AllFreeNovel
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“Damon—”
“Don’t.” He turns around in my arms and puts a hand on my face. “It’s alright. I’ve learned to budget these past few years. I just have to adjust what I do and how I spend. It’s alright.”
I don’t like it, but I nod. “Okay, baby.” I kiss his hand. “If money wasn’t an issue, what would you want to do?”
Damon’s eyes glaze over and he tilts his head. “I would go shopping. I … hate my clothes.”
“Then let’s go shopping.”
A smile brightens his face, then drops just as fast. “I can’t. The company is reimbursing me for groceries, but I’ll need to hang on to my money in case of an emergency.”
Framing his face between my hands, I gaze into his eyes, hoping to impress upon him I mean what I’m saying. “We can do whatever you want to do. For these two or three weeks, it’swhateveryou want to do. Let me take care of you for a little while. Let me show you what it’s like to have someone do everything for you. Let me pamper you, baby. I’ll show you the fucking world if you let me. Two weeks won’t be enough, but in that time, I can show you everything you want to see.”
Tears brim his eyes and a shaky smile crosses his lips. “No one has … wanted me. Anything with me … I don’t know how to say yes. It’s so much, Michael.”
“It’s not enough. Will you let me take care of you? Until we get back on that plane, can I take care of you?”
After a few moments of peering into my eyes, Damon nods and I feel my chest puff up.Yes. I can finally take care of him. Something I’ve wanted since the first time I saw him. I’ll make sure he doesn’t regret it.
Chapter 12
Michael
Weshowerinseparatebathrooms and get dressed. Damon called his point of contact for work to let her know he arrived, and they don’t require him to start work until the following afternoon. We have at least twelve hours of free time to do what we want.
I can tell by the look on Damon’s face that he really hates what he’s wearing. He looks good to me—he always looks good to me—but I want him happy when he looks in the mirror.
I called a rideshare after my shower and it should be downstairs waiting for us by now.
When we’re settled in the backseat, I ask Damon, “What do you hate about your clothes?”
“They’re not me,” he says in a quiet voice.
“Then why buy them?”
Sighing, he leans closer to my ear and I bend so he can whisper to me. The driver has the music up, but I don’t want him to feel embarrassed. “When I was seventeen, I bought a pair of leggings. They were really cute. Black, but they had these emojis on them. I saw them and fell in love. I put them on, not thinking anyone was home and walked into the kitchen. My family was home and they … weren’t nice about it. So, I stopped trying to wear things I really wanted. I dressed like this to stay invisible.”
Abel mentioned once that Damon’s family weren’t the best, but he didn’t elaborate. I wonder what they’re like. They can’t be good if they make Damon want to change himself in such a drastic way.
“What’s the deal with your family?” I inquire, wanting to know everything, but willing to wait until he’s ready to tell me.
“Later, please.”
I agree … for now.
We arrive at the mall a few minutes later and I help Damon out of the car. “After you,” I say, waving my hand dramatically so he can walk ahead of me. He smiles at me—a smile that makes my knees weak—and we walk inside.
Even though it’s the middle of the workday, it’s busy. People move to and fro, talking, laughing, and browsing around. Damon’s small hand threads through mine and I try to stop my heart from stuttering at him taking the initiative again. Damon might be shy by nature—from what I’ve seen and what Abel told me—but he’s definitely taking the lead with me and I think it’s hot as fuck. If I’m the one that can get him out of his shell, I can die a happy man.
Behind his glasses, I see Damon’s eyes widen as he looks around. We take slow steps inside, passing by the food court to get to the mall proper. “I don’t know what to buy.”
I give his hand a squeeze. “Whatever you want.” He looks up at me quickly and starts shaking his head. Putting a hand on his chin, I stop the refusal in its tracks. “You said I can take care of you. This is just the start. Whatever. You. Want.”
He pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, glancing around at all the stores. I try to keep the smile off my face when I see his eyes land on a store window with leggings on display. They have different colors and some have designs on them. When he looks back at me, I incline my head to the store and he grins, pulling me over so we can go inside and check out the display.
Once inside, Damon picks up a few pairs of leggings after he finds his size and holds them against his body. His grin stays in place as he looks at all the options. He only picks out three and I want to push him to buy them all, but I want him to do what he wants.
Just as Damon is putting a pair back to check out another, a store employee walks over. “Can I help you?” she asks, smiling at Damon.
