CHAPTER 11 TEMPTATION ON THE ROAD.

The toy

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“I can walk—put me down!” I yelled, banging my clenched fist against his back. As we arrived at the reception, my screams drew attention. Instantly, I covered my face with my palms to avoid any further embarrassment. I didn’t need pictures of me being carried like a sack of rice flooding the internet. After all, no face, no case.

Damon slipped me into his black sports Ferrari before entering the driver’s seat.

Starting his car, he advised, “You should always fasten your seatbelt,” as he leaned over and did it for me. There he goes, acting like he actually cares.

“Where is Jessie?” I asked, scanning the outside through the car’s tinted glass.

“Behind us, with Zach.”

Staring back, I saw Zach’s red sports Ferrari behind. “We are leaving Jessie alone with that womanizer friend of yours.”

“What, are you scared he would steal her heart?”

That was the least of my worries. I just didn’t want to be left alone in the same space with Damon. Although Zach is a very charming guy with his dirty blonde hair, green eyes, and sweet talk, there is still no way Jessie would fall for him. Jessie has a talent for seeing through people's facade.

Damon’s face contorted into a frown as he read a message on his phone. I wanted to ask him what was wrong, but it was time I knew my place in his life and acted accordingly.

“So I’ll walk into the hotel wearing a nightgown; I could have changed into something,” I said, regretting it when I know he always gets what he wants.

“Blame your stubbornness for that.” He turned his steering wheel. “You can wear my long coat.”

There was something about the way he handled the steering wheel that caused an intense heat in me—his long fingers , the veins on his arms, standing out in a way that was impossible to ignore—in a good way. I shook those forbidden thoughts from my head, knowing they would be the death of me.

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As we strolled into the other hotel, I couldn’t help but attract attention. After all, who walks into one of the most expensive hotels dressed in a nightgown under a massive coat—its long sleeves engulfing my hands? It felt better to know I wasn’t alone. Jessie, with her fluffy panda slippers and black pajamas, was right there with me.

We stepped into the elevator and, in no time, reached the penthouse.

Exhausted, I collapsed onto the white sofa next to Jessie, who was wearing a frown. I glanced at Damon and Zach, engaged in a low conversation. Suddenly, Damon’s laughter filled the room, his deep, melodious voice resonating as his light amber eyes sparkled. A soft smile crept across my face.

“Girl, you are gone,” Jessie said, a smile tugging at her lips.

I couldn’t help but smile back.

When Damon’s eyes met mine, he gave a partial smile. My cheeks flushed red, and I snuggled deeper into the couch.

Did he notice me admiring him?

“I never knew he had that kind of effect on you,” Jessie remarked. “Hating him is going to be tough.”

I just didn’t see how I could bring myself to hate him, not when his smile gave my heart a glimpse of what love might be.

“What are you thinking about?” Damon’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “Is it me?”

“Get over yourself,” Jessie said, rolling her eyes.

Damon’s smile faded as he turned to Jessie. Clearing his throat, he said, “There are two rooms. My Binky and I will take the one on the left.”

“And where am I supposed to stay? With Zach?” Jessie protested. “There is no way I’m sharing with Zach.”

Damon pondered for a moment before replying, “Zach can sleep on the couch.”

“Why am I the one being sacrificed?” Zach’s voice startled Jessie and me as it came from behind.

“Jessie and I should stay in one room. You and Zach can share the other,” I suggested.

“I thought about that. But I want you to stay in the same room with me. That’s why I picked a penthouse with two rooms. I didn’t plan on bringing Jessie along,” Damon explained, smacking his forehead.

Of course he would do that, so I wouldn’t have any choice but to share the same room with him.

“So Jessie should sleep on the couch,” Zach remarked. “She’s the uninvited guest.” He added, leaping over the sofa and settling next to Jessie. “Just kidding,” he grinned as Jessie shot him a glare.

