Page 53 of Rekindling Desire

I grabbed Darius’s shoulder and spun him toward me. “Leave Ella the fuck alone.”

“She’s not your wife. Just like Amber isn’t mine.”

Fisting the front of my brother’s shirt, I stepped closer, my warm breath hitting his bruised face. “I beat the shit out of you once, I’ll do it again.”

“Fucking hit me. This time, I’ll have your ass in jail.”

Letting go of his shirt, I pushed him away.

Darius stumbled before catching his footing. “I’m the oldest. Dad wanted me to run Sinclair.”

My voice was finding its steady volume, timbre, and tone. “He gave you the chance. You failed. That’s on you.”

“This isn’t done.” Darius pointed his finger at me. “You don’t get to win. Not again. Fucking Marsha will kick me to the curb if Dad dies. I can’t land on the curb if I’m Sinclair’s CEO.”

“You’re delirious.”

“No, brother,” he said. “I’m warning you. I’m taking your position and your wife.” He turned toward Ella. “I might even take your mistress, too.”

“Fuck you, Darius,” Ella said.

The asshole grinned. “Sure, sweetheart, we can work that out.”

Fuck the damn police.

Once again, I grabbed his shirt. “Get the fuck out of here, or I’ll gladly sit in a jail cell, knowing you’re in the hospital.” With my free hand, I opened the front door. “Don’t come back.” I shoved him to the top step and slammed the door.

As soon as it was closed, Ella came my way. She wrapped her arms around my torso with her body shaking.

“I’m so fucking sorry.”

She looked up. “Don’t go.”

Gabriella

My body trembled. My nerves were shot. This was the elevator scene at the hotel on steroids.

Damien’s arms protectively came around me as Darius’s words played on a loop in my mind. I clung tightly to his torso, the sound of his heart beating in my ear. Soothingly, he rubbed a circle on my back.

I looked up. “What if he would have come and you were gone?”

“He’s mostly talk.”

“Damien,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t even know which way is up right now. I do need to think. I also know I don’t want you to leave.”

He lifted my chin. “I never fucking wanted to leave you.”

Our lips came together.

My mind screamed that I was kissing a married man.

It was my body and heart that didn’t care.

After all, only an hour earlier, I believed myself to be married to Damien.

Our kiss deepened as Damien pulled my blouse from the waist of my slacks, and his warm large hands roamed over my lower back. I pressed closer, wanting the strength of his toned body against mine.

He slowly released me and took a step back. “I want you, Ella. I won’t leave you, but I need to know right now if this will go further. If you say no, I’ll go upstairs, take an ice-cold shower and jack off before sleeping in one of the spare bedrooms. No matter what, you won’t be alone. I’m acquiescing to you—to your decision.”

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