“Nice try!”
“Yeah, you’re right. I suppose it’s not good manners to touch a guy’s stuff on the first date.” Geez he’s cocky. But I like that part of him.
“So this is a date now?” I’m trying to read his gaze, not sure if he’s making a joke or not.
“Do you want it to be?” His voice is heating up my core – guess this is what Kiara means by sex-on-a-stick.
“Not if I have to touch your tools.”
He ponders for a moment as if thinking it over.
“I’m okay with that – for now. It’s not what’s most important to me this time.” He smiles, open and easy and unguarded. It hits me – he’s serious.
“Maybe before we date, let’s get to know each other a little. We take turns to answer questions truthfully.”
He sticks out his bottom lip and flutters those long lashes, and dammit – disheveled hair and at least two days stubble on his jaw should not look quite this disturbingly sexy.
“What if I can’t answer?” he asks. I roll my eyes and kick up some sand.
“Well, hell, just say that then. Let’s start simple, tits or ass?” His eyes pop.
“That’s not easy. We already concluded that you have pretty perfect tits,” he tilts his head and a small wave splashes over our feet. “But I’ll let you in on a little secret. You also have a pretty perfect ass. Please don’t make me choose!” He pulls a sour face with pleading eyes that remind me of a toddler. I’m such a sucker for punishment.
“Brains or brawn?” His question.
“Both … I need something to drool over during deep conversations.”
“So you mean ME.”
“Cocky much?”
“It’s in the genes. But I can be humble.”
I snort. This man won’t know humility if it hits him on his very fine ass.
“What is your perfect girl like?” I’m getting closer to the more serious stuff.
“You.” My heart skips a single beat. Is he serious or is this a joke?
“Damion, you need to be serious. I know you like brunettes for instance. But what else?”
“I don’t like brunettes actually. Not at all.” The intense no-nonsense tone in his voice makes me turn my head and look at him. His earnest expression catches me off-guard, but what holds my interest is those apple-greens. They are wide and fathomless, and I find myself utterly unable to look away.
“But you only … eh … have sex with dark-haired girls,” I mutter, eyes still locked with his.
“Yes, I did.” He sighs. “Because they’re the opposite of what I dreamed about, and I didn’t want to spoil the dream.”
“Hey, badboy.” Someone grabs Damion around his neck and I almost yelp in shock. I must have been so lost in his eyes, that I haven’t noticed the small group of joggers.
The bunch of pretty girls, wearing skimpy outfits, stop running and they all stare at us.
Damion lets loose one of those BEAST grins, and greets them with a “Hi, there, girls.” Effortlessly charming. And so frickin annoying.
“Hey,” Thalia shoves him with the ease of two people extremely comfortable with each other and extremely familiar. “You didn’t call me back.”
“I was a little distracted,” he winks at her.
She peeps at me, “It’s gonna cost you at least one decent meal.”
“I’ll buy you all the food you want, Sweetpea.”
I choke, on my jealousy. Damion slides me a glance and I occupy myself by acting unaffected.
Thalia steps back but keeps her arm around his shoulder as she turns to me. I notice the wrist compression sleeve on her other arm – Axel told me she injured it when they fell with the bike.
“Hi, Mel,” she smiles warmly and it’s not a fake one either. “Nice to see you again.”
I give her a silly wave, feeling guilty for being jealous of her since she seems really nice. She turns to the small group who’s been silently eyeing Damion. “Girls, this is Melaena, Enrique’s younger sister.” So they know my brother.
The girls suddenly turn their attention to me with a few ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’. Making me wonder exactly how intimately that knowledge may be.
They start jogging again and wave goodbye. Then Thalia turns around and shouts, “I’ll see you at the airport!” while giving him two thumbs up.
“So she’s going to fly with you?” I feel stupid for saying that as soon as it’s out, but my mind is on a warpath led by the green-eyed monster.
“Yep, her next job is also in London, so we decided to fly together. But knowing Thalia I’m going to receive a lecture the whole flight. I do love that girl but she’s extremely straight forward and it can drive me nuts.”
He grabs my hand again, asking “Favorite movie?” as if nothing happened.
“Seriously?” I stop and pull my hand out of his, annoyed, shaking my head. I almost fell for his charm again. Stupid. This is our zoo day, and tonight Thalia is the girl he replaces me with.
“What? Is it not my turn?” He pulls his fuck-me face on. But this time I’m going to be strong.
“It is, but you’re an ass. Why not take me home and just eat lunch with Thalia.” The malicious bitch in me is seeing green.
“Mel, are you jealous?”
“Pfft.” Yes. “No.”