Page 75 of Call You Mine

Ever since the night at The Silver Wolf—when Damon stood up to my brother, defending me when it wasn’t asked of him—well that was the first sign of hope that it meant something realto him too. Since then it’s like this thing between us took a turn, only I’m not sure in which direction.

For one, we’ve spent every night together in his bed, fucking till the sun comes up. It’s been incredible, the way our bodies fell into such a rhythm like we’d been doing it our whole lives. During the day, we’ve spent time apart, him at the office and me killing time at home waiting for him to arrive. On nights I’ve worked, he’s come into the bar, and sat at the counter watching me, and although he refuses to admit it, scaring off any jackass who even thinks about making any sort of flirtatious move on me.

The nights we’ve both been off, we go out to dinner, and he’s paraded me around town like I’m his actual girlfriend, and to be honest, it’s felt like I am. We aren’t trying to fool anyone behind closed doors, yet his attitude toward me remains the same. I fall asleep in his arms, my head resting against his chest, as his fingers trace hearts around my cheek.

But on some days, he wakes up distant—like the past and secrets between us are too much to ignore—and today is one of those days.

In all honesty, I feel it’s the fact that we’re going to be hanging around friends today—not to mention we’ll be around my brother which continues to be an awkward situation—has something to do with his shift in mood. Jade invited us to the welcoming party they’re throwing for Stella and baby Ember, given her high-risk pregnancy prevented them from having a true baby shower for her. Until today, I thought we were excited to be going.

It’s been some time since he’s been able to hang out with his friends, specifically because Malachi’s been fitting into his new role as a father and husband. Jade and Bass have their hands full with the bar and the twins, and while he’s not as close with Scarlett as he used to be, she’s been focused on spending themost time she can with Caeli as they prepare to welcome their second child.

But when the sun came up this morning, and I woke up in bed, alone for the third time this week, I just felt it in my bones. Something was wrong, and Damon was trying to avoid dealing with it.

Leaving his room and heading down the hall to mine, I head into my bathroom to take a quick shower, slipping into a pair of white lace panties and a matching bralette when I’m done. Not bothering to get dressed yet, I slip on a bathrobe before heading downstairs to find Damon. Though just before I step out of my room, a black box sitting atop my dresser catches my eye.

Though I don’t remember it being there last night. Panic floods me at the thought of Damon finding it, opening it, and getting a glimpse of what’s inside. Yet even more horrifying is the thought of someone else, someone like Enzo, breaking into my bedroom and setting it there.

I brush off the thought, knowing well enough this house is a fortress and no one could break in without Damon’s knowledge. However, that doesn’t explain why he’d just set it on the dresser without opening it or questioning me about it.

Two weeks ago, the same night we ran into Ace at the bar, a delivery driver dropped off a package addressed to me—a small black box with a red bow. I panicked knowing Damon was near and watching me, so I quietly hid it underneath the bar and acted as if it never happened. Two nights later, one of the new girls Jade hired found it and turned it in. Jade of course called me into her office and gave it to me, though her questioning stare at my sudden anxiousness left me uneasy.

Regardless, Jade didn’t ask, and although I brought it home with me, I still refused to look inside for fear of what I’d find. But now that it’s here, staring at me, haunting me, I know Damonmust have found it and this is surely the reason he’s acting distant.

Walking over to the box, I slowly take the satin red ribbon in between my fingers and pull it, undoing the bow that’s holding the box together. The moment it comes undone the box opens and I’m startled when a soft tune plays. I don’t recognize it immediately but regardless it sends a chill up my spine. In any other situation it would be a beautiful sound, a soft melody on a piano, like those musical birthday cards that play on cue. The box falls flat and in the middle is a small silver flash drive.

I immediately know what’s on it without having to plug it into my computer. This has to be from that night—the night I murdered Enzo. Or attempted to murder him if in fact it’s he who is sending me these threats. Though as each day goes by, it becomes less likely to be him.

There’s been no real danger to any of these threats which leads me to believe it’s just likely some asshole trying to mess with my head. It may be foolish of me to ignore the threats but I have way too much indulging the fucker and play any of their games.

I don’t bother reading the note, instead I shove the flash drive into my lingerie drawer, tossing the now empty box into the trash bin.

