Bane of My Existence

Chapter 13

The limousine pulled up in front of Kinsey's building. Damon dialed her number.

She answered immediately, which sated a part of his wolf he didn't realise needed sating until he met Kinsey. A part that yearned for companionship. A part that melted when he called on his female and she answered with her sweet, soft voice.

"Hello?"

"I'm here. Buzz me in. I'll come get you." It had been too long since he had last seen her, felt her skin against his, gotten lost in those alluring amber eyes. He had craved for her like no other woman for the past three days. The sooner he was with her, the better. 

"Oh. Um. You don't have to do that. I'll be down in a minute." She hung up.

The nervous twinge in her voice set off all kinds of alarm bells in his mind. Her pitch went just a smidge higher whenever he mentioned her place--and the things he'd like to do to her in it.

She doesn't feel safe being alone with you, his wolf tried to reason.

Damon knew that wasn't the reason. She had been perfectly comfortable with him in the forest. She was hiding something from him, and he prayed to God it had nothing to do with the Corporation. Or he was thoroughly fucked.

After her confession in the woods, about him being the best thing that had happened to her in a long time, something inside of him shifted. It had been his undoing. This woman had completely twisted his objective and threw it back in his face. Instead of manipulating her to get information on Bane, he found himself frequently thinking he would do anything just to see her smile, to hear her laugh.

For this reason, he had been avoiding Kalem and his brothers. They would know something was up the moment they saw him and try to talk him out of it. As he expected from any loyal pack mate.

It was wrong, this feeling, and he needed them to slap him out of it. But, at the same time, he wanted to hold on to it a little longer.

He caught movement in the corner of his eye. Kinsey was in the lobby. He stepped out of the car and met her halfway.

The sight set before him took his breath away. Literally. He had never been rendered speechless before, but tonight this woman had stopped him in his tracks.

Half of her hair was pinned up while the rest was left to hang in large rivulets around her shoulders. Her makeup was subtle but accentuated the glow in her amber eyes, the curve of her cheekbones, the fullness of her lips. That dress. . . he had been prepared to scorn her for not spending enough on herself after looking at his credit card statement, but seeing her like this, in a dress that both kept her modestly covered yet provocatively displayed her lovely curves and delicate physique. He couldn't be mad at her. He couldn't have bought her a better dress even if he had hired a designer to make one for her. 

"Damon?"

Apparently, she had been trying to get his attention.

She folded her arms over her chest self-consciously. A criminal act, if you asked him. "If it's not appropriate, I can change into something else."

"No," he finally found his voice, though it was gruff. His wolf liked the dress as much as he did and it was difficult to keep him under control. "Don't you dare change. You're perfect."

A shy smile flitted across her face. "Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life." He held his hand out to her.

She stepped forward to take his hand--and tripped on the pavement. He caught her, wrapping his arm securely around her waist and pulling her to his chest.