He shrugged and averted his gaze. “Nothing. I just liked the design.”
Haley parted her lips to say something, then thought better of it. Damon turned on the water, his back to her, and she understood. If the tattoo had meant something, anyone who saw it would know more about him. He kept his secrets close.
She guessed he had some big ones.
Still rivers ran deep, after all.
She wondered why he’d left the military. It seemed like he would have been a natural for a commando team.
He stepped into the shower, inviting her to join him with an outstretched hand. “Come here, seductress.”
Haley didn’t need a second invitation. She backed him into the tiled wall and kissed him, loving the feel of his hands roving over her. His comments made her feel wild and she was determined to give him all she had. She worked the soap into a lather and they began to caress each other all over again, coaxing desire to build while they cleaned up.
It was perfect.
It was wonderful.
And it wasn’t long until she did bite his shoulder, gripping him so tightly that her nails dug into his skin. Her orgasm lasted for half of forever. She’d barely started when he joined her, crushing her against the wall as they both found their release, the warm water streaming over them.
They leaned there together, entwined and panting, then he kissed her nipple.
“My friend Kyle would say it was good clean fun,” Damon murmured against her skin and Haley laughed.
She didn’t want this night to ever end.
Damon didn’t sleep. He didn’t dare.
They’d pulled out the bed, and Haley had made it up after their bout of lovemaking in the shower. They’d done it for the third time slowly and in the bed. It was as if Haley had been chaste and was making up for lost time. Her passion was amazing and it fed Damon’s own. He held her as she dozed off afterward, watching the light change in her apartment. It crept around the edges of the window shade just as the sound of traffic from the street below began to increase.
He was amazed to find that he was tired but also at ease. He smiled at the realization that this was how he felt after a good massage.
He felt restored.
And a little less besieged by reality.
Morning would come soon enough. For the moment, he’d enjoy the reprieve. Would they do this again? Maybe not. It had been pretty amazing and he doubted a second night could be better.
Maybe it was wiser to appreciate what they’d had and move on.
That was his usual style anyway.
Haley curled against his side, her hair braided back in a ponytail, her sensible nightgown hiding her seductive curves from view. She was halfway between the nurse he’d caught watching at the hospital and the tigress who had demanded more from him over and over again.
And she thought she didn’t know how to share her energy. Damon smiled. He could tell that she did it all the time, giving of herself and expecting little in return beyond the satisfaction of having helped someone somewhere. She’d healed him a little with her strength, following her instincts to give. He smiled as he pushed a stray curl back from her brow, then pressed a chaste kiss to the spot.
He felt protective of her, because she was innocent in a way. She’d seen a lot, but didn’t know so much about herself. She hadn’t begun to guess what she could accomplish, and he wanted to watch her make that discovery.
He wanted to help.
But Damon knew his limits. He had wounds that were deep, too deep to expect any one person to heal them. He savored the unfamiliar urge to linger, to be here when she awakened, to entwine his life with hers, but as seductive as the possibility was, he knew better.
He would suck Haley dry of her giving nature. He would destroy her and it would be for nothing, because he would still be wounded himself. The last thing she deserved was a taste of his hell. That would be unfair and it would be wrong.
It would be wicked.
Which was probably why it was so tempting.
In fact, she’d already given him far more than he deserved. He was going to remember this night for a very long time.
Haley stirred in her sleep, murmuring something. Damon frowned and leaned closer to listen when she spoke again.
“Garrett,” she said, then sighed and smiled.
Damon’s heart clenched at the sweetness of that smile. Who was Garrett? Judging from Haley’s expression, he was the guy she loved. What had happened to him? Damon watched her and wondered.
He had no doubt that she was dreaming of Garrett and that it was a good dream.
Had she been making love to Garrett instead of him? Damon didn’t want to think about that. In fact, her whisper was an excellent reminder that he should leave.
He slipped from the bed, washed then dressed as he watched Haley sleep. He told himself that it was good that she loved another guy, because then she’d have no expectations from him. It had been sex, just sex. Great sex, but just sex.
It was simpler when no one expected more, when it was just a transaction.
He checked the time. He had a class to teach at seven at the club, a kind of punishment from Kyle for taking every Friday night off.
But Damon didn’t mind the early class. He was the last one to complain about anything about F5F, because he felt lucky to be a part of it. He’d work every day and every moment, except that he needed to help his mom.
He hoped she’d slept well.
He checked his phone but there was only one missed call, from Kyle at the club, recorded just after Damon had left the hospital with Haley. That the hospital hadn’t called or left a message was probably a good sign.
He tugged on his jacket, then took a minute to examine the photograph on the fridge. There. That had to be her younger brother in the second row. Same chin. Same coloring. Same smile. Even with a buzz cut, the resemblance was clear. Damon wished the kid well, then turned to leave.
Haley had rolled into the hollow in the bed he’d abandoned, as if seeking his heat.
She was still smiling.
On impulse, Damon tugged a day pass for F5F out of his wallet. He wrote a quick note on it, then left it on the kitchen counter before he could change his mind.
By the time the apartment door had locked behind him, Damon regretted the impulse, but there was nothing he could do about it.
In fact, he had to get moving if he was going to get home, change and get to the club before that class started.
He shouldn’t have left the card.
He shouldn’t have added the note.
He shouldn’t have made love to Haley.
He shouldn’t have taken, even though she had so much to give—but she’d been irresistible. One night would have to be enough.
Damon hoped that Garrett guy knew what he was missing.
He listened to Kyle’s message as he walked home.
Haley awakened alone.
She wasn’t surprised, but she was disappointed. She sat up, sighed, then did her stretches, as if it was a Saturday morning like any other. She had a shift starting at noon and needed to get some groceries. She started to make a list of errands and rearrange it according to importance, her usual mental triage, when she saw the card on the counter.
Flatiron Five Fitness.
She was on her feet immediately, knowing Damon had left it. Was it his number? An invitation? A suggestion that she call or they get together again? Haley thought of a dozen possibilities, each better than the last, by the time she picked it up.