AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
Damon
Kate’s body goes unnaturally still beneath my palms before she spins and punches me square in the chest three times.
I grunt as she cries, “Damon! You scared me to death.”
“Christ, you’re like a mini Bruce Lee,” I rasp, pressing the heel of my hand over the first jab.
She fusses her way beneath my palm to rub the area herself, and I worry that she’ll discover just how fast my heart races for her.
“I don’t know who that is, but if he kicks ass, I’ll take the compliment.”
My God, how beautiful she is.
With a body equal parts soft and strong, the dark purple sky and black sea make for a wicked background for her cape style dress.
“I’m going to ignore that reminder of your youth and ask what’s gotten you so jumpy instead.”
“Oh, nothing.” A few strands of her dark hair have fallen loose, making her nose twitch. “I was just talking with my friend Coraline.”
What other friends does she have, and what do they do for fun? The thoughts are innocent enough, but none the less invasive. I shouldn’t wonder these things about her, but I’m an eager student, waiting as she schools me in all things Kate.
“Is she one of your Georgia friends?”
“Mm-hmm.” Kate gently pulls her hand out from under mine. “We’re flight attendants for Futuro Airlines.”
“Wow. I bet you’ve seen all kinds of amazing places.”
Her slender fingers slide up one side of her neck as she shifts her gaze timidly. I lock on the exposed skin of her neck, imagining it’s just as soft as her thighs.
I’m thankful when she looks out at the ocean, giving me a chance to greedily trace the curve of her shoulders, hips, and thighs.
“Not exactly. I haven’t been there for long, but it was the first job I was allowed to have, and it has its perks.” She tips a smile, speaking of her friend thoughtfully. “Coraline is one of them.”
“Your parents don’t want you to have a job?”
I can’t fathom keeping a child from the fundamentals of working in the real world.
She wrinkles her nose in distaste. “They want me to go to med school and eventually join Henry’s plastic surgery practice. So I made a bargain.”
The corner of my mouth quirks. “Smart girl.”
“I don’t know. More and more I’m starting to consider a different path. But I’m the oldest between Dylan and I, which means Mom and Henry put a lot of pressure on me to be successful.”
“Your parents sound like real pieces of work.”
My hand reaches for hers, guiding her close.
“Understatement of the year,” she says.
We’re not supposed to be touching.
We’re not supposed to bewanting.
But right now, all I want is to erase the torment tugging her mouth into a frown. I want to fix her troubled mind so badly. I’d rearrange the stars above us if it’d make the slightest difference.
“Success isn’t determined by status or title,” I say. “It’s determined by hard work, dedication, and pride in everything you do.”
