Page 13 of Seduce

“Hello, Tessa, or should I say my lady in blue.”

Tessa’s cheeks grew warm. “I can explain about that. And what are you doing here?”

“I’m sure you can.” He pushed away from the door. “I needed to see you.”

“How did you find out?” Tessa swallowed hard as Damon stalked over to her, much like a wolf would.

“I knew it last night.”

“How?” Tessa barely stopped herself from turning tail and running.

“You’re unique and very hard to forget.” He stopped in front of her. “I have one urgent question.”

“Only one?” She tilted her head to the side, studying him. Was he angry? He didn’t look like it. More like a tightly controlled wolf ready to pounce. There she went again with the wolf analogy.

“I said one urgent; it doesn’t mean I don’t have others.” He got into her space. “Are you interested in kink?”

Tessa almost burst out laughing. “I’m a member of the club.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. The club is nearly six years old, and you haven’t been back in almost four years. There has to be a reason for that.” He ran his finger over her cheek. “Did someone in the lifestyle hurt you?”

“No.” She craved his closeness. What would happen if she locked lips with him? He was close enough for her to go on her toes and taste him. What was she thinking?

“Then why the break in coming to the club?”

“I needed some space.” She wasn’t ready to reveal her past to Damon. “How did you become involved? I’m guessing Max and Jordan.”

“Max, Jordan, and I met at a munch.” Damon lowered his head. “I can feel your heat, Tessa. We’ve sparred and had words, but this is different. You’re not spitting and hissing. What’s changed?”

There was an explosive question. How did she explain that something inside her had snapped into place when she walked back into the club and tightened when she saw him? A part of her that had been missing now wasn’t. The part that longed to be wanted for herself and not her political connections.

“Maybe I realized that you’re not so bad after all.”

“Oh, I’m bad all right.” His fingers slid over her cheek. “Will you be bad with me?”

Yes. Her body shouted the word, but she clamped her lips together. She was so tempted, but they knew so little about each other. “You’re skipping a few steps.”

Damon froze, and his blue eyes grew weary. He nodded and stepped back. “I am.”

Tessa missed him when he moved. Contrary thing she was. “I’m sorry I didn’t stay last night.”

“Apology accepted.” He paced to the door and turned. “Know this, Tessa: I want you. More than any other woman. I want you in my life, so consider yourself warned. The gloves are coming off.”

Before she could say a word, Damon opened the door and walked out.

* * * *

Damon stood on the landing to Tessa’s apartment and took a deep breath to control his raging desire. Quiet little Tessa was into kink. And she hadn’t shut him down when he pushed her a bit.

His body hummed with need. Would he have pursued her if she wasn’t into kink? Probably not. He’d been burned before by women who weren’t into the lifestyle, and he wouldn’t go down that road again.

He’d left her apartment because if he’d stayed, they’d be in bed right now. And Tessa was right. She deserved careful handling. There was a firecracker beneath her creamy skin, and if he wasn’t careful, he’d get burned. Somehow, he didn’t mind.

He’d just made it to his truck when his cell phone rang. “Yes.”

“Hey, Damon. It’s Destiny. I’ve got a family emergency. I won’t be able to work for the next few days.”

“Don’t worry, Destiny. I’ll take care of it. You take care of what you need to do, and take all the time you need.”

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