Worth The Risk (10 page)

“So Damien what are your intensions with my daughter?” The seriousness in my father’s voice had me holding my breath. He was getting straight to the point now. I glanced over at Damien to see him smile at the question. He placed his utensils down and looked directly into my father’s eyes addressing him with complete confidence.

“Mr. Frederick I’m in love with your daughter. I understand that you want her to be happy. Trust me her happiness and safety means everything to me. I wish I came to you from the beginning of our relationship, and I do apologize for that. But I want you to understand that I want my relationship with Catalina to be long term. I intend to make it permanent. I hope you not only see but also truly comprehend how much I love her.” There was a silence that filled the room. All I could hear was my heart pounding rapidly in my chest. My mind stayed stuck on Damien’s words about our future.
Was he referring to marriage?
Could I picture myself married to him? The minute that question popped up in my head, I knew the answer was yes. I could see myself being his wife. An image of me pregnant with Damien’s hands gently caressing my stomach filled my mind. I couldn’t help but smile and look at Damien, who was still confidently looking at my father. I then realized the room was still creepy quiet. It looked like they were both having a stare off. I commended my baby, because his confidence never faltered for a second even though my father was giving him a look that would make a weaker man cry.

My father cleared his throat finally breaking the silence, “I would have preferred if the both of you had come to me from the beginning, but being that things were rocky between Lina and myself, I understand why she was apprehensive
about telling me. But better late than never. Damien does the age difference between you two concern you?” I was waiting for him to ask that question. Its only natural for a father to be concerned about that.

“I know that this may be a concern for you. But when I look at Catalina I don’t see age, for as you know she is abundantly more mature than a woman of her age.” Damn, if this was a test, which in some ways it was, Damien would have passed with flying colors.

“This is very true. Good. Do you drink Damien?” What? That’s a random question. My father drinks so why would that concern him?

“Yes sir. I do enjoy a good brandy on occasion.”

“Excellent. Come have a drink with me out on the balcony. A client gave me a new brandy. We can both test it out and continue our conversation.”

“That would be good sir.”
I knew this was my father’s tactic to getting a one on one conversation with Damien. Therefore, I wasn’t invited to this little male bonding time. Standing from the table, my father gently kissed me on the forehead. He smiled at me with a determined look in his eyes. All I could do was shake my head with a smirk on my face. Damien got up and followed, continuing to avoid me. The giddiness I had deflated instantly. I needed to be away from him for a while and take in everything that was said at dinner.

I went to the kitchen grabbed another glass of wine and a small piece of crème brulee. I headed to my balcony,
a place I considered to be my sanctuary. I was hoping the conversation the men were having would carry up so I could hear it, but being that the property was massively huge I had no such luck. So I sipped on my wine, munched on my dessert, and tuned out the world. I couldn’t help but think about Damien and walking down the aisle; me in a beautiful white lace dress and him in a sexy black tux. I put a stop to that daydream quick, before I got in too deep. Who was I kidding; I was already in too deep. Damien had officially managed to ruin men for me forever. I would never love anyone the way I loved him. The things he did to me and brought out of me, no other man was capable of. But what if permanent didn’t mean marriage for him? It could just mean a long term relationship. If it did mean marriage, how many kids did he want or did he even want any at all. In that moment I realized we never discussed marriage or the next step in our relationship. We were too busy trying to keep things a secret and stay sane in the process.

I stopped myself from thinking too hard so I wouldn’t drive myself crazy. If marriage was in our future we would discuss it, and al
l that comes with it. My thoughts were interrupted when my father appeared and sat beside me. I looked at his face to see a huge grin on it, which left me a little confused. I wanted to smile with him, but the knots in my stomach prevented that.

“Why are you smiling so hard?” I asked.

“I just had an interesting conversation with Damien. I like him. You chose well Lina. I have confidence that he will keep you happy and safe, and that’s what matters to me.” I sighed a sigh of relief not realizing how much tension I was holding inside.

“Well, I’m happy no one bit any
one’s head off. I love him daddy.” I blurted out feeling like I needed to make sure he knew and understood that.

“I know.” The look in his eyes was one of resolve and contentment. He was finally getting it. “Well let me go before I have to reschedule my flight. I’ll be back in three days.
Oh, I also plan on traveling less so we can spend some more time together. What do you think?”

“Sounds like a plan,” I smiled.

“Good. I love you Lina.”

“I love you too dad.” He hugged me and walked out
of my bedroom. For a day that started horribly it was taking a turn for the better.

