Page 75 of Filthy and the Beast

Damian hesitates, one hand on the towel at his waist. “Just the other night, my friends were saying how great it would be to have a game night here. Nico was telling everyone how much fun he had playing with you.”

The roofing emergency distracts me so much I don’t really comprehend his words.

“You’ve got good friends.” My eyes on the leak, I imagine money disappearing from my bank account. I’ve only met Nico and Reggie, but the way he talks, I’m sure the rest are good people, too. “I was glad to have Nico visit.”

Excited, Damian hums. “Does that mean you’d like to host?”

I blink. “What? No. I didn’t say that.” I rub my beard. “Sorry. I’m distracted.”

“That’s okay.” Damian summons a smile, but I feel his disappointment anyway. “I didn’t think you were the type.”

I look at him standing in the middle of the attic. Bare feet on the wood floor, towel at his waist, glasses a little crooked. Water drips behind him, and lightning flashes outside.

I want to give him everything in the damn world. I’d wrestle the moon down and give it to him, too, if that would make him happy.

But I can’t. With the sorry state of my finances, I might not be able to give him much at all.

Except for what he asks for what right now, of course.

Fucking hell.

I’m going to host a game night.

“Fine.”

His eyes pop wide open. “Fine? Like, yes?”

“That’s what you want, right?”

“Only if it’s fun to you, too.”

I grimace. “Sure.”

I wouldn’t call having people in the house fun. Talking to strangers.

But I did like those birds.

“Oh my god, I’m so thrilled.” Damian throws his arms around me with a big laugh. “You have no idea how fun I make it when I host a proper game night. There’s a new theme every time!”

I groan. “I’m already regretting this.”

Still squeezing me, he laughs again, and I relent and hug him back. “Thank you.”

“No problem,” I grumble. Pulling his chin up, I give him a quick kiss. “We’ll talk dates later. I’m just going to take a few more pictures.” I lift my phone.

Damian nods. “Sure. I’ll let the girls out.”

He heads downstairs. I have a face-off with the leak, glaring at it and thinking about my bank account. When that doesn’t help, I open up a message to Buck.

I need to meet again. You free?

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

DAMIAN

“Fucking hell,”Enzo huffs as he grabs his jacket. “I’ve got to go. This isn’t acceptable.”

It’s game night, and I’m standing in the kitchen with the pink-and-blackDamian’s Game Nightbanner in my hands. Blinking rapidly, I try to process what he’s saying.

---