Page 8 of Knight

Does she know?

When the doors close, I take a look around the foyer, attempting to catch the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Only a few people stand around the space but it still feels like these walls are closing in. My chest with it.

I can’t set foot in there. Not after that. Not on my own.

My eyes land on the front doors.

I can run. It’s not like anyone here will miss me. I should get the fuck out of here and forgo the need to deal with any of this. Looking to my right, I settle for the bathrooms. My legs wobble all the way there, hanging onto the wall as I make my way inside. Once I’m in one of two stalls, I lock the door and flip the toilet lid down, taking a seat.

“You can get through this,” I whisper to myself, eyes closed as I suck in a long, deep inhale. When I let it out, I open my eyes, my focus on the metal of the lock. “You can do this,” I repeat again. When I get to the sink I splash some water on my face, not caring that the mascara runs. Or that my body is looking bonier by the day. If getting through this means a chance to talk with Damien, I’ll take it. And he better fucking thank me later.

“Miss Rowland.”

“Fuck!” I jump. Branson’s face is straight ahead of me the minute I open the door. He’s leaning against the wall with his partner by his side like they were waiting for me.

“Can we ask you a few questions?”

“About?” I ask, my voice shaky as the officer with the stache flips open his notepad.

“We have some questions about the death of Sebastien King.”

“I thought Mommy said no.” Crossing my arms, I’m hoping that hides the fear in my tired eyes.

“Get the fuck away from her!”

Like I thought the devil into existence, Damien’s voice fills the air. Turning to my left, he staggers towards us, a crumpled joint in his hand, pointing it right at the cops. He repeats himself and when he gets close, I’m filled with that familiar scent again. Plus what smells like a lot of alcohol. “Get the fuck away from her or get the fuck out!”

Branson takes a step back. “Now, we mean no harm.”

Damien scoffs, eyeing him up. He’s usually calm when he’s making his threats, but this time he seems more frantic. Desperate. He snarls, “If you mean no harm, you’ll go back to your seat, detective.”

The officer reads my mind when he asks, “Is there a reason you’re protecting this young lady?”

“Do I need to call security?” Damien fires back, his glossy eyes narrow further. “Or your boss?”

Hanson shakes his head, a small smirk on his face, “No need, kid. We’ll talk later.”

“Get a warrant!” Damien calls after him and when he turns to look at me, my breath stops in my throat.

Those eyes. Those damn god-like eyes. This hallway feels like the first time we met. The first time I got a real good look at Damien King in that crowded train station. There’s a reason he’s adored in the halls of our school. Damien King is beautiful. Even when he’s a mess. His soft, bottom lip disappears under his teeth and the longer we keep our gazes locked on each other, the more I want my lips pressed against his.

I’ve got balls as big as King Kong but now, with him in front of me, a moment I’ve been waiting on for the past few days, all I can say is, “H-hey …”

“Hey,” is his only response, his back collapsing against the wall across from me. He eyes me up like I’m a fresh slice of cake and I see his tongue run along his soft lip. That fire roars again, and I’m tempted to jump on him right then and there.

“You okay?” My cheeks fill with heat, my eyes dropping to his exposed chest, glistening with sweat. Hell, I’m surprised he’s still standing. Who knows what the fuck he’s on.

His eyes land on my wrist before that diamond face tenses, his whole body stiffening. “Leave.”

“What?” Glancing at my dad’s watch, I meet his eyes again, brows furrowing. Is he serious?

He takes a step closer and I can’t move even if I wanted to. I’m in his orbit, locked on those eyes. His palms come to each side of my head and I’m seeing his eyes in HD. His smooth, pale skin. The circles under his eyes are as bad as mine. He’s as sleep-deprived as I am. “Leave,” he says again.

“No.” Like a habit, I fire back, but I’m confused as hell. “Damien, I—”

“You heard me.” His hard bare chest presses against mine and in an instant, goosebumps form on my skin as my nipples pucker against my dress. I’m pressed against the wall and his cock is a contradiction, twitching to a hardon with his weight against mine. “Don’t make me repeat myself.” This feels all too familiar. How did we get back here?

“Damien?” Marion’s voice comes from the foyer but Damien doesn’t stop staring into my eyes and with the way I’m clenching my thighs, my body is just as confused as my mind. “Damien! You are here. Come. Please. We must go.” She glares at me as she pulls his arm away, Damien stumbling behind her and I’m left there to try to catch my breath.

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