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“Of all the…” He rolled off her, stood, and silently stalked to the bathroom and slammed the door.
Suzanne knew she should feel embarrassed, but she felt nothing more than relief that such a fine specimen as Damian hadn’t been mesmerized by Isabella’s blond beauty. Her breath came in ragged puffs as she squirmed on the mattress and made sure she was still fully clothed.
“Suzie,” Isabella said from the doorway, “I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”
“You could have walked away, you know.”
Isabella nodded. “I considered it, but this isn’t like you.”
“I know.” Suzanne took a large gulp of air and let it out slowly. “I should have shut the door. I should have…well, I should have been thinking more clearly. I can’t believe I was about to…you know.”
Isabella walked toward the bed and glanced around the room. “I didn’t realize you had met someone.”
“I didn’t. I mean, I did. That is, he’s Damian. Dougal’s son. The one who rescued me the other night.”
Isabella’s lips curved upward. “I know you’re grateful for his help, but my Goddess, Suze.”
“It’s not like that.” Suzanne shook her head. “You know me, Bell. I don’t fall into bed with men I just met.”
“Then why did you?”
Suzanne jerked at the whooshing sound coming from her bathroom. Another cold shower, no doubt. “I can’t talk about this now. He’ll come back out in a minute and—”
Isabella grabbed her hand. “You’re coming with me, hon. We’re going into my room, and you’ll spill the details.” She smiled, mischievous. “Every last one.”
Suzanne sighed. How could she spill any details when she didn’t understand this thing herself? Still, she rose from the bed and let Isabella lead her down the hall. She didn’t want to be in her room when Damian came out of the shower.
She plunked down on Isabella’s bed face first. “I don’t know what’s happening,” she said into the comforter.
“I can’t understand you when you talk into the mattress.” Isabella gently pushed her onto her back.
Suzanne’s eyes were scrunched shut, her fists clenched.
“Now talk.”
“I’m attracted to him.”
Isabella snorted. “Of course you are. Who wouldn’t be? What little I saw was amazing.” She took one of Suzanne’s hands and massaged it lightly, helping her to relax. “But that’s no excuse for nearly sleeping with a stranger.”
“That’s just it. He doesn’t feel like a stranger.”
“What on earth do you mean?”
“I don’t know.” Suzanne buried her head in the covers once more.
Isabella pulled her head around. “Hiding doesn’t make it go away.”
“I know.”
“Did he force you?”
Suzanne gulped and tried to steady her breathing. Damian had been persistent, but no, he hadn’t forced her. In fact, she somehow knew he never would. She shook her head, saying nothing.
“Then what exactly happened?”
Suzanne squeezed her eyes shut. If she didn’t have to look at her cousin, maybe she could talk about this. Her skin warmed as she opened her mouth.
“After he rescued me, he brought me back here. He refused to leave me. He said he wanted me. I said no. He said he wasn’t leaving, but that he wouldn’t force me. We slept together, in my bed.”
Isabella’s eyes widened.
“No, I mean we slept together. Snoozed. That’s all.” She squeezed her eyes harder and the pressure crushed against her pupils. “Naked.”
She felt as well as heard Isabella’s gasp. “So you haven’t—”
“No. Not yet.”
“When I came to get you this morning?”
“Yes. He was there.”
Isabella caressed Suzanne’s forearm gently. “You shouldn’t feel bad about this,” she said. “You’ve been through a traumatic experience. It makes perfect sense that you would reach out to someone. Sex is the perfect validation of life, and you were nearly killed.”
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Isabella didn’t understand. Something else hung in the air, but Suzanne couldn’t explain it because she didn’t know what it was herself. Better to let Isabella think she had nailed it.
“You’re right,” she said.
“It’s a good thing I interrupted you. You might have made a terrible mistake.”
Boy, it hadn’t seemed like a mistake, but Isabella was no doubt right. Sleeping with Damian so soon after her break up with Wade couldn’t lead to anything good.
She nodded. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. That’s what cousins are for.” She leaned down and gave Suzanne a quick hug. “There’s no harm in getting to know him better, though. You’ll be here for several more weeks. Who knows? Maybe the two of you will hook up.”
Suzanne shook her head. “No. You’re right. It’s too soon after Wade.” Then, “Oh shit.”
“What?”
“I agreed to go on a date with him tonight.”
13
She was gone.
Damian walked around the room in a towel, dripping from his cold shower. Gone. Not a huge surprise.
He toweled his hair, pulled on a clean pair of jeans and a T-shirt, and went to the basement to find Dougal. His father sat at the computer, as usual.
“Anything new?” Damian asked.
Dougal shook his head, his face stern. “Sorry, lad.”
