Page 33 of Watch Me Burn
“Anything?”
The challenge slips out before I can stop it. His eyes go dark, almost black.
“Anything.”
Damien helps me into the helicopter, his hand firm on my waist, and I can’t help but compare his touch to my wolf’s. There’s something in the way he grips me that is almost identical. Confident and possessive.
Why can’t I stop comparing them? Why do I try to find similarities between them? They’re so different. Damien is controlled and polished. My wolf is raw passion and animal hunger.
Yet as we lift into the snowy night sky, I find myself studying Damien’s profile. The strong jaw, the perfect nose, the crinkles at the corners of his eyes. And those sexy silver streaks at his temples. I’ve never seen more than my wolf’s mouth and the shadows of his eyes. His mask and the darkness he insists on always obscure the rest. Damien’s square jaw seems similar, and for a split second, I think I see more, but then it’s gone as he leans forward to speak to the pilot.
I inhale a shaky breath as my mind goes places it shouldn’t, to ridiculous suspicions and an even crazier place, as I picture what it would be like to have both of them.
Jesus, what’s happening to me? Now I’m contemplating threesomes. Maren would be so proud.
I need to get ahold of my libido before it gets me into more trouble than I’m already in.
I push the thought away and focus on the wonder of flying through the night in a private helicopter with a billionaire who, it seems, more and more bears a striking, unnerving resemblance to my wolf.
Chapter nine
Damien
The ballroom pulses with wealth and ostentation. Crystal chandeliers cast their glow over Denver’s elite, all dressed in their finest, champagne flutes in hand, checkbooks at the ready. I keep a possessive hand at the small of Luna’s back as we move through the crowd, the silk of her dress warm beneath my palm.
Every eye in the room turns to her. I can’t blame them. She’s stunning tonight. The deep emerald dress hugs her curves like it was made for her body alone, her blonde hair cascading in loose waves over her shoulders. She doesn’t realize how she outshines every woman here, her beauty unadorned by the calculated artifice that plagues these events.
“The turnout is incredible.” Luna’s wide eyes survey the room. “You must be pleased.”
I force a smile, the muscles in my jaw tightening. “Numbers mean donations. Donations mean more animals we can help.”
“But you hate this part, don’t you?” Her voice is low, meant only for me. “The schmoozing?”
I look at her, surprised by her perception. Most women I’ve brought to these events are too dazzled by the glamor to notice my discomfort.
“Is it that obvious?”
She smiles, and I can’t look away. “Only to someone who’s paying attention.”
The thought of her watching me and studying me sends a primitive satisfaction through my gut before panic follows in its wake. Does she see the truth lurking beneath this facade?
“Damien! There you are.”
I turn to see Cade approaching, champagne in hand, his tuxedo as impeccable as mine.
“Cade.” I shake his hand, though I don’t know why. We saw each other four hours ago. “I’d like you to meet Dr. Luna Foster. Luna, this is Cade Crawford, my COO and the man who actually runs my companies while I pretend to work.”
Cade’s lips pull tight at the corners, the closest his face gets to a genuine smile. But his eyes are busy, scanning from me to Luna with the kind of scrutiny that misses nothing.
“Dr. Foster, it’s a pleasure.” He takes her hand, and his expression softens a fraction despite whatever reservations are churning behind his eyes. “Damien speaks of little else these days.”
Subtle, Cade. Real fucking subtle.
“I hope he’s been editing the embarrassing parts. Like my being a Peeping Tom.” Luna’s smile is warm and confident as she glances between us. “And please call me Luna. ‘Doctor’ makes me feel like I should be wearing scrubs instead of this dress.”
“You look beautiful in anything.” I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve told her tonight, but somehow the words feel inadequate each time. She’s stunning in a way that scatters my senses and makes me want to abandon this entire event and take her somewhere private. Somewhere I can taste every inch of her warm, silken skin.
Luna blushes, and Cade raises an eyebrow at me. I’m never this open or unguarded. Especially not at events like this, where every word might be overheard, analyzed, and reported in tomorrow’s society pages.
