great trait to have in sales but not so great when it came to keeping out of trouble as I was to find out sooner than later.

When I snuck away to find a phone later that afternoon, Damian immediately found me. “What are you doing?”

For such a large man, he had the feet of a cat. I hadn’t even heard him come in. I whirled away from the desk, undoubtedly looking guilty. “I—I…”

“You weren’t searching for this, were you?” Damian held his cell phone up in the air.

“Maybe.”

He pocketed the phone and came into the room. “Risa, Risa. Whatever am I going to do with you?”

“No one says you have to do anything. Really.” My brilliant smile, the one that pulled in deal after deal for me, did nothing to thaw him. Bummer.

Recognizing the stalking quality of his gait, I put the desk between us. He quickly rounded it. I scuttled to the other side. He growled my name in warning. I held my hands up in supplication. “Damian, it’s just one call. A quick one.”

Damian didn’t answer. He took one step to the left, so I took another to the right. When we circled the desk twice, he said, “We can do this all day, Risa, but you know I
will
catch you. The longer it takes…”

There was no mistaking what would come next. And while I did love the roughness of our play, especially when Damian had me by the neck as he pounded away, I really did need to make that call.

“One minute, Damian. One.”

“This isn’t up for negotiation. You should already know that.”

“You’re being unreasonable.”

His gaze completely frosted. Okay, not my best move.

“Well, it’s true!”

“Risa, I thought you trusted me.” Damian feinted to the right before switching to the left. I barely avoided being caught. My heart pounded. His words hurt me because I could see that I was hurting him.

“I do trust you.”

“Then why this?”

“Because I care about my job. Don’t put me in the position that caring about my job means that I don’t care about you.”

Damian froze. Something akin to shock molded his features. I took my chance and made a run for the door. His steps thundered across the room. Damian picked me up and carried me out of his office and back upstairs despite my protests.