Damon finally broke the silence. “Let’s just upgrade to a penthouse with more rooms.”

“There’s no need for that,” I interjected, dreading the thought of moving again. “Jessie and I will take one room, you and Zach the other.”

Damon stared down at me, his determination clear, intent on changing the location.

“I also love the interiors,” I added.

A soft expression crossed his face. He sighed. “Fine, we’ll do it your way.”

My eyes lit up, and a broad smile spread across my face. Did he just let me win? I jumped up, my face inches from his. “Thank you.”

Damon averted his gaze and scratched the back of his head. “Yeah, you're welcome,” he stuttered.

I chuckled at his expression—the great and mighty Damon Wesley, acting all shy.

Zach helped Jessie and me move our luggage into the room.

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I stared at the bright lights as they glorified the city, driving out the darkness that cloaked the dark sky. I took another sip from my glass of juice. I had spent the rest of my afternoon chatting with Jessie and sleeping. There's nothing much to do here.

“What are you doing? Damon's husky voice interrupted my thoughts.

My gaze traced his frame from his sassy waist to his broad chest, peeking through his partially unbuttoned shirt. Sleep is still evident on that beautiful face of his.

As he approached me, I asked, How was your sleep? " It seems like you enjoyed it.” I teased.

Damon, who had dozed off for most of the afternoon, chuckled.

"You have no idea." He swiped my glass and took a sip before returning it. "Where's Zach?"

"He and Jessie went out to pick up some games," I replied.

“So we are all alone,” Damon said, inching closer until I could feel his warm breath against my skin.

I tilted my face, welcoming the warmth of his touch as his fingers grazed my cheeks, and then traced down to my parted lips.

"Damon," I whispered, his name sounding sultry as a rush of warmth grew within my heart and between my legs.

"Why do you enjoy causing me pain?" I whispered, thoughts drifting to his engagement to Lucy.

"Shhhh," he murmured, his fingers lightly touching my lips. "I’ll fix everything . I promise."

His gaze still locked onto mine, and his other hand trailed up my thighs, sending sparks—electric currents—from the point of his touch to my heart, causing it to race, forgetting every pain it had been through.

We leaned in, his nose brushing against mine, his breath tingled the skin on my face, our lips mere inches away. When the voices of Jessie and Zach filled the suite, Reluctantly, we pulled away from each other.

I downed the rest of my juice, trying to quench the fervor that pulsed through this needy body of mine.

"Look what we've got here!" Jessie exclaimed, nodding towards Zach, who was holding up a Scrabble game.

"Yay," I replied nervously, edging past Damon.

As we settled around the table, Zach placed the Scrabble board down, and Jessie arranged snacks.

"We all know how Scrabble works."

Zach began, "But let's spice things up."

I glanced at Zach, puzzled by his suggestion.

"Relax, Binky," Zach teased.

I turned to Damon, waiting for a reaction to Zach calling me Binky. But Damon was all too focused on me, his eyes seductively eating me up.

Jessie's gaze jumped back between me and Damon before a wry smile formed on her face. She was already suspecting something had happened between me and Damon.

"We'll split into two teams: Aria and you—Team A; Jessie and I—Team B," Zach explained, earning an eye roll from Jessie. "The winning team scores for their side. The losing team pays ten thousand dollars."

"That's too much." Jessie objected.

"And isn't that gambling?" she added.

“Maybe, maybe not.” He shrugged. “And as for the money, let the men handle it.” He shot a quick smile at Damon.

Hearing the money wasn’t coming out of her pocket, Jessie's expression softened. “Let the game begin.” She yelped.

Minutes into the game, Zach and I were useless. Damon and Jessie were carrying the teams, with our team at six and theirs at four.

My phone chimed with a message from Logan, "Missing you."

My stomach twisted as I quickly turned off the screen. Almost thoughtfully, my eyes darted towards him—to see if he had noticed.

Sure enough, his eyes were fixed on my phone.