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I nod.
“Good.” He leans in, crashing his lips against mine.
Damon kisses me like he’s afraid to lose me, like I’m this delicate thing he wants to push limits with. He kisses me like he’s telling me goodbye, like he cares, like I’m the most delicious thing he’s ever tasted. Like he can’t fucking help himself, and it takes every ounce of his self-control to not have his lips on me at all times.
I feel it in my soul, in the deepest part of me. I feel the possessiveness with the way his hands grab my face, as if he wants to declare that I’m his and threaten away any competition.
“I’ll be outside.” He releases me and walks out.
He’s right. I’m soaked.
I debate cleaning up, but instead I put on my bra and my outfit, followed by the same coat I had on yesterday and black heels. My feet will hate me by the end of this trip.
When I step outside my hotel room, Damon’s on the phone, responding abruptly to whomever is on the other end. It’s not that he degrades people, nor does he portray entitlement. Mostly, he has zero patience and doesn’t fare well with incompetence.
But everybody makes mistakes.
He puts his arm out, gesturing for me to walk ahead of him while he figuratively bites the head off the caller.
As predicted, he keeps his distance from me all day long. He’s sharp and contained around Julia, and my brain can’t even comprehend how someone could be that good of an actor.
I try my best not to stare at him for too long when he talks. I try to keep my admiration for the man I’ve fallen for to a minimum. Because I know my eyes must be glowing with something more than lust and infatuation, and I don’t want to risk Julia seeing.
We head to our meeting downtown before attending the conference. There’s a massive fair with hundreds of kiosks all around, bringing forth ideas, projects, and inventions related to climate change.
I’m standing in front of a world map when a young guy approaches me and stands beside me. “Scary, isn’t it? Imagine what our world will be like one hundred years from now.”
This is what I love about science and our universe.
It makes every little problem in my life seem so bland in comparison.
“Yeah, sure. It is.”
He gives me a small smile. “Did you know ...”
I tune him out as the guy continues giving alarming facts that I’ve heard before. The initial shock factor has worn off. He might have more luck impressing someone who hasn’t studied environmental sciences.
“There you are.” Damon places his hand on my back, focusing on the guy next to me. “We’re heading out to dinner with clients before the speaker portion of the conference.”
I thank the guy for his interesting facts.
“Interesting facts?” Damon rolls his eyes as we walk toward a lesser crowd. “The idiot probably told you what you already know.”
I shrug and face him. “So. He doesn’t need to know that. I don’t—”
He takes another step, closing the gap between our bodies. If Julia’s eyes would land on us now, there’d be no stopping her assumptions.
“You shouldn’t have to dumb yourself down to appease a man’s ego, Red. You’re intelligent and educated. Own it.”
His comment heals my battered heart but also sparks the smallest light of fire.
“I don’t dumb myself down. It’s called not being an asshole—something you should try once in a while.”
We end up walking near the restroom area in a secluded corner.
“You ask for less than what you deserve.”
He has some nerve.
