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“You and me and therelationshipwe’re having,” I say. “He’s threatening to tell everyone in town about it.”
The enormity of what Luke might go and do dawns on me. If he does follow through on his threat, then I am totally freaking screwed. And so is my dad. Crystal River is the only place Dad has ever known, and to be completely cast out from that would drive him even more into depression.
A dark growl emerges from deep within Damon when I tell him of Luke’s intimidation. “I’ll deal with that boy...”
No, no, no.
I rush over to the bed and sit down next to the man.
“Don’t,” I plead. “Please don’t hurt him.”
“Did he hurt you?” he asks.
Damon’s eyes are burning into mine. He’s only concerned about me.
“No, he didn’t.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, Damon,” I reply. “He didn’t even touch me.”
Damon is silent for another moment. “Good,” he says. “I’m glad he didn’t lay a hand on you. I’ll still need to deal with him, though. No one talks to you like that, especially not when you’re under my promised protection.No one.”
“Please don’t.”
“I have no choice,” Damon replies. “He’s threatened you, and by extension, he’s threatenedme. I won’t let that go unpunished.”
He really thinks that. He really thinks he has no choice but to hurt and commit violence...
It’s scary.
It hits me that this guy is operating on a whole other level than I am. A genuinelymenacingman.
I touch his arm. “You’ve always got a choice.”
“I really don’t, Ava.”
“How about, this time, you don’t hurt him?” I ask. “How about this time you don’t do a damn thing?”
He regards me with those dark eyes of his.
“You don’t want revenge?” he asks. His tone... it’s like he’s bewildered by my nature.
I nod. “I don’t want you to do anything to Luke.”
“You are so strange,” he whispers.
“Damon,” I reply. “You have a choice here. Youalwayshave a choice. I’m asking you not to do anything. No violence.”
Damon takes in a long breath. “Sure,” he says quietly. “I respect your decision. This time I won’t touch him.”
“You won’t?”
Damon slowly shakes his head. “No. If that’s what you truly want...”
And then I’m kissing him. I don’t know why I make the lunge to his face, but I’m happy I do. It feels very right to be kissing him right now. His protectiveness... his forbidden possessiveness... his sheermenace...
The way he is listening to me.
