Page 119 of Merciless Intents

“Traitor,” Damian said, and Asher smirked.

I rolled my eyes. “Fine. I’ll stay. But I get to pick the movie.”

They both laughed, and the sound wrapped around me. I loved their laughs.

“Deal,” Damian said. Without warning, Damian scooped me into his arms and carried me to the house. “Drive down there and give him a good tip, Ash.”

“Nooo problem!” Asher said with way more excitement than I’d expected.

Then I heard my car fire up, and I knew why he was so happy. It made me smile against Damian’s chest.

“Can I ask you something?” I said. “Keep in mind, it might be personal, so you may not want to answer it.”

He walked me over to the pallet on the floor and put me on my feet. “Sure. You can ask. Not sure I’ll answer, but I won’t lie or be offended.”

“Do you call all the girls you’re with that? Is that why it slipped? I assumed that was the reason. You’re just so used to saying it that it popped out.” I shrugged.

He stared into my eyes for several long seconds before finally answering. “I’m not sure what the right answer is to that question.”

“The truth. You said you wouldn’t lie, but you can also refuse to answer. I understand either way.”

He nodded. “I’ll pass for now. Sorry.”

I shrugged again. “Eh, it’s okay. I figured you would. No worries. I was just curious.”

“Can I ask you something?”

I kicked the top blankets back and laid down before covering myself. His house was just cool enough to feel comfortable under layers. It was perfect.

“Sure,” I said, fluffing the already fluffy pillow under my head.

“Were you more upset aboutwhatI called you…” he paused, “or because I didn’t mean it?”

Well, that was one hell of a loaded question, wasn’t it? How the fuck was I supposed to answer that?

“Don’t lie,” he said, his voice gentle. “I’ll know if you do. But you can refuse to answer.”

Lying on the floor, I had a long way to look to stare into his eyes. They seemed patient, honest, even understanding. I saw none of the usual malice there that I saw in school.

“Honesty with you can be dangerous. We may have a truce now, but come Monday, all bets are off. The scales are not equal here. You could tell me anything, and you know I’d never use it against you. The reverse is absolutely not true.”

He nodded. “And if I said this was a freebie?”

Why did he want to know so badly?

I thought for a moment. “No using it against me?”

He shook his head. “I promise.”

“It’s just a name. It didn’t bother me at all that it slipped. Like I said, if I’d called you that, I would have blown it off and made a joke.” My answer wasn’t a lie, but I also didn’t give in and say definitively that I was hurt he hadn’t meant it. Though if he paid attention, the answer was clear.

After a few moments, he nodded. “In that case, no. That’s the first time I’ve ever called anyone that.”

My eyes widened, and before I could respond, he quickly made his way to the kitchen, leaving me to my screaming thoughts. If he’d never called anyone that before, why thehellhad he calledmethat? There was only one answer I could think of, and it couldn’t possibly have been true—could it?

There was no way in hellDamianhad feelings for me.

Would I even want to know if he did?

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