Page 60 of Arrogant Heir

He frowns and my heart stirs when he says, ‘Wealthy family or not, someone needs to teach him some manners, treating you like he did.’

‘He’s not that bad,’ I say, even though I like how he’s trying to protect me. ‘He got cold feet, that’s all.’ I don’t know why I feel the need to defend Simon. Maybe it’s because I don’t see a future for me and Damian, no matter how sizzling the chemistry between us. Somewhere in my mind, I still think I might eventually get back with Simon. Damian doesn’t fall in love.

A whisper in my mind taunts me.But wouldn’t that be settling for less than this perfect connection you have with Damian?

‘Does he want you back, then?’ he asks, his voice cold and flat.

‘Yeah. Well, he says he does, anyway.’

‘No surprise. What a numpty. And are you going to forgive him and take him back?’

I shake my head. ‘Does it look like I am?’Not now at least, I add inwardly.

He says, ‘Good. He doesn’t deserve you.’

Then he’s quiet and I wonder what he’s thinking.

‘What about you?’ I ask.

‘What about me?’ he replies in that forbidding way of his.

‘You had a long-term girlfriend, didn’t you?’

He nods curtly. ‘For my sins.’

‘What went wrong?’ I probe.

I’ve heard family members’ versions of what happened with Stephanie, and read about it in the press, but I want to hear it from him.

‘I loved her blindly and completely like the young fool I was. Meanwhile, towards the end, she was fucking my best friend. I found out and when I had it out with her, she left me for him.’ He runs a large hand through this shiny black hair, and his raw beauty claws at my heart as I realise he’s talking about her like she’sthelove of his life.

How can I compete with the memory of her?

‘Sorry,’ I say. ‘That must have really sucked.’

His mouth is set in a hard line, and a muscle works in his jaw.

We fall quiet, and then he looks at me, his eyes glittering dangerously. ‘It was for the best. They’re still together the last I heard.’

I nod. ‘Married?’

He shakes his head. ‘No, I don’t think so. Knowing Steph, she’s probably holding out to see if someone better comes along before they seal the deal.’

There’s bitterness in his deep, melodic voice and I hate Stephanie for what she did to him, but even more because he’s obviously still in love with her. Sharp pangs of jealousy stab and roll through me and it’s a new experience I wish I wasn’t feeling. I’ve not been in this position before, but my intuition tells me I can’t fight a memory. I’m setting myself up for a world of pain if I let myself continue down this route, falling for him even harder.

How do I stop?I fear it’s too late and I’m going to have to live with it until my feelings for him fade.

The rest of the afternoon passes in a swirl of laughter and more red-hot sex. I ride him in bed on the silk sheets and come all over his cock, and later he fucks me on the giant sofa. I’m slightly sore from the size of him and so much action in one afternoon, after months without sex.

Somehow, we get it together to make the last changes to the manuscript.

‘Job done,’ he says, after he sends it to his assistant. ‘How does it feel?’

‘Good,’ I reply.

‘Good, you won’t have to work with me anymore?’

He arches one dark eyebrow, and a familiar sardonic smile crosses his full lips. I can tell his armour is back on. It was so lovely to see him relax his defences, but as the ball approaches, I feel him distancing himself and my heart lurches and dips.

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