AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He runs his nose along mine, nearly brushing our lips. “I can’t just donate a bunch of money?”
My head feels dizzy with just how tempting this man is. “I’ll let you do anything you want to me tonight if we go now.”
“Anything?” His voice is a dark, low rumble, promises written in just the one word.
Heat flares between my thighs, and my breaths grow shallow. I’m making a deal with the devil, and I don’t want to stop. I push at his chest. “Yes, but we leave now.”
He groans his approval and lifts me from the ground, one hand at my back and the other beneath my knees.
“Wait! My shoes.” He moves closer to the island as he walks out, slowing down just enough for me to grab my shoes and purse, causing a laugh to bubble up from my chest.
It’s a twenty-minute ride to the venue, and by the time we’re pulling up, every nerve in my body is bouncing with anxiety. This is my first solo project, one where I coordinated all of the different trades to make it come to life. Of course, I depended heavily on the caterer, event planner, and decorator, but in the end, I’m the one responsible for it all. I don’t realize I’m picking at my nails until Damon covers my hand with his own.
“It’s going to be perfect.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because you did it,” he says plainly, like there’s no other option.
“What if it doesn’t though? Then everyone will know it was me.” I look down at the second button on his shirt. “It could look bad on you.”
“Look at me.” I tentatively raise my head. “I do not give a single fuck about what anyone else thinks. The people that matter. Our family. Your friends. They know how hard you worked. The ceiling could fall down, and they’ll still be impressed.”
The final link chaining me to my past shatters with his words. For my entire childhood, I’d been taught that I always had to be perfect, that I’d be rejected if I showed an ounce of my true self. Here’s this man who not only accepts my shortcomings but seems to like me even more because of them.
The car slows to a stop.
“Do you have the black card?” Damon asks, and I hold up my purse. He kisses the corner of my mouth, where a frown starts to form. “You are adorable when you’re jealous. Win that date for me and I’ll take you anywhere you want.”
I roll my eyes. “What if it’s like a million dollars?”
He lifts a brow at me. “That’s it? That’s all you think I’m worth.”
I bite the corner of my lip. “I can spend anything?”
“Anything you want, Misty. I can assure you, we can afford it.” He gets out of the car and walks around to my side before I can process the we in that statement.
The castle-like venue was a perfect choice, with its soaring architecture and intricate stone details, all bathed in the dreamy glow of the fairy lights. It is the Midsummer Night’s Dream theme come to life, a fairy-tale setting that transports us to a realm of magic and enchantment.
I take a deep breath. The air is filled with the scent of fresh flowers, a mix of blooming roses and jasmine, enhancing the fairy-like atmosphere of the venue.
Damon leans in, placing a barely there kiss to my temple. “I told you, it’s perfect.”
I let him guide me through the large oak double doors and into the ballroom, and my breath catches. I’d been in this venue countless times now, but nothing prepared me for seeing it all come together. Round tables adorned in gold tablecloths are placed so they can all see the large stage at the front. Moss and flowers line the grand pillars, leading your eye up.Fabric panels hang from the ceiling, mixed with twinkle lights, making it look like the night sky.
The event sold out months ago, no doubt in part to Damon encouraging his buddies to participate. Now that I understand more of his world, I’ve realized it was probably less encouraged and more demanded. At eight thousand dollars a table, I really don’t care if Damon held them at gunpoint. I’m ecstatic we’ve raised so much money before the auction has even started.
Damon wraps his arm around my waist and points out a few people in the crowd. “Over there, that’s Nikolai Volkov and his two sisters. He recently became a Saint.”
One of the women is wearing a flaming red dress, almost in spite of everyone else. I instantly like her.
“Anthony Ricci and his father are over there.” Damon gestures with his chin, and I grow still. I know Damon said that all was fine between their families, but the entire thing felt too easy.
My gaze roams over what are now becoming familiar faces and lands on Scarlet Laurent. She’s with the same man as when we saw them at the restaurant, but this time, his brows are pulled low over his eyes, and it’s almost as if he’s towering down on her.
“Damon.” I tug on his sleeve to point them out, but they’ve disappeared before he can see.
“Fuck, I like it when you call me that.” His breath on my neck has me warming from within.
