Page 71 of Damaged

It was lust she felt on the beach. At least I could tell myself that in the dark, but under the bright lights, they revealed what I knew she was beginning to feel for me.

I could see it in her eyes.

Love.

And I don’t play with girls who love me. I don’t break hearts if I don’t have to. But my thumb is now hovering over Sophia’s contact name in my phone. It was stupid of me to not have her at the auction house. Receiving the shipment was a celebratory event, and she should be here for it.

I tap her number and put my phone to my ear. It rings for so long that I realize how ridiculous I’m being. I’m not thinking rationally. I’m about to put the phone away, when she answers, and I grimace.

“Hello?” Sophia asks.

“Hey… It’s me.”

“I did save your number.”

“Ah. You never know.”

“What’s up?”

I cringe. I don’t think I’ve ever been so vulnerable on a phone call. “The artifacts arrived today. I guess I wanted to say good job.”

“Wait, they’re there already?”

I’m hit with a pang of something only this girl makes me feel—guilt. “Yeah.”

“They’re not going on display right away, are they?”

“No. No, they’re still boxed up in storage. It’s all about keeping the right temperature for the moment.”

“Well, that’s great. I wish I could’ve been there. They just had to arrive on my day off, didn’t they?”

I can tell from her tone she’s not accusing me. She thinks it’s a coincidence. My mouth is moving before I can even think to shut it. “How about I make it up to you?”

“Hmm?”

“Get dinner with me tonight.” I’m frowning at my own words.What the fuck am I doing?

“Oh. I was going to…” Sophia begins but stops. “I guess I can do that.”

“Meet me in the lobby at seven.”

“Sounds good.” I can hear a bit of nervousness in her tone. I can almost sense her heart fluttering over the phone. I’m playing with fire right now.

“Perfect. See you then,” I say and hang up. My eyes are a little bit widened. I’m shocked at what came over me. What the hell was I thinking?

But I know why I called. I know why I have to see Sophia. My infatuation with a woman like her cannot be iced by a cold shower. It can’t be simply forgotten. I must know her body. I must take her.

Even if it means shattering her heart in the process.

I finish up at the auction house and go back to my apartment. I head straight to the walk-in and choose a dark navy suit and crisp white shirt.

I look in my long mirror with its gilded frame. Even I can see how devilishly handsome I am now. The contrast of the white shirt and my dark tanned skin from my time in Africa is perfect.

I choose an emerald tie the color of my eyes and click in my gold cufflinks. I want to get Sophia something to match. I look at my watch and realize there’s plenty of time to get her a little something.

I adjust the knot in my tie and look myself over once more. I was always going to take Sophia. There was no other course.

I don’t believe in fate. I don’t believe the cold-surging tide was a warning—stay away from this girl.

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