Page 105 of Cut Me Down

“She’s an angel…” Carter says, his words half slurred.

“Is he drunk!” I ask her.

“Hell no!” She yells back.

“Oh my God, she broke Carter.” I say as I bury my face in his back. Damien reaches for his bowl and hands it to him, careful not to put my half naked self in his line of sight.

“Here you go, man. There’s plenty more.”

“Thanks, D. You’re the best…” He turns and starts to shuffle back towards the stairs as he takes a bite. “This is really good, Ash…” He says with his mouth full.

“Thank you…” I say, but the words come out as a squeak. The moment he’s not in sight anymore, we both burst out in laughter. His chest rumbles against my forehead, and my body is shaking from how hard I’m howling. He turns back to me, cups my face in his hands, and kisses me again sweetly. “We’re going to have to check on him before we leave. Who knows what she’ll do to him by sunrise.”

Damien looks away briefly in annoyance.

“Yeah, absolutely. Serena’s like a damn black widow.”

“Don’t tell her that, she’ll get a God complex.”

He laughs and then looks back down at me endearingly.

“So, what about desert?” He says as his lip slightly curls up. He kisses me again only to pull away and caress my cheek. His face softens and he almost looks dubious. “So, you don’t hate me?”

I scrunch my eyebrows in perplexity. “Damien, why would I hate you?”

His features ease. Almost saddened.

“For what happened today. I never wanted you to see me like that.” I move my hands to his face and caress his jaw. Hating the uncertainty in his gaze.

“I know who you are. I've known for a while. I may not have witnessed it before today, but I’ve heard the stories. Either from that podcast or Tony after he sees the crime scenes. Somehow, seeing it today made it easier. Clearer. I’ve always admired what you've done but today showed me why you do it. So, no baby, I don’t hate you. Quite the opposite actually.” I say as his lips pull to the side in a slight grin. “I'm glad I saw it. I never want you to feel like you have to hide a part of yourself from me.” His smile only grows larger. Reaching his eyes and crinkling in the corners. He reaches under my ass and picks me up before wrapping my legs around his waist. I gasp from the surprise, and I wrap my arms around his neck to hold on. Not that he’d ever let me fall. “What are you doing?”

“Taking my girl to our room.” He forcefully plants his lips to mine, and I cling onto him as he begins to carry me up the stairs.

Chapter thirty-nine

Ashia

Never have I woken up so excited to start the day. Sure, yesterday was a catastrophe, and stepping foot in the city could cost me my life, but I have never been as giddy as I was when I woke up. I didn’t need coffee or felt the need to tiptoe around. Today I’m just a girl excited to go out of town with her boyfriend. We didn’t sleep much, but it might have been the best sleep of my life. I slept so hard, and I was so comfortable that I was probably fully recharged after about an hour.

I was totally right about the bed. I don’t know what it’s made out of, but it might be the most comfortable thing I've ever laid on. Well, besides Damien’s chest, but that’s partially based of my feelings for him. Materially? The bed is superb. Even with how large it is, we both stayed cuddled up in the middle the little bit we slept, but it felt so nice to lay next to him and not have to worry if he had enough room or not.

We only got about four hours of sleep before we got up and got ready. I'm sure he’s exhausted, poor thing. We’re only going a couple of hours away, from what he said, and we’re staying overnight. So, maybe he can take a nap if he needs to. I'm sure when we check into the hotel we’ll have some time before whatever he has planned. If he even has something planned outside of where we’re staying.

Much to my surprise, I finally found my mint green sundress. It was here, along with the white and tan wedges I’d been looking for. He’s slowly been bringing over some of my clothes for when he finally brought me here. I should’ve known, really, considering I don’t have many clothes. It was highly unlikely that I’d misplace them, but I definitely like this scenario more.

Damien checked on Carter and Serena before we came downstairs, and good thing he did and not me. Apparently, he was spread eagle on top of the bed next to her, only a sliver of blanket covering them both. But they were both breathing, and that was our main concern. What the hell did Serena do to him? He looked like he was in a car crash, or a horse bucked him off. Carter’s in charge while we’re gone, so she better not distract him too much. Damien was going to talk to him before we left and fill him in on what to watch out for, but he said he could just call him later on.

He still hasn’t told me where we’re going, and he just told me to get ready. Didn’t tell me how I should look or anything. Which, he never has before, so I'm not sure why I thought he would. I braided my hair after our shower last night, which of course only led to more sex. I think he likes my hair braided; it was easier for him to pull on. But this morning it’s cute and wavy. So, two birds one stone, I guess.

We’re walking into the garage, and I see him pull his keys off of the key hook by the door, but when I look back at the car, I get confused by this very different looking black vehicle. It was black last night too, but I could have sworn that the car from last night was not a Dodge. It was too curvy and round. This car is much boxier, and longer. If a car could have a muscular build, this car would have it.

“Damien?” He puts our bags into the trunk.

“Yeah, baby?” He looks up at me as he shuts it.

“I know a lot happened yesterday, and there was a lot of adrenaline and shock, but um… this is not your car.” I point to it as if he didn’t know what I was talking about.

“It is now.” He smirks.

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