Page 53 of Scorching Sienna

I quickly get dressed, eager to leave, and find Damon. This small space is making me nervous. I keep looking around, having flashbacks of The Reaper behind me.

“Gosh, that was quick. You look lovely! Here.” She unclips the lace choker she is wearing and gently clips it around my neck, not commenting on the marks there, which I know are apparent.

“See.” She points to a mirror behind me as I spin around and look at myself.

The choker does an excellent job covering most of the bruising, and the black dress with my military-style boots looks surprisingly good.A little short, I think, as I tug the hem down, only resulting in more cleavage being displayed. It was one of those trade-off dresses. Either boobs or cooch.

“Let’s go see where your man is.” Lucy smiles, and I meet hers with one of my own.

“Thank you. For this.” Lucy waves her hand dismissively as we leave the office.

“If you are walking into the lion's den, best to come in your armor.” Lucy’s words are cryptic, but I don’t have a chance to ask her to elaborate as Marcello and Alessandro meet us halfway.

I see Bob, who must have been hovering close to the office we just left, out of the corner of my eye. Off to our right, Joran and Kai stand awkwardly, their eyes darting around the room before meeting mine. I give them a reassuring smile before returning my attention to our hosts.

Alessandro smiles at me, but it is more reserved. Whatever happened between him and his father clearly impacted his mood. God, I hope it had nothing to do with me.

“He is on top form again tonight,” Marcello says, as we start walking toward a large group of people on the left. To the right is a dance floor with a DJ and a bar. Many people are dancing, but just as many are on this side of the room, caught up in whatever is unfolding.

“What is this?” Marcello looks at me, confused by my question.

“Do you not know what Damon has been doing the last few nights?” I rack my brain for an explanation but come up blank. Then I remember what Marcello said about Damon being a male entertainer.

“Stripping?” Marcello’s laugh bellows across the space, causing more than one person to stare. Lucy covers her mouth, stifling a chuckle while even Alessandro, who has been reserved until now, lets out an equally loud laugh.

“You see. This is what has made Damon so angry. Your innocence. And it's corruption by anyone but himself. He will not be happy then when he sees you now. But our guys need a break.”

The crowd starts parting when they see Marcello approach. While most smile at him, some avoid eye contact altogether.

As for me, I catch curious glances, especially from the women. I’m suddenly extremely grateful Lucy lent me this dress. It truly feels like walking into the lion’s den.

The closer we get to the center, the louder the shouting gets.

Then, the last person obstructing our view moves, and what I see is not what I expected. But it explains a lot.

Damon’s brown hair is tied into a low bun, some pieces escaping and framing his face. The cut through his eyebrow is bleeding, a small drop running down the side of his eye. Dark chocolate eyes that hold only rage. I have seen the same on many occasions. But this feels more volatile. Unrestrained. It seems to seep out of him. Coiling close to him, ready to lash out.

The bridge of his nose is sporting a fresh cut, but not too deep. Luckily, his nose does not appear to be broken. His lips are pulled into a thin line, his jaw is clenched, and the stubble on his jawline only just hides the tick.

Perhaps this is how he got the scar on his cheek? It makes him look even more savage.

My eyes follow the curve of his neck and down to the flesh that is usually hidden. It is on full display here, and I feel a little hurt. Ridiculously. He is so freely displaying himself here, yet I have never even seen him without a shirt on.

Everything I have imagined is shattered as I soak up the reality of what lies beneath pristine suits and gym wear.

And it’s truly captivating.

The tattoos I have glimpsed on his neck join those covering his muscular pecs, traveling down to defined abs and then along the planes of two sculpted V-lines to disappear into low-hanging black joggers. The tattoos cover every inch except for a spot over his heart. Coincidence or intentional?

I had seen men covered in tattoos in movies before and didn’t like it. But that was the old Sienna. This Sienna finds them intoxicating and even thinks perhaps I should get one of my own. Or perhaps it applies only to the man covered in them.

Their dark lines and dark content suit Damon so well that I couldn’t imagine him any other way. Skulls, dark deities, snakes, Roman numbers, and other perfectly placed images map his skin, each one solidifying in my memory as an image I will never forget. I feel it will be seared into the essence of my soul even in the next life.

I drag my eyes away from him, my spellbound look mirrored on more than one woman's face.

“Tonight is the night!” The shrill voice of a tall, slender woman nearby, with long brown hair and crystal blue eyes, catches my attention amongst the shouting and cheering.

“Last night was close, but I’m sure he will take me home tonight. A man that fights like that…well, we know he will be a fuck to remember. I’m telling you, honey, tonight Damon will be mine. And once I have him, he will never want to leave.” Tall and Slender smiles broadly as she talks to honey next to her, a younger version of herself. Probably her sister.

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