Trust Me (40 page)

I’m not sure how this is going to go down with Damien, but with the proper precautions, I don’t see why a photo shoot at a supervised set at a hotel would be a problem.
Hell, the game I just went to had thousands upon thousands of people there.
The one thing we have to make sure we do is to keep living safely.

Before I pay Damien a little visit to talk about everything, I text Sam first to set up a date.

Me: Hey, friend! Are you up for some girl time?

Sam: Um, you have to ask? Hells to the yeah!

Me: I can do today or tomorrow. Then, I have a photo shoot for the next three days, but I’m free after that.

Sam: I’m in Atlanta. I can be at Damien’s in thirty minutes.

Me: Perfect! See you in a few. What’s in Atlanta? You’ve been here a lot.

Sam: Girl, I don’t kiss and tell. xoxo

Me: xoxo

Gah, I don’t think I want to know about Atlanta. Poor guy—whoever he is.
I feel lighter, knowing I’ll be laughing uncontrollably with Sam soon.

I skip down to Damien’s office. When I’m outside the door, I can hear his voice, and he’s discussing financials of some sort. This time, I barely pause before entering. I don’t feel the need to, like I did before when there seemed to be something between us after the Brad incident.

The scowl on his face from the conversation immediately changes to a smile when he sees me. His tone though does not mirror the loving look I’m receiving.

“I’ll call you back. However, when I call back, make sure you have the corrected financials ready to discuss. You’re the last department to submit an approved budget. Ben should be in the office up there. Get with him.” He hangs up the phone and leans back in his chair. His tone softens and warms when he speaks to me. “Hey, baby, I was going to come find you after this. What’s going on?”

When I stretch, Damien’s eyes immediately go to the strip of my stomach that is shown as my arms reach up.

I laugh. “Pervert. I was in the library, and I needed to stretch my legs. I texted Sam, and she’s coming over here in about thirty minutes. I don’t know if she’s staying the night or not.”

His eyes are looking me up and down, and he has a smile that brightens his entire face. “I’m always a perv around you. Is there a particular room you want to use for your girl time?”

Without hesitation, I respond, “My library.”

He chuckles. “I’m glad you like it. I’ll let security know.” He stands and starts slowly stalking toward me, causing me to bite my lower lip in anticipation. “Was there anything else? If not, I think it’s time the student got a new lesson.”

Oh geez.
When he talks like that, I lose all sense of control. Maybe I could wait until after my lesson to go to the less palatable conversation.

“I can tell you have something else to tell me.” He continues walking to me.

I grin at the thought of how well we know each other.

I rush to get it out because that look on his face has my heart racing with want to have him in me. When he makes it to me, I’ll lose all coherency. “I have to work at a hotel photo shoot the day after tomorrow for three days.”

He stops mid-stride to look at me. “I don’t fucking think so. You’re not going.” His tone has an obvious finality to it.

I am immediately annoyed by his reaction.
Stay calm.
I have to continue on even though I hate putting him in this situation. “Damien, be reasonable. I have a job.”

“No, Alli. You’re staying here.”

There has to be a safe middle ground.
Raising my hands, I slowly walk to him and wrap my arms around his waist. “Damien, please don’t take that tone with me. We’ve talked about that, and we get a lot further when we discuss things together, not when you demand things of me. This is supposed to be a relationship.”

As I look up into his face, he leans his head back and blows out a long breath before returning his gaze back to me. “I don’t want you to go.”

“I know, but I have a job. It’s at the Majestic Hotel, which has far less people than we had at the game. You even have more security here than you did there. I won’t complain about any of the precautions. We still need to live our lives though. We just need to be smart about it.”

I add a sweet grin, which causes a momentary lapse on his controlled face.

One hand leaves my back, and caresses my cheek as he lets out another long breath. “Okay. Give me the specifics, and we’ll take care it.”

“See? Now, wasn’t that a lot more fun than us arguing, getting all agitated, and not accomplishing anything?”

I rock my hips into him, and I can feel he’s already in a semi-hard state. Before he has a chance to say anything, I drop to my knees.

He immediately puts his hands on my shoulders as if he’s about to pull me back up. “Alli, what the hell are you doing?”

Looking up coquettishly, I start undoing his belt. “Isn’t it obvious?” My hands go to the button of his slacks. “I want to taste you again.” Slowly, I pull his zipper down. I set him free and stroke him a few times. “I’m starting your second lesson and educating you on a blowout.”

I lick my lips in anticipation and then bring him into my mouth. Using my tongue, I suck and lick him like a lollipop. His hips automatically thrust forward, and I continue to take him deeper.

He moans, “Oh fuck, baby! That feels so good.”

Seeing him let go as I take him even deeper is my favorite part. His musky taste drives me wild with want. He grabs the back of my head, encouraging me to speed up my pace.

Through gritted teeth, he spits out, “Baby, I’m going to come.”

Making an even stronger suction around him causes his hot come to spurt into my mouth, and I swallow every last bit of it.

“Shit, I love it when you do that!”

He grabs me and hauls me to the nearby couch. He collapses with heavy eyes, and I wrap myself around him as I watch him come down from his orgasm.

When his phone vibrates, he pulls it from his pocket and answers the call. “Yes. Show her to the library. I want someone posted outside the door the entire time. Have Bane call me immediately. Thanks.” He hangs up and zips up his pants before he confirms my suspicions. “Sam’s here.”

