Page 66 of Heart Taker

I walked up the gravel driveway to the front door, and before I even had a chance to knock, the door swung open. Damien greeted me with his usual intense expression, wearing a plain white T-shirt, faded jeans that were snug in all the right places, and my personal favorite, bare feet. His outfit said relaxed, but his rigid posture told me otherwise.

“I thought maybe you’d changed your mind.”

I shook my head. “No way.”

“Are you coming?” he asked, his cheeks turning pink. “I mean, are you coming inside. Inside my house. Not coming as in… Jesus.”

Watching my normally unflappable coach blush and stumble was completely irresistible.

“I knew what you meant.” I chuckled as I watched him let out a breath, his shoulders dropping slightly. “But it’s good to know where your mind’s at.”

“Trouble.”

“Nah, Silas is fine.”

He motioned for me to enter the house.

“Wow, nice digs,” I commented.

Most people would probably find the space dark, with natural wood walls and a stone fireplace, but I loved it. The house had an open floor plan, not big at all, but the living room had floor-to-ceiling patio doors that led to an outdoor deck anda view of the sparkling lake beyond. The Vermont countryside didn’t get any better than this.

“I think you’re the only person who agrees with me,” Damien replied. “Everyone who’s ever visited tell me it’s too small and I should paint the wood walls.”

“No paint.”

“Right? I like the natural color. And I know it’s not huge, but it’s cozy. Massive homes aren’t for me; they have too much echo.”

“I agree. Jo and I share our family home, a three-bedroom bungalow, and it’s big enough. If I lived on my own, though, I’d probably get a smaller place and spend the money on a cottage instead.”

“Smart. Do you want something to drink?” Damien offered.

“Not right now. Maybe later?”

Damien nodded and glanced outside. “You want to sit out on the deck?”

“Love to,” I replied. “Can I take my shoes off?”

“Go for it.”

I slipped off my running shoes and my aching feet met cool hardwood.

Damien turned and headed for the patio doors. My gaze followed the long lines of his body; from the broad shoulders to that fine ass, and finally, the thick thighs that I was dying to see without the denim. I wanted to wrap them around my waist, or even better, my head.

Maybe I should’ve taken him up on his offer for a drink, because damn, I was fucking thirsty, and it was all for him.

Being in Damien’s home was… different. I never did this with my hookups. Usually, I preferred a bar bathroom or an alleyway. I couldn’t bring someone home, and I didn’t want to. Not in my personal space. Oddly enough, that was too, well, personal. AndI never stuck around long enough for them to invite me to theirs, so it didn’t matter.

I should be freaking out, but I wasn’t. Not with Damien.

What did it mean? I had an inkling, a trickle of awareness that there was no going back after this. But still, I didn’t have a clue as to what I was doing.

Except what felt right.

I stepped out of the house and onto the deck, which ran the whole length of the house. There was a barbeque at one end, along with two red Adirondak chairs and a firepit at the other. There was no wind tonight and the surface of the lake was like a gilded mirror, almost too perfect to be real.

Damien leaned on the railing, and I slid up beside him, our shoulders brushing, sparks of electricity racing over my skin.

“Incredible view,” I commented, staring out at the lake.

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