Page 25 of The Devil's Fire

“Don’t play dumb with me, Thaia.” Her eyes were heavy with suspicion. “I saw the way he was looking at you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I mumbled, looking away.

“I heard you.”

I whipped my head back to her, seeing her grinning widely at me.

“You heard…?”

“Yup. So, did you fuck?”

“What? No!”

“Then what? Because whatever it was, you were enjoying it. Big time.” Cara wiggled her brows at me with a teasing smirk.

“Ew, you were listening?” I wrinkled my nose and looked at her in disgust.

“I’m not a creep, you freak.” She rolled her eyes. “When you left, Damiano got up and left as well. I thought I would check on you since you walked off like your ass caught fire. Turns out your vagina was on fire with need because I heard you enjoying yourself in there.” Her laughter filled the backyard, and I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

“You are loud, honey.” She continued with a grin.

“Oh my God, just stop!” I hissed and walked away from her. The embarrassment was too much for me, and I wanted to sink into the ground.

“So, what did you do?” Cara fell in step with me, and I sighed, knowing she wouldn’t let it go if I didn’t tell her.

“Nothing… he just… touched me.” I said, struggling to find the words.

“Ah, he finger-fucked, didn’t he?” She asked with a chuckle, and I groaned at her choice of words.

“Something like that.” I admitted.

“Does he know you’re a virgin?”

I stopped to look at her when her voice turned serious, shooting her a confused look.

“I’m not?”

“You might as well be. When was the last time you got some? I heard that if you wait long enough, a new hymen will grow back.” Cara burst out laughing at her own joke, and I gave her a blank stare.

“You’re really not funny.” I scowled while she continued to laugh.

“Oh, well, looks like your man came out to check on you.” She responded with a playful smirk on her lips.

Damiano was standing in front of the entrance, smoking, while his eyes were fixed on me. Tank Man was next to him, his mouth moving as he said something to Damiano before Lorenzo’s gaze was back on Cara.

“He’s not my man.” I muttered. “It’s yours who came out to check on you.”

“Mhmm.” Cara winked, and I shot her a look to tell her to shut it as we walked toward them.

They moved aside, allowing us to enter, and Damiano flicked away his cigarette butt before trailing closely behind as we made our way back to the dining room.

We showed up just in time to hear the clatter of plates as dessert was being served. Damiano rested his arm on the back of my chair again, and I felt the warmth of his fingertips tracing the back of my shoulder.

I reached for my refilled glass of wine and took a large sip to calm my nerves.

“Slow down.” Damiano spoke quietly, only for me to hear. I turned to face him, and his intense gaze bore into me.

It felt like he was unraveling my soul.

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