Page 17 of Damon

I placed the photo back on its shelf near the TV and whirled around to face him. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Damon affected an innocent expression. “Nothing. I just meant that you must like it here. Small. Cozy. Safe.”

It sure didn’t feel safe right now. Knowing that he was messing with me to get a reaction, I tried to clamp down the rise of my temper. I stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, my arms folded over my chest. Somehow, I had to get him out of here.

“Roomba vacuumed yesterday.” I nodded toward the device parked on its base in the corner. “Don’t be such a dick. He works hard.”

Damon raised a brow. “He? Your Roomba is male?”

“Damn right. I’ve always wanted a manservant. He’s probably the closest I’ll ever get.” A twinge of heat started in the pit of my stomach in response to Damon’s laughter. The mischievous glint in his eyes didn’t help. There was something about him that enticed me. Something the typical every day college guys I usually hung out with didn’t have.

“Fair enough. Why don’t you come sit with me for a bit? We can go over the terms of our agreement since you seem to have already forgotten them.” He patted the couch next to him.

Ignoring the tingle in the pit of my stomach, I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “I don’t think so. I think you’ve taken this as far as it needs to go. Can we both agree on that?”

Damon’s smile vanished, his face suddenly cold and hard. “Absolutely not. You think this is over? I’ve barely begun.”

The way he looked me over, his gaze travelling over me from head to toe, left me feeling cold where the heat had been. Instinct told me to fear this man with every piece of me. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he was so easily able to get inside my head.

I swallowed hard, thinking about Storm’s offer to have Rebel step in and get Damon off my back. With the way he looked at me right now, that offer had become a lot more tempting. My stubborn side wouldn’t allow it. Damon was my problem, and I would deal with him. Somehow.

“You’re pathetic,” I said in a dismissive tone. “Do you really have nothing better to do than harass me?”

Damon shot off the couch so fast he was a blur. Grabbing me by both arms, he backed me up against the wall next to the TV. My adrenaline surged, my mouth going dry. Yet I couldn’t deny the rush of excitement that hit me right between the thighs.

He pressed close, trapping me with his body. Fogging me with that dangerous, masculine aroma. Something animalistic flashed in his golden brown eyes. Something undeniably hazardous.

“Do you have any idea what I could have done to you that night in the woods?” he snarled, his breath warm on my face. “Do you realize how lucky you are to be standing here right now?”

There was no right response to those questions. Instead of throwing together a half-baked answer, I kept my mouth shut. I was quickly learning that Damon was like a snake. Calm and unbothered when unprovoked but able to strike any second.

“As much as I’m enjoying your sassy mouth, you may want to tread carefully with me. I’m not a man you want to push past the point of no return.” Damon twisted a lock of my hair around a finger, giving it a tug. He leaned in close, his lips almost brushing against mine. “Do you enjoy danger, Athena? Are you hungry for more than these boring college boys have been giving you?”

The heat of his body pressed against mine had me paralyzed. Unable to move or speak. My racing heart pounded in my ears. How could I possibly react so strongly to someone I detested so much?

When it became apparent that I had to say something, I managed a strangled, “What will it take to make you leave?”

I didn’t mean for it to come out. There was nothing else floating around in my brain. All I knew was that I desperately needed him to leave before I gave in to these twisted urges forming within me.

The corner of Damon’s mouth lifted in a slight smirk. “What are you offering?”

I felt myself pale. I knew better than to ask if he was kidding. Of course he wasn’t.

When I simply stood there staring blankly at him, he chuckled, “Don’t worry, Athena. I know you’re not ready for that yet. Soon though.”

His lips were on mine then, his tongue delving into my mouth. A violent, ravenous kiss that had my head spinning. My body quaking. I found myself kissing him back, needing to match his heady fervor. To be anything other than a passive bystander.

The promise of violence lived in Damon’s kiss. In the way he dominated. How his hand slowly slid around my throat. I found myself wondering how far he would go if I pushed him. Curious to discover the monster that dwelled inside him. To coax it from his human shell.

He pulled away, suddenly leaving me wanting more. Without a glance back, he headed for the door, tossing my keys on the front entry table before leaving without a word.

The door closed behind him. I gawked at it in wonder. What the hell was that?

Springing into action, I rushed over to the window, looking down on the front street below. As Damon exited the building, Noah drove up in his Escalade. I watched as the two of them disappeared down the street.

I had no idea how I was supposed to handle Damon going forward. I suspected I was in for a world of trouble.

CHAPTER TEN