As I munched on my breakfast, I studied him. He moved with a quiet grace that I had never noticed before, and his gaze seemed tender whenever it landed on me. I’d woken up in some sort of parallel universe where Damien Santini, scary boss extraordinaire had been replaced by a kinder, caring man whose attention warmed me even in the frigid house.

I glanced out the window at the snow, then checked my phone. No texts, but…I’d have thought Connor would let me know Max was ok. It had only been a day, and Max’s flare-ups weren’t usually serious, but they did make it harder for him to get around. He’d be safe with Connor. There was nothing I could do right now and worrying helped nothing.

I didn’t text Max during hospital stays if I could avoid it. He was a light sleeper, and he got angry with himself for being sick. My texting him made him feel guilty for something he couldn’t control.

I wished he didn’t feel that way, but I tried to respect it.

"Is something wrong?" Damien asked.

"Everything's fine." I shifted my weight to accommodate to minimize my uncomfortableness. "A little sore."

"Ah," he said, walking around the table and kissing me. "I can help with that."

He pulled the blanket open and gazed down at me, a possessive light in his eyes. "You are beautiful."

Holy crap. My nipples hardened, partly from cold and partly from the tingling in my body as I squirmed. My soreness was now a strange mix of pleasure and pain.

A small smile crept across his lips, making him look devilishly sexy. "Poor Katie," he said, his fingers tracing delicate patterns on my thigh.

He knelt in front of me, positioning himself between my legs as he pushed the blankets more out of the way. The cold air brushed against my skin, causing goosebumps to rise. My breath caught as I realized what he intended to do.

"Relax," he said, his breath hot against my sensitive flesh. His hands gripped my thighs, gently parting them wider as he pulled me forward. My face flushed with embarrassment, but I obeyed. I had no power in me not to.

As his tongue made contact with my nub, I gasped, the sensation both soothing and electrifying. His skilled mouth worked wonders, taking my attention from my aching body, licking and sucking in a rhythm that had me writhing and gasping. My mind went blank, filled only with pleasure.

"Damien." My fingers tangled in his dark hair.

He hummed in response, the vibrations sending shockwaves through me.

My hips bucked against his face, my body begging for release.

"Please," I begged throatily. My orgasm built, threatening to consume me whole.

Damien only intensified his efforts, his tongue delving deeper, his fingers gripping my thighs tighter.

Then, with a cry that echoed throughout the room, I shattered, my entire body shaking with the force of my climax.

Damien didn't relent, drawing out every last bit of pleasure from me until I was a trembling, breathless mess.

He worked his way back up to my mouth as I shivered.

"Teach me," I said, looking into his eyes. "I want to do that for you."

He raised an eyebrow. "Easily done,mi angelo. I am clean, so there’s no need for protection."

He rose, the sweatpants sliding off at my tug and revealing his erection. I hadn’t had a chance to take a good look at it last night. It was, from my limited experience, large, and definitely beautiful, part of him.

Pressure on my shoulders took me out of the chair and to my knees in front of him. I glanced up.

"Use your tongue first."

I did as he asked, tentatively tracing the head with my tongue. The taste of him was salty and musky, not at all unpleasant.

"Good girl." He growled, his hand stroking my hair. Encouraged by his words, I grew bolder, swirling my tongue around him and taking him into my mouth.

His hips flexed, pushing him forward, and I jumped.

"Relax your throat," he said, his voice strained.