Page 118 of Pandora's Pleasure
“Tamer, what did you really want?” asked Damien.
Theo looked at him. “Salvatore Galante isn’t coming.”
Damien flinched.
Watching his reaction, I wondered if Damien had intended on speaking with Galante tonight. Theo and Damien swapped a look of frustration.
I raised my shot glass in a toast. “To new adventures at Vanguard!”
“No.” Damien gave a forced smile.
That sounded like him taking back control.
“Godman has only one more week left to visit Vanguard,” said Theo. “Then he’s cut off.”
Damien smirked. “Those days are over.”
Theo seemed to be studying his reaction. “One week, buddy.”
“I need you to piss off now.” Damien gestured for Theo to leave. “Take your 80s band with you.”
“Fuck off.” Theo threw him a big grin as he reached for his phone.
He walked back up the pathway with the enticing bottle of tequila; probably a good thing as I was going to have to rejoin my parents at some point.
I studied Damien’s face. “You’re not going back to Vanguard?”
He ignored that and stared into the fountain’s pool of water. “What I was going to say before we were interrupted…”
“What?”
“Make a wish.” He pointed to the fountain.
I closed my eyes and sent out a secret prayerfor us.
I heard him approach me, felt his presence.
“Keep your eyes closed.” He took my hand and placed an object on my palm. “Have a look.”
I opened my eyes to see a blue sapphire ring—the same one from the store on Sanibel Island…the one I’d fallen in love with.
“That was your favorite?” He looked hopeful.
“Yes! It’s beautiful.”
The one I’d dreamed of.
He eased the emerald engagement ring off my finger and tucked it into his pocket, replacing it with the sapphire ring, the blue stone shimmering.
I pressed my body to his chest. “You remembered.”
“Of course I remembered.” Damien looked at me, his expression pleased. “This is how I prefer you. Smiling.”
“I’ll move in with you.”
His face lit up. “Now it’s my turn to smile. Not that you had any choice in the matter.” He nudged my arm playfully.
Whenever I’d imagined what kind of man I’d end up with, I’d never considered the possibility he’d be into this: a dark dungeon filled with unusual devices.