I start giving those fun little claps, and then I plaster my lips to his in a big noisy kiss.

“Hey, Alli. You can share the story about Becky with Sam. It might help explain why I’m so overprotective. I ask though that you keep all the stuff we’ve discussed with Bane a secret for now. I know you trust Sam, but until we figure it out—”

I cut him off with another kiss. “I’ll only tell her about Rebecca. Thank you for letting me give her some sort of explanation, and I understand.”

We get up from the couch. Making our way through the door, I add, “Oh, and thanks for having security stay outside. It’s a little weird when they’re in the room with me and don’t say a word or even move.”

He stops and faces me. “Alli, they’re there to protect you, but if you prefer, I can have them wait outside the room you’re in while you’re in the house. Out in public though, I want them with you, no matter what.”

Turning, I grab his hand and start to walk again. “I believe we have reached another compromise, partner.”

Damien’s about to respond when I hear, “Allison!”

Sam comes bolting down the hallway, wearing skinny jeans and a tight red shirt. I see the security guard about to run after her, but he stops when he sees Damien’s small hand gesture. My money would be on Sam if some stranger tried to tackle her.

Giving me a hug, she says, “Oh, you look so much better. It’s so good to see you.” She lets go and gives Damien a slap on the shoulder. “It’s my turn.”

He gives a wink. “Have fun, ladies.” As we start to walk off, Damien calls after us, “Sam, I only share until bedtime, so don’t get any ideas.”

She turns to me. “Allison, what’s a safety?”

That came out of nowhere.
In true confusion, I respond, “What?”

She turns around to face Damien. Laughing, she rubs her hands together. “Hmm, I think I know what my winnings are going to be for our next bet. Are you ready to concede a loss, so we can move on to something a little more challenging for me?”

Putting his hands up in almost defeat, he retorts back, “Hey, I have until the end of this season. I’m not giving up until the last game.”

She turns away, and he gives me a wink.
Oh, he’s good.
I smile back, thinking about him trying not to laugh.
Sam’s going to be so pissed when she loses this little bet.

“Girl, I’m definitely staying here tonight. I cannot believe he had this room done for you,” Sam says.

Covered in a soft blanket, we are seated on the heated sofa with our knees drawn up.

“So, what gives with all the extra security?” she asks.

After taking a sip of the hot tea that was delivered to our room, I respond, “Damien, as you know, is overprotective at times.”

“Girl, if he were any more protective, you’d be put in a glass case.”

I roll my eyes. “He actually has a reason. He said I could tell you, so you’d understand all the extra security after what happened with Brad. Damien had a sister. She was kidnapped from their home and found dead three weeks later.”

Sam sits more erect. “Shit, I’m so sorry, Allison.”

“Hey, you didn’t know. I’d think the same thing if I were you.”

Sam looks almost ashen. “When did this happen?”

“Seven years ago. There was a party at his parents’ pool house, and she was taken at some point during the night. They never found who took her.”

She moves to a cross-legged position with worry etching her face. “Are you okay, Allison? You’re not in any danger, are you?”

This is the part where I want to tell Sam how freaked-out I am because a nut job is potentially trying to use me to further hurt Damien. However, I understand why Damien is keeping all this in such a tight circle.

“The whole Brad incident scared Damien, so he just wants to make sure I’m okay. That’s the reason for the security.”

She lets out a sigh of relief. “Okay, that’s good. Man, I had no idea. I feel like a total bitch now with what I pulled.”

“Sam. Don’t. You didn’t know.” We need a subject change. I hate lying to her. “I saw Mark at my recent photo shoot. I like him.”

She kicks my leg. “Don’t you start playing matchmaker with me. Not happening. On a fun note, I got you a gift.” Leaning over, she rummages through her bag and pulls out a book. “I thought you’d put this to good use.”

As she hands it to me, she flips it over. The front of the book says,
101 Ways to Make Your Guy Scream in Pleasure
.

After I open and flip through it, my eyes shoot to hers. “Oh my gosh, Damien is going to love you.”

“I know.”

And with that, we bust out into a fit of giggles.

As I put jelly on my toast, I ask Sam, “So, how did you sleep last night?”

“Magnifique.” She gathers her fingers together and kisses them, like actors do in the movies. “I spent most of the night trying to figure out how to steal that damn water wall. I’m in love.”

After I put the jelly back on the table, Sam grabs it.

“Um, no. That water wall is mine. So, how is your sexual assault awareness program going?”

She stretches to each side to pop her back. “It’s going. It’s getting more and more attention, which is good. Hopefully, it makes an impact. Even if we help only one person, it means the program is worth it.”

“I think you’re pretty wonderful.”

She’s about to respond when Damien comes wandering in, wearing a T-shirt and his black silk pajama pants. He’s smiling and looks relieved.

Coming to sit beside me, he grabs my hand and gives it a kiss. “Baby, Brad is going away for a long time. They’ve decided to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.”

Some of my accumulating stress dissipates.

I don’t have a chance to respond before Damien continues, “He can now be linked in the drugging and raping of five other girls over the last few years. When they took his DNA after the attempt on you, they matched it to those five girls who had had the rape kit done when they filed a report. Apparently, he didn’t use condoms with any of them. One girl became pregnant after he’d raped her, and the child is his.”