Page 79 of Call You Mine

“You and who?” Ruby asks, her tone cold and almost mocking, like she’s bewildered by the idea I'm speaking of her brother. I know deep down it’s not meant in any way. Ruby’s been cordial, to say the least. She just doesn’t see how Damon would ever be up for such a thing, and I mean, she’s not wrong. I honestly don’t know what I was thinking when I offered.

“Damon and I have the next weekend off. I’m sure he’d be up for it. Besides, I’d love the opportunity to spend some time getting to know my niece better.”

Scarlett’s eyes glaze over, and I’m suddenly terrified she’s going to start outright crying. Ruby feels the same as her face visibly tightens. “Oh Wynter, that is so sweet of you to offer. I’m so glad you’re here and that things between Ace and you are on the mend. That you’re making Drake happy, and you’re willing to be a part of our family.” Jade and Stella join us, gawking at their best friend in the same way Ruby and I are looking at her. “I’m sorry. These freaking pregnancy hormones have me all fucked up.”

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

Ace’s shouting breaks us all out of our conversation, our gazes flicking back to the gate at the far end of the property thatgrants access to the private strip of beach connecting the houses together. I have to blink a few times to make sure my eyes are not deceiving me, because the nerve of the woman who stands at the edge of the path like she belongs anywhere near us, makes me want to scream.

Without thinking twice, I look over at Scarlett. “Take the kids inside. I’ll deal with her and make sure she never steps foot here again.” Scarlett nods but doesn't move until Ruby practically drags her inside, Jade and Stella following quickly behind her as Bass and Kai collect the twins.

I rush to Ace’s side, though just before I get there, Damon intercepts me. “No,” he demands, a fierce protective look in his eyes as he holds my gaze. He reaches for me, his hands falling to my waist. “Go inside with them. Ace and I will take care of her.”

“No,” I tell him, trying to push away, but it’s futile. “She’s here for me. She came here looking for me and I’ve put my family at risk by being around them when I am still infected with this disease.” I once again try to step around him, but his hands grip me tighter, holding me in place.

He pulls me into him, my chest directly on his. I can feel the rapid beat of his heart as his chest heaves in anger. “Wynter, don’t you fucking argue with me right now. Not about this. I told her to stay the fuck away from you, and she’s not getting the message. Now get the fuck inside and I’ll deal with her. You are not responsible for anything this psychotic woman does.”

I’m stunned speechless, my body trembling from his demanding tone, which is doing all sorts of things to me right now. The way he’s standing here, power radiating from him like it always has, combined with the possessive look in his eyes as he carefully watches me, I’m about to crumble into a pile of mush at his feet.

I’d do anything for him, anything he’d ask of me, and it’s equally freeing as it is terrifying.How does shit man, the God here before me, have so much control over me?

“I have to…” I’m silenced when his lips crash mine, the urgency of his kiss leaves me breathless and I reach out to him, wrapping my arms around his neck to pull him closer to me. His tongue explores my mouth in the best way. The spicy and woodsy taste of the cigar he had just smoked infiltrates my senses and I almost lose all consciousness to the feel of his hands on me and the way he’s holding me like he never wants to let go.

I hear a throat clear and when I take a step back, inhaling sharply like all the air has been knocked out of me, I look behind Damon to meet my brother’s annoyed gaze. Heat rushes up my cheeks in embarrassment, but Ace simply nods, agreeing with Damon. “We’ll handle her, Wynter.”

Daring to look up at my mother, I see something I’ve never seen in her eyes when she looks at me. She lets out a sinister laugh, “My sweet girl. I guess I should be proud. You have this man wrapped around your little finger. Mommy taught you well.”

I can’t stand being around her any longer, disgusted by her blatant disregard for our privacy, so I heed Damon’s warning. Though before I walk away, I reach up to grip his face between my hands and kiss him once more, crashing my lips against his with such a feral need I can hardly contain myself. His lips meet mine just as desperately, his hands still holding me against him though he stops himself from doing anything further now that he’s aware of our audience.

“Thank you,” I whisper against his lips, closing my eyes for fear of what I might confess if I were to look into his eyes right now. That I love him, because that’s what this feels like. But Damon’s not ready to hear that, and I’m not sure it’s in my best interest to say it yet, even if I feel it in my bones.

Chapter Twenty-One

DAMON

Have I said it before? This woman is going to be the death of me. Everything about her calls to something so deep inside me, something that’s lied dormant my entire life, and it's terrifying.

This right here, my protective nature and how she just pulls it out of me instinctively, proves I’m way in over my head. Deeper and deeper I fall—with every kiss, every taste of her perfect mouth, every caress of her luscious body—at the risk of never being able to get out unscathed. She was right, the other night when she called me out on my bullshit. When she blamed me for pushing her away, constantly rejecting her with the excuse that she wasn’t being honest with me because I was scared.

I’m more than scared. I’m fucking terrified that this woman, this incredibly beautiful, sexy and fierce woman, is making me fall to my knees just to get an ounce of her attention. Like a desperate fucking bastard, I need her—to protect her, to claim her—in order to feel complete.

“If you want me, then man up and have me. If you don’t, then leave me the fuck alone. I don’t need you if it’s going to come with ultimatums. I know you care for me, but you’re also holding back because you can’t risk getting into something and ending up hurt. I want you, Damon, and I’ll take you in any way that I can. Even if you don’t want me the same way, I’ll do whatever it takes to be with you, even if it’s temporary.”

I’ve replayed what she said to me that night, repeatedly in my head, hoping I’d have responded with the truth and hadn’t used sex as a cop out instead of telling her how I really felt at that moment. Because yes, it scared, scared shitless that I was feeling things I never felt for a woman, especially towards a woman I knew I could never keep.

She said it herself, even if it’s temporary. We both know this thing between us is temporary, and the end date is in sight. Even if we are meant for each other, the way this relationship began, there’s no hope for longevity when our entire relationship has been built on lies and deception.

And the proof of that is standing right in front of me.

“I’ll only ask you this once more, mother. What the fuck are you doing here?”

I turn to face Willa Servite the moment Wynter is out of my sight and safely inside Jade’s house. I was harsh when I yelled at her and told her to go inside, then practically mauled her in front of her mother, brother, and all our friends when I couldn’t help myself and kissed her. Wynter brings out the worst in me—the most possessive, uncontrollable urges I have are always front and center with her. She tests me in every way—her defiance, her sass, her wild nature.

Though, this is for her own safety. Every time Willa comes around, I haven’t been able to truly gauge what it is she wants because Wynter’s always been near keeping her away from me. And I don’t know if it’s because she doesn't want me to find outwhy Willa’s truly here, or if in fact like she said, she’s trying to protect us all from the venom this woman spews, but that ends now.

I step up beside Ace, glaring down at the woman who looks so much like my Wynter, yet they’re nothing alike inside. Wynter is kind and passionate. She cares for those who mean something to her, and this woman, she is a monster who cares for nothing but herself. A wicked woman who uses her children for her own selfish needs.

“Didn’t I warn you to stay the fuck away from us? Did you not get the message or are you just that fucking dense?”

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