Page 31

Damian’s gaze moves over me, and this time I don’t mistake it for judgment.

There is nothing critical in those strange eyes.

Nothing disapproving.

He looks⁠—

Hungry.

My pulse skips.

“You look damn fine to me.”

Heat creeps into my cheeks.

“Damian—”

“I mean it.”

Something in his voice stops me.

No teasing.

No arrogance.

No billionaire neighbor trying to bully me out of my house.

Just a man looking at me like he can’t understand how I don’t see what he sees.

His eyes drift to my mouth before returning to mine.

“You walk into a room, and I notice.”

My heart gives one hard thump.

He seems almost annoyed by the admission.

“Actually, I notice too fucking much.”

A laugh slips out before I can stop it.

His lips curve.

Damian Leeds actually smiles.

And damn him, it transforms his entire face.

The grumpy Devil disappears for one dangerous second, leaving behind a devastatingly handsome man I suddenly want to know far more about.

Then his smile fades just a little.

“Whoever taught you to make yourself smaller because it made them more comfortable was wrong.”

Oh.

That one lands somewhere tender.

I look away before he can see how much.