Deciding I’m not ready to face Damon like this, still shaken up by everything that’s happened thus far with my tormentor, I step back into the bathroom and give myself a quick blowout, spending a little extra time on my bangs to add some extra volume. I start on my makeup, needing a full shield in place if I’m to face Damon and pretend I am not utterly mortified by what I saw this morning. I choose to go full glam—a full base along with a light bronze shadow, thick coat of mascara and my current favorite lipstick in the shade Pillowtalk—if you know you know. Slipping into a pair of jean cutoff shorts and a white tanktop, my white lace bra visible beneath the almost see through fabric I grab my shoes, purse and cell phone before heading downstairs for some much needed caffeine.

The house is quiet, and though it usually is given, it’s just us two in its enormity, something today feels different. Maybe it’s just my own nerves about hanging out with everyone now that this relationship between Damon and I is more real than it was before. Not that anyone doubted us before but I can’t help but wonder how he will act now that he doesn’t have to worry about how well he’s pretending to be attracted to me.

I make my way down the staircase and step into the kitchen but find it empty. Walking over to the fancy new espresso machine I forced Damon to purchase, I brew my usual, a double shot blonde iced latte with oat milk, two pumps of white chocolate syrup, and a heaping scoop of whipped cream.

The aroma of coffee fills the air instantly as I quickly gather all the ingredients to make my decadently sweet drink. I brew another double shot, deciding to search the house for him and take him his usual boring morning espresso. I have yet to convince him to try one of my many specialties, but he swears all that sugar is going to rot his teeth.

Making my way through the rest of the house, I try his office first, but find it locked. No sign of him having been in there today. Turning the corner, I walk down to the end of the hall to his home gym and find him lying on the bench press at the end of the room. Looking through the glass double doors, I take a moment to gawk at him, his bare tattooed chest glistening with sweat as it drips over every inch of muscle. I reach for one of the door handles, pulling it open with such carefulness, in order to not give away my presence. If I could get a few minutes of gawking at his figure without him realizing I’m here, I’ll sure as hell take advantage of it.

As I step in further, I can see he has his headphones in, his eyes shut tight as he grunts and groans with every rep. His muscles flex, his knuckles white under the black gloves he wears as he tightens his hold on the bar. He’s wearing nothing but a pair of black gym shorts, currently tightly fitted around him in such a way that his cock is clearly visible, pressed against the thin fabric.

My mouth waters, and it’s not because of the delicious coffee currently in my hand. No, I’m salivating at the mere thought of having him in my mouth once again. Of bringing him to the edge, watching him come apart as he fucks my mouth. I’d take him deep, so far back his piercing would hit the back of my throat. The way he’d look as he had my hair fisted in his hands, his cock thrusting in and out of my mouth as he fucked me. The desire I’d see in his beautiful green eyes as he shot his cum down my throat and watched me swallow it down, licking at any excess that fell against my lips.

That constant ache in between my legs makes its long-awaited appearance and the moan that slips out of me as I press my thighs together startles him, jolting him out of his concentration.

“Fuck,” he groans, setting the bar back on the barbell rack before it falls and crushes him beneath it.

“Shit, I’m sorry,” I say, realizing he could have really gotten hurt by my surprise arrival. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“It’s fine,” he says, sitting up and reaching for a towel hung on the edge of the bench. Swiping it across his face, he wipes away his sweat before setting it back down and looking my way. When he finally meets my gaze, he observes me carefully, his dark eyes trailing my body as he takes in my full appearance. Unlike him, I’m fully dressed and ready for a day out, though there’s really not much he has to do to look good.

Damon’s naturally sexy. From the muscular form of his body, to the daunting alpha demeanor of his personality that is every woman’s weakness, to the sheer beauty of his features, the man was a reincarnation of a deity. And the way he’s currently looking at me, like he’s imagining undressing me and bending me over the bench he’s currently sitting on, makes my legs quiver.

“Is that for me?” he asks, pointing at the espresso in my hand. I nod, unable to speak as I hand it to him. I take a sip of my own, hoping for the slightest bit of distraction to regain my footing. This man throws me so off my game.

I was always confident in my body and with my sexuality. Mind you, I was never the friendliest of people, but if you were part of my inner circle, you knew the real me, not the facade of I put on for everyone else. And Damon has always seen that side of me, given our unconventional friendship we kept hidden from everyone.

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