I walked out to the edge of the balcony and took in the beautiful city lights. I felt so freed without the constraints of secrecy and happy with a new growing relationship with my father. But I still felt nervous about Damien and me. I was so lost in my thoughts; I jumped as he came behind
me and wrapped his arms around me.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you baby.” I relaxed in his arms, feeling that that was were I belonged. His warmth eased the longing I had for him. So de
ep in the feeling, I almost forgot I was mad at him. Almost. I removed his arms from around me and stepped away from him. He winced at my reaction. I wanted to comfort him because I hated seeing him unhappy. But by avoiding me, he hurt me and he needed to understand that. Our communication with each other was always on point, so it through me off balance when things became distant.

“You’re mad at me,” he said softly. I lo
oked into his eyes and gave him that “duh” look. “I know its a stupid question.”

“Yeah…
Did I do something wrong?” I found myself asking. I had planned to be angry and give him a hard time about it. But the confusion in me over powered the anger.

“No, baby. God, I hate that I hurt you. I really should have thought this through.” He sighed heavily before he spoke again. “Catalina
, what we shared earlier was so intense. So… intimate it shook me. If I stayed in the room with you for a second longer I would have taken you again. I needed some space from you to calm the yearning I have for you.”

“That’s why you avoided me so much?”

“I wanted to make sure I had a clear head while talking to your father, its hard to do that when I look at you. The expression on your face when you came for me kept popping up in my head. If I looked at you or touched you it would have sent me over the edge. And having a crazy hard-on while talking to your father is not my idea of a good conversation.” I pictured how uncomfortable that would have been for him, and I sympathized. Though it hurt, I understood why he did it. And at that point I was grateful for it because things went so great with my father. I couldn’t be angry with him, I didn’t want to.

“I’m sorry I hurt you baby.”
I could hear the sincerity in his voice. I knew he didn’t mean to intentionally hurt me.

“I know you didn’t mean to.” He smiled at me and pulled me into him. My lips found his effortlessly, wanting to pour into him my forgiveness. His tongue caressed mine possessively as his hands gripped my hips tightly. I moaned in his mouth when I felt his erection pushing against my thigh. I wanted him inside me, but a pull in my mind halted my desires. We still had things to discuss, and I couldn’t let sex distract me. I gently pushed away from him, which left a look of confu
sion and frustration on his face.

“We still need to talk Damien.”

“What? Do you want me to beg? Because my tongue would gladly beg between your legs.” He said with a mischievous smile. His words left me wet and wanting.

“Oh, you can definitely beg with your tongue
after
we talk about the conversation you had with my father.”

He smiled, “You want to know what we talk about outsid
e.”

“Yes.”

“When I said I wanted to make our relationship permanent I meant it. I can’t see anyone being my wife except you. I don’t want anyone to be my wife except you.” Hearing him say my wife made my heart stop. I never thought I would ever hear a man say that to me. My hope in getting married had depleted a long time ago. But Damien brought light and renewed hope to that dark part of my life.

“I asked your father for his blessing to ask you to marry me.” My body went completely still. “If it was up to me I would propose to you right now, but your father said we’re moving a little fast. So waiting is what’s best. It’s okay because either way you’re going to be my wife.” I looked at him silently for a while. It wasn’t a proposal but it was a future proposal which was still awesome in my book.

Damien moved closer to me and caressed my cheek, “Too much?”

“No,” I smiled. “I’m just taking it all in.”

“I know we never discussed anything about marriage, but we have time. Right now I just want to enjoy you. Come home with me.”

“There’s no need. You can stay here tonight. You’ll be the first man to ever sleep in my bed.”

“As much as I would love that, what I plan on doing to you is not something I want your father to hear.”

“
He’s gone for a few days. So I’m all yours,” I said seductively. He abruptly picked me up in his arms and sat on my bed with me in his lap. I thought back to how we met and where we were now. The fear of losing him no longer suffocated me, with our relationship being out in the open anything and everything was possible. I looked into Damien’s eyes and just said, “Yes.” He looked at me like I had two heads, so I rushed to explain.

“I know that you haven’t officially asked
me to marry you, but if you were to ask the answer would be yes. And when you do officially get down on one knee with a beautiful ring and say those three words to me, the answer will still be yes. I love you Damien and I want that forever that women dream of to be with you.” His lips pushed hard against mine taking me by surprise, it only took me a second to match his eagerness. My tongue pushed into his mouth softly caressing his, enjoying the taste of him.

He slightly pulled away whispering, “I might just disregard your father’s advice and propose to you now and elope.”

‘He would kill you,” I giggled. “Bad idea.”

“Good point,” he laughed with me.

“Patience my love. Now, I do believe you mentioned doing things to me that would make me scream.”

“Patience my love,” he said repeating my words, “I love
you Catalina.”

“I love you too.” We were ready to truly start o
ur lives together. This was only the beginning. 

                                                       
 
The End