Page 167 of The Pact

Coming towards me, he circles around and stands behind me. Damian wraps his arms around my waist and rests his chin on my shoulder. “Do you like it?”

I can’t focus on answering his question.

Studying the photo, I can tell he didn’t have the raw photo blown up. No, he adjusted the lighting to create dramatic shadows and highlights over my skin. The look I’m giving him in the mirror is sultry with begging eyes and my full lips parted. My ass is pushed out towards the camera, full and framed by my thick thighs.

“How did you get this?” I finally turn my head away from the canvas to look at him. He laughs as if it’s a silly question.

“It wasn’t that hard, princess. When you went to get dressed, I put the SD card into your reader and emailed them to myself. It’s been a long time since I’ve used photo editing software, but I think I did a pretty decent job with the lighting.” He kisses my neck. “You didn’t answer me. Do you like it?”

I close my eyes, trying to separate the knowledge of what Cole did from Damian’s actions, although I feel like I’ve been tricked in more ways than one by them both. I’m questioning everything they’ve done. The cameras in my photo area that he turns on and off to watch me come to mind. What else have these men done to invade my privacy that I don’t know about? Does Sutton know? Wes?

“I do, but Damian…You should have asked.”

He squeezes me tighter. “I know. I’m sorry. I just—I wanted to remember that day forever.” My heart lurches at the sentiment. “For me, things changed that day. We trusted each other on a level that most people can’t. You showed me I could open up again.”

This is a side of himself that he doesn’t show. I’ve seen glimpses, however, this is him giving me a full view of his vulnerability and trusting me to accept him. I turn in his arms and kiss him. He isn’t Cole. Having this picture made and making sure I’m safe at work are much different from faking a breakdown to get me alone.

I realize the canvas is positioned directly across from his bed on the other side of the room. Pulling away, I stare at him with a raised brow. “Is the placement a coincidence?”

He gives me a devious grin. “Absolutely not. I don’t get to wake up to you, so this gets me by.”

“Gets you by or gets you off?” He laughs at my quip and shrugs. “You could wake up to me,” I tell him cautiously. “I could sleep in here…with you.”

Damian’s gaze flicks down to my lips, then back to my eyes. “That could be arranged.”

I smile at the prospect and look over my shoulder at his work area. “What’s going on over there?”

He sighs and pulls away. Walking back over to his desk, he holds up a small part. “I finally got around to taking my computer apart to replace the CPU. When I took it out, I found that the thermal paste was removed. That’s why it was overheating.”

I look at him, confused. Nothing he’s saying makes any sense to me.

“The paste helps transfer heat away from the processor to keep it cool,” he explains.

I still don’t fully understand, but nod. “Does it evaporate or something…over time?” I feel stupid asking. I don’t even know if that’s the right terminology.

Damian runs his hand over the scruff on his face. “It can deteriorate with time, but it was completely gone when I pulled it out. Not a drop of it left. The only way that is happening is if someone removed it. That would mean they had to take my computer apart and use rubbing alcohol to get it off. This was deliberate.”

My body goes rigid at his words. “Someone came in here and tried to destroy your computer?” I know that’s exactly what he’s saying, however, I need him to confirm it. My blood runs cold as the thought resurfaces from two weeks ago. Gavin.

“Yeah, I mean, I don’t have any other explanation.” Damian looks too calm for what he’s telling me. I’m afraid his suspicions that someone’s been in the house will lead him to Gavin and subsequently, my lying about it. My stomach churns at the thought.

He must see it on my face.

“Listen, I don’t know if it’s him. I’ve checked all of our security footage and I couldn’t find anything showing him coming or going. The tracker on his car hasn’t picked up any movement either. I don’t know…” He hangs his head and then glances back up at me. “Between this and the bad reviews, it feels like someone’s hellbent on taking down our businesses. It may be unrelated to Gavin. But that’s nothing for you to worry about. I’m having all the locks changed tomorrow and extra security cameras installed.”

My thoughts bounce in all directions. Between Gavin and what I found on Cole’s computer, I’m riddled with anxiety.

Damian comes back over to me and puts his hands on my shoulders. “Thea, please don’t think about any of this tonight. Let’s enjoy the party and we’ll figure everything out later. I promise.”

I suck in a deep breath and try to take his suggestion to heart. I can enjoy tonight. I can do that for Damian. The words don’t convince me, still, I give him a smile.

56

THEA

Damian’s fingers intertwine with mine as we step onto the patio. The energy is upbeat and lightens my mood a little. I don’t see anyone I recognize at first, but then I spot Wesley. He grabs a plastic cup and comes over to us.

His eyes sweep over me appreciatively. “Wine?” Wes extends the cup to me. I take it eagerly, drinking the whole thing in one go—needing something to calm my nerves. “Damn. Long day?”

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