“Tell me about the former employee who claims he suffered mental abuse at your hands, was forced to retire early, and you paid off public officials and inspectors.” Sky took another bite, and Damien watched as she slurped the spaghetti into her mouth. Her lips were pursed together, and he had to shift in his seat to get more comfortable.
Damien dragged his eyes away from her lips. “He called rehab mental abuse. He was using drugs on company time and almost killed another employee. I sent him to rehab, paid all the bills, and supported his family while he was out of work.
“He was back for six months and failed another drug test. I gave him a very generous retirement package and sent him to a different rehab with a longer stay.” Damien ran his hand down his face, he had to stop watching her eat, his pants were tight across his cock, and he knew he couldn’t stand anytime soon.
Sky smirked at him and kept eating.
He narrowed his eyes and continued the story. “Four months after his last rehab stay, his wife left him and took the kids. I gave them the money they needed to start over. He was using again and had become abusive to them.”
Sky wiped her mouth and shifted in her seat, the movement caused her robe to open a little. She glanced down and picked up her wine, ignoring the slight show she was giving him. “Wow, I’m sorry that wasn’t reported. You really do get a bad rap, and I now realize it’s completely undeserved.”
“I would rather nothing be said honestly. If they reported what I actually did, then everyone would expect a handout. Let them think I’m an asshole. It’s easier. Those who matter know the truth.” Damien leaned forward and rested his elbows on the small table, this position meant he could sneak peeks at the crest of her breasts.
“Okay, one more question and I’m done.” Sky pushed her plate away and leaned back crossing her legs. Her robe slid to the side, and Damien couldn’t tear his eyes off the slice of thigh that was now bare. “Tell me the truth about this town. The Mayor, the Sheriff… everything.”
Chapter Sixteen
The more Damien spoke, the more Sky relaxed. He was so not like Adam. In fact, he was the total opposite. Adam had been in the papers all the time. She’d met him when she worked at his parent’s company as an assistant. They’d moved so fast and soon she had a key to his place. He kept pressuring her to marry him, but she wasn’t ready. There had always been some story or other about him in the papers. All the conquests. But he’d always told her they were making things up.
She’d believed him. Like the naïve idiot she’d been. Until she caught him with his pants down. First on a day she knew he was home and decided to surprise him by going to his place with soup since he was sick. He’d been balls deep in his maid.
As if that hadn’t been traumatizing enough, she’d broken things off and avoided him. But one day working late, she found him in his father’s office fucking his father’s secretary. That was the final straw. She quit after that. But that whole experience had left her very judgmental of men like him and Damien.
But Damien wasn’t like Adam. He was closer to being the perfect man, and she’d judged him harshly. Now she just had to ignore the fact he wasn’t for her. She was there to find him a mate. Would it be bad to sleep with a client knowing she wasn’t the one for him? Her body screamed to take what she wanted while she could, but her heart said she wouldn’t ever forget him if she took that step.
Her whole mindset about not sleeping with him took a hit now that she knew he wasn’t a jerk. Plus, being around him made her whole system go haywire. She wanted to kiss him so badly, and the urge to be held by him was getting harder and harder to fight.
Gerri’s words came back to haunt her. A one-night stand. A great cock, and a good man to go with it. Should she do it? She had never had a one-night stand in her life. In fact, she’d never even had casual sex. She’d dated Adam for months before finally sleeping with him. Yeah, and look how that turned out. Okay, that was a bad example. Maybe she needed to do things differently now. What if a fling with Damien was just what she needed?
“Everything?” he said to her statement. “That’s a long story. Are you sure you want to hear it tonight? I’ll tell you, I promise, but it is related to the former Mayor’s death, I’m sure, so this could take a while.” Damien’s eyes trailed over her the swell of her breast and then down to her thigh. She could feel her nipples pebbling with his heated gaze.
With a slightly breathy voice, she responded. “It can wait till tomorrow. It’s only fair I apologize properly to you though. I misjudged you and I’m very sorry.”
Damien stood and walked around the table to stand next to her. “I’ll accept your apology if you seal it with a kiss.”
Sky looked up at him, aware at his height he could look right down her robe but he never took his eyes away from hers. “What about your mate? You've been honest with me, so I will be with you. I fear if I let myself be close to you, I’ll never find my way out again. I don’t think I can sit back and watch you meet your mate afterward.”
“Really? Why’s that?”
She shrugged. “I keep trying to talk myself into giving in to temptation with you,” she told him. “I mean, I’ve never wanted a man like I want you,” she admitted, her face hot. “But I’m not a casual sex type of person, Damien. I…I’m committed. I don’t like going from person to person, and I take relationships seriously.” She bit her lip. “So you see, I don’t think that would work.”
Damien smiled and grabbed her hand pulling her to her feet.
“It’s a good thing you don’t have to worry about that.”
She raised her brows. “Why not? Don’t you want a mate?”
“Oh, I do. I want my mate more than anything. She’s the only woman I want.”
She tried to pull back but he held her to him. “So this-”
“Is exactly what I want. You. You’re my mate, Sky.” Damien’s eyes glowed yellow, and Sky’s legs shook.
“Wait. I don’t understand. Why Gerri would send me here to interview you then…” Sky trailed off as she thought about what she knew of Gerri Wilder. “I can’t believe I fell for her game.” She looked into Damien’s eyes. “I’m your mate? Why didn’t you say anything? How did you not laugh at me every time I said I was here to find your mate?”
Damien wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest. She could feel the hard panes of his chest against her breasts.
“You hated the thought of who I was. I wasn’t going to hold you to me against your will. I wanted you to want me despite what you heard.” Damien licked his lips, and Sky groaned, she wanted to taste them. God. Now that she knew she was his mate, her entire body had chosen to become super aware of him.
“I didn’t hate you. I wanted to, but I didn’t. I’ve been fighting the attraction from the first moment I saw you.” Sky ran her hands up his arms to his chest, she placed both on his pecs and pushed him. He wasn’t expecting it so he took two steps back and hit the bed. He dropped onto the end, and Sky walked over, pushing him back.