The second metallic bang rattled the hallway, sharp and cold, but Damon's eyes weren't on the door. They were on me.
Indeed in the dim gleam of my apartment, indeed with blood drying on his lip and prostration lining his features, Damon looked like something pulled from a storm — wild, dangerous, heartbreakingly violent. His aspect swept over me, searching, drinking me in, as if assuring himself I was truly unharmed.
It was the first time in three times he'd ever looked at me like that. Like I mattered. Like losing me would gut him. But the banging outside was real, and fear twisted inside me again.
" Damon — " My voice bucketed.
His hand rose incontinently — steady, defensive — touching the air in front of me, not relatively touching my skin but close enough that warmth radiated between us.
" Stay behind me, " he murmured. "Please." That "please" again. Soft. Raw. Different.
He pushed himself up from the lounge, quailing slightly, and I reached forward artificially — my fingertips brushing his forearm before I could stop myself.
He froze. Just like that, the world did too. His skin was warm under my touch. Too warm.
And when he turned his arm slightly, our fritters grazed — slightly, but enough to enkindle a spark that shot straight up my chine.
He smelled in a sharp breath, eyes locking onto mine like I'd pulled him out of the deepest darkness.
" Aurora " he muttered, voice low and shaken in a way I had no way heard before, " do n't touch me like that unless you mean it. "
My casket tensed sorrowfully.
I I did n't mean
You did." He stepped closer. Just an inch.
But it felt like a step into commodity dangerous.
His breath brushed my impertinence — a warm pat that made my knees hang treason. His hand lifted again, scrupling, nearly pulsing also he sluggishly cupped the side of my face.
It was so gentle it hurt.
" You can pretend all you want, " he rumored, " but I know you felt that. "
My lips parted, but no sound came out. How could I deny it? His hand was warm, steady, heartbreakingly familiar. Everything in me wanted to lean into his touch — wanted to flash back what it was like to be wanted. demanded. Seen.
But wanting him now was a dangerous thing.
I pulled back.
Incontinently, his hand fell, fritters entwining into a fist like he was physically restraining himself from reaching for me again.
" Damon, " I rumored, " you ca n't act like this now. "
His expression twisted — pain, guilt, craving. All tangled into one.
" I know, " he breathed. " I know I do n't earn to touch you. I know I lost the right. " His voice dropped to a broken scrape. " I just ca n't help trying. "
My heart swiped sorrowfully.
A soft thud echoed from the hallway again, but it sounded further down this time. The unknown texter's warnings echoed in my mind, but ever Damon's presence pulled my focus back to him.
He took a slow, deliberate step closer, closing the distance between us until the heat rolling off his body washed over me.
I stepped back artificially —
But my reverse hit the wall.
His jaw gripped.
Not in anger. In restraint. He didn't touch me. Didn't trap me.
Did n't move any closer.
He just stood there, breathing hard, fighting whatever war raged inside him.
" I did n't come then to make you hysterical , " he said vocally. " And I did n't fight those men to corner you. " His eyes fell to my lips — just for a a second then snapping back to my stare. And I cant stay away any longer.
My breath caught. The Damon I knew never voiced anything real. Never confessed. Never admitted need, fear, desire—anything that made him human. But this man? This man was undone.
" I allowed it, I was keeping you safe by staying distant, " he muttered, voice thick with remorse. " By hiding everything. By pretending I did n't want you so I would n't ruin you. "
A earthquake rolled through me.
" You did n't want me, " I rumored.
It slipped out before I could swallow it back.
He exhaled sprucely, pain flashing through his eyes.
Aurora God, Aurora — " He dragged a hand through his hair. " You suppose I did n't want you? You suppose I did n't — " His jaw tensed. He stepped closer, stopping just an inch down, breath unsteady. " I wanted you so poorly it spooked me. "
My heart stumbled.
" You noway showed it. "
His throat bobbed.
" I did n't know how. "
He swallowed.
" I still do n't. "
something in my gut twisted hard.
Because for the first time I believed him.
He lifted a hand again sluggishly, hesitantly and brushed a loose beachfront of hair back from my face. His fritters skimmed my impertinence so smoothly it felt like a ghostly kiss.
Fire contended under my skin.
Aurora, he murmured, " I'm not asking you to take me back.
He leaned in, his lips near my observance.
" I'm soliciting you to give me a chance to try. "
Heat pooled in my stomach. My casket tensed. My breath hitched in a way I could n't hide.
I abominated how well he could read me now — how the man who noway looked at me suddenly sounded to notice every breath, every fluctuate, every fear, every desire.
" You do n't get to say these effects now, " I rumored, voice shaking.
" I know, " he muttered, forepart lowering until it nearly touched mine. " But I'm saying them anyway. Because I ca n't pretend presently. "
His hand came up, fritters brushing the reverse of my neck. I felt the heat of his win, the steady palpitation in his wrist, the way his breath hitched when I did n't push him down.
We stood like that for a long moment
two people who used to partake a bed
but no way participated a twinkle
eventually breathing in sync.
A faint earthquake outside the door shattered the moment.
But Damon did n't move.
He stayed close.
Too close.
His voice dipped.
" I'm staying then tonight. "
I blinked. What? Damon, you ca n't
" You're not safe, " he said forcefully. I'm not leaving you alone again. Not tonight. Not any night until we know who those men were. "
His tone was final. Absolute. Defensive in a way that was both intimidating and comforting.
I shook my head. Damon
" I'll sleep on the floor if you want, " he muttered, stepping near again. " Or outside your door. Or on the stairs. I do n't care. "
His eyes softened.
" Just let me be near you.
My breath caught. He wasn't manipulating. He wasn't demanding. He wasn't using power or money or authority. This was Damon stripped bare. Raw. Human.
Demanding me in a way that felt like a concession times overdue.
" We're divorced, I said.
His eyebrows pulled together — pain slicing through the mask he used to wear so impeccably.
" You suppose a piece of paper can make me stop loving you? " he responded.
My heart slammed into my ribcage.
" I did n't know you did, " I breathed.
His chest rose sprucely.
" I did n't moreover, " he rumored, voice breaking.
Not until I watched you walk away." Silence. Thick. Heavy. Charged. The kind that existed right before a kiss. He didn't lean in. I did. Not forward. Just… not backward. I didn't move away. Didn't break the closeness. Didn't pull my face from his breath.
His eyes dropped to my mouth again — laggardly, reverent, pained — ahead he forced his eyes down, jaw tight with restraint.
Aurora he breathed.
Everything inside me quivered.
" I'm not kissing you tonight, " he said vocally.
My heart stuttered in confusion.
"Why?" I whispered. His answer nearly melted my bones. "Because when I kiss you again, you won't doubt me. And you're not ready for that yet." Heat rushed through me—deep, simmering heat that made breathing difficult. And before I could speak— before my heart could decide whether to break or to hope— the door shook violently again.
Damon's expression snapped into something sharp and murderous.
He pulled me behind him, his body shielding mine fully, voice low and furious
still, they'll have to go through me, " If they want her.