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“Yes, much better. Thank you again for the room.” I looked back over at him and couldn't help the smile that snuck out. “And of course, for the champagne… that was more than generous.” I was trying to avoid the enormous elephant in the room, which was thanking him for halting me mid panic attack by ripping my wedding dress off me.
Damian gave me a subtle smirk and eyed me over the rim of his glass. “It was my pleasure.” Damian waved the bartender over.
“What would you like?” Damian asked.
“Oh, I’m fine, thank you. I don’t think I should have anything after how much I drank last night.”
“You know what they say.”
“What?”
“Helps to have a little of the dog that bit you.”
“What?” I asked, trying to process what he said. It was so distracting being in his presence.
“It means if you’re hungover, you have a little more to drink to ease the hangover.”
“Oh right, I knew that.” I laughed nervously. I did know that, but sitting next to him, with his eyes drilling through me, made it impossible to think straight.
“What’ll it be then, Addison?”
The sound of my name in his mouth sent a shiver up my spine, and I found myself admiring his broad shoulders, and his dark hair with the flecks of silver in it, feeling momentarily distracted once again.
“Hmmm?” Damian inquired again, raising his eyebrows, clearly aware that I was checking him out.
I looked away before responding to the bartender, “I guess I’ll have a bloody mary.”
“That’s a good breakfast choice.”
“Thank you.” I said as I fiddled with the strings on my hoodie. “I’m sorry I’m so underdressed.” I apologized. “I didn't know you were having your driver bring me in, and that you’d be in this incredibly fancy lounge.”
Damian reached out towards me, causing my heart to nearly stop. He grabbed my sweatshirt strings and tugged on them playfully. “I think you look gorgeous, besides all these people are way too uppity, anyway. I’m enjoying their appalled looks. It’s quite entertaining.”
I looked at him, realizing he was flirting with me, and blushed again. His comment broke the tension, and we both laughed. I started to feel ever so slightly less intimidated. While he seemed tense on the phone, he was perfectly warm to me, even if I was intimidated by him for a completely different reason.
The bartender set my drink down, and my mouth dropped open.
“Are you kidding me?” I said, eyeing the multitude of seafood skewers that were sticking out of my drink, including a giant king crab claw. I took the straw between my lips for a sip and suddenly became aware of Damian’s gaze on my mouth. I quickly averted my eyes.
“Ok, this might actually be the best bloody mary I’ve ever had… and that’s saying something.” I smacked my lips, the perfect amount of zing and heat mingling across my tongue.
“Wow, best you’ve ever had, that’s quite that compliment. I’m glad you’re impressed. Otherwise, I’d have to send it back. Nothing but the best for my guest.”
I smiled, knowing he was serious. I pointed to the king crab leg and the shrimp skewers interlaced with an assortment of pickled items. “You know what’s so great about bloody marys?”
“What’s that?”
“Snacks.” I grinned. “You get an entire appetizer with your drink, every time.”
His lips twitched in amusement as he watched me unskewer a shrimp, and I continued.
“I mean, even if this was the worst bloody mary I’d ever had… it kind of wouldn't matter, because there’s at least fifty buck’s worth of seafood in here. So that’s something.” I leaned forward and licked some of the spicy seasoning off the rim of the glass. “Mmmm Tajin I think, see it’s all in the details.”
When I looked up, Damian’s eyes were already on me, and there was a dark glimmer in them.
“What?” I asked, blushing. The way he was looking at me felt like he was ready to take a bite of me.
He reached over and ran his thumb over my lower lip, and I softly gasped, startled at his touch. It felt like fire burning through my skin.
