Page 26 of Shadow Hunter

He shook his head. “Don’t call me that right now.”

“What the hell else am I supposed to call you?”

“Fuck if I know.” He slammed his fist into the steering wheel. “Just…anything but that.”

She gaped at him. “What changed between the morgue and here?”

Damon closed his eyes, resting his head back against the head rest. He couldn’t do this. He wouldn’t take advantage of hertrust this way. Nothing good would result from her being in his home, near his bed. He owed Mark that.

“I just…can’t take you back to my apartment, Tiffany.”

She stared at him for a long beat, as if she were trying to analyze him until suddenly her expression cleared. “This is about you kissing me, isn’t it?”

What? How had she—?

“Don’t give me that ridiculous guilt-stricken look,” she stabbed an accusing finger at him. “Mark may be dead, but don’t forget I was his little sister foryears. I know exactly what’s going on here.”

Damon couldn’t stop himself from chuckling at that. If only she knew the half of it. He lifted a brow. “Do you?” There were so many more layers to this situation than it appeared.

“I do,” she said, straightening her posture with that characteristic defiance that drove him all kinds of crazy. “You think because you knew my brother you have some weird obligation to protect me, and now that we’re going back to your apartment after we kissed, you think things are about to get weird.”

“I—”

“Well newsflash, buddy,” she said, jabbing him in the chest with her finger once more. “Iget to decide who I do and don’t allow into my life, friend of my brother’s or not, and who says I’d even want to sleep with you?”

“Tiffany.” His voice dropped low.

“I don’t even know you. I—”

“Tiffany,” he growled, catching her off guard as he cupped her cheek in his hand.

Instantly, she went still in his arms as he forced her to look at him.

“Would you?” he whispered, his eyes searching hers. “Would you want that with me?” he asked. “Because God help me,Shortcake, that’s all I’ve been thinking about ever since I held you in my arms.” He brushed his thumb across her cheek, amazed at how that one small gesture made her shiver beneath his touch. “So sweet. So responsive,” he purred, unable to stop himself as she melted into him. “I can’t promise I’ll behave like a gentleman if we continue like this, Tiffany.”

Not with her.

With anyone else, it’d be easy.

But with her…

How could he control himself?

He’d wanted her to be his for years. So bad he craved it. Even if she didn’t know it. Even if he was a tool for deceiving her like this.

Her gaze fell to his lips, her mouth parting before she closed her eyes as if she were fighting back tears. Fuck, if he’d said something to make her cry, he’d never forgive himself.

He stroked his thumb over her cheek again, bringing her back to him. “Please don’t leave me hanging here.”

She opened her eyes once more, leaning closer. “If I said yes, what would change?”

The question caught him off guard. “Tiffany—”

“Would you leave whatever guilt or duty you think you owe to my brother here?” She lifted her chin toward him, challenging him again.

He chuckled. How could he? Even if he wanted to, he’d made the choice to stand by his word a long time ago. “Not by a long shot.”

“Mmmh,” she hummed a little in response, leaning closer until she whispered against his ear. “And what if I don’t want you to be a gentleman?” she said, her words dancing over him like a caress. “What if you’re not the only one affected here?”

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