A Beautiful Thought (The Beautiful Series) (14 page)

I kept my expression neutral while hating the notion of lying to my loved ones as I looked over my shoulder at him. “For now, that would be best,” I agreed.

Damon neared, and I spun on my heels to face him.

“Oh, you so owe me for this one, sweetheart.
Big time
,” he teased in my ear, not catching my inner turmoil.

“And how’s that?” I gaped at him, happy to play along.

He stepped toward me and pointed to his mouth. His eyes reflected mischief. “For starters, I haven’t had a kiss in hours.”

I threw my arms around his nape, stretched up on my toes, and kissed him senseless until butterflies fluttered in my belly. I could not believe he was here at my family’s house with me.

“Did that settle my debt?” I breathed against his mouth, drawing back.

He deliberated for a second and then grinned impishly at me. “Eh, it’s a good start.”

I pretended to be offended, and I playfully poked him in his rock-hard abs, which probably hurt my finger more than him. “No more kisses for you today then.” I smirked before walking off.

He laughed and headed outside after me.

Damon and I joined my parents at the patio table. Caroline was playing with a soccer ball in the backyard. Soccer was something she had always wanted to play as a child, but she never did, other than around the house, due to her hectic swimming schedule.

The four of us made small talk while watching my sister. My dad asked Damon about his job, and he told my dad about some of the projects he had worked on. The two of them then kicked off a conversation about sports while my mom and I chatted about some basic upkeep she was planning to start soon on the house.

After having a nice dinner outside, I kept my parents company at the table while Damon joined Caroline at her picnic table. I observed the two of them, and she appeared to be sketching in a white notebook. She tore a sheet of paper out for him, and she handed him her pencil. Damon started drawing while speaking softly to her, and she watched him intently. Once Damon finished, he handed the pencil back to her. With a huge smile on her face, she glanced between her paper and his while she mimicked the drawing on his paper.

“I’ve never seen Caroline take to someone so quickly before,” my mom said, her voice thick with emotion.

“Me either,” I agreed softly, keeping my gaze on Damon and Caroline.

“Don’t let that man slip away, Gail,” Mom said affectionately. “I hope he’s a keeper.”

I rotated to face her. “I hope so, too,” I admitted under my breath, allowing myself to think about the future for the first time.

~Damon~

Days had passed since visiting Gail’s family, and I really thought they were all truly great people. The only part that had irritated me was Gail keeping our living situation a secret from her mom and dad. I had questioned her several times about her reasoning for doing so, but she would dodge all my efforts. It made me feel as though she was ashamed of me, of us, or maybe she did not want to let me into her life that prominently. I also guessed it was due to her wanting to keep her personal life private from her family, which didn’t make much sense to me. But all be damned, I was going to get to the bottom of it and make her open up to me, so I could know what was going on inside that head of hers. We were dating, for Christ’s sake, and I would not tolerate any secrets between us.

I leaned my hip against the kitchen counter and crossed my arms over my chest while lost in deep thought, knowing she would be walking through the front door at any second since she had texted me before leaving work. Sure enough, Gail walked in and shut the door behind her. She looked sexy as hell, wearing her pink scrubs, but I pushed away the compulsion to go over and kiss her.

We were going to talk.

Then, I would kiss her.

Gail took off her shoes and slowly ambled to the kitchen counter, eyeing me with every step. Her expression showed that she seemed to know what was coming.

“Hello,” she said with nerves lacing her voice, halting in front of me.

“Hello,” I responded.

Gail’s eyes searched mine, and the mere sight of her took everything I had not to let my questions go and carry her off to my room.

“Everything okay?” she asked, placing her hands at my sides.

“It will be,” I murmured, reassuring myself more than her. “After you answer my questions,” I added.

She shifted her head from side to side with an exasperated sigh. “Not this again,” she said softly, leaning into me.

“Oh, yes, again,” I refuted, keeping my irritation in control. “This time, you’re going to answer me and stop being evasive about why you can’t tell your family that we are living together.”

Her brows rose at me. “And what makes you think that?” she said.

I wanted to throw her sassy behind over my shoulders and take her to bed. I loved that sweet mouth of hers. It turned me on, but at the same time, it drove me crazy. I admired the way she challenged me. It kept me on my A-game. I shook away the idea and reined in my dirty thoughts.

“Because there will be no secrets between us, Gail,” I replied matter-of-factly.

“I already told you, it’s not a secret,” she sighed.

“Then, why won’t you tell me what your reasoning is?” I countered, feeling pissed off that she was still not letting me in.

“We just started dating, Damon, and our living arrangement has nothing to do with our relationship.” She then frowned as if her answer did not make sense even to herself, but she had no other explanation.

“Yes, it does,” I disagreed.

“Oh, it does, does it?” Anger flared in her eyes. “Thank you for clearing that part up,” she added, turning on her heels to walk away.

Fuck.
I gently grabbed her arm and pulled her to me, yearning to feel her body against mine.

“No, that didn’t come out right.” I shook my head in frustration. “You and I being roommates in the beginning was what led to us dating. It does not have anything to do with us now,” I explained, setting my hands on her waist. “What I want to know is why you won’t tell your parents that we’re living together,” I added, going back to my original objective, refusing to be deterred.

“Because of the fact that we are roommates. My parents won’t understand, and it will lead to more questions from them.”

Her effort to dodge my direct question made me wonder again if all this had to do with her finances.

Her hands came to either side of my face, holding it. “All I can tell you is that part has nothing to do with the way I feel about you, if that’s what you’re worried about,” she replied ambiguously.

Her clarification didn’t help me. “That answer isn’t good enough though.” I lowered my forehead against hers and gently tightened my hands on her hips. “I need more from you.”

I gave her a moment as she looked to be debating with herself.

She was so strong and independent. While those traits were admirable in a woman, I fucking hated being in the dark and arguing with my girl. I needed her to be more forthcoming with me.

I dipped my head, unable to hold back any longer, and I kissed her cheek and then her throat, breathing in her lavender scent. “Talk to me,” I whispered, “please.”

Gail drew back, lowered her hands to my arms and tilted her head up at me. “You are one stubborn ox.”

“The same could be said about you.” I grinned. “Except the ox part, of course.”

She unveiled a kindhearted smile before her eyes sobered. “Well, you already know that I needed a roommate because my hours at work were cut.”

“Yes,” I replied in acknowledgment.

“What I didn’t tell you was that I depended on those hours. I’m still paying off my college loans, and I help my parents with Caroline’s expenses,” she added in a sad tone that I felt all the way to my bones.

“Why couldn’t you just tell me that?” I asked, confused about her reasoning to hide from me what I had already conjectured.

“Because my finances are my own responsibility. I’ve always kept them private.” Vulnerability briefly passed in her eyes before she concealed it. “And once we started dating, I wanted to know that you were with me to be
with
me
and not out of guilt or obligation due to my circumstances.”

Her last reason made me see red.

I carefully spun her around and placed her ass against the counter. My hands rested on each side of the countertop, caging her in. Rage burned within me at the way she perceived herself and us.

“Understand this, Gail.” I looked directly into her eyes. “You are in my bed because I want you to be, not because it’s convenient since we are roommates.” Standing to my full height, I glided my hands up her sides and continued until I cradled her face. “It’s this, right here.” I watched her eyes shimmer with that constant energy and palpable connection I always felt when I was near her. I’d never felt that before in my life. “And I know you feel it, too, so don’t
ever
think that last part again.”

Gail bent forward and kissed one side of my cheek and then the other. “Thank you,” she said softly.

I leaned into her more. I fucking loved when her hands were on me. “For what?” I asked.

She moved to the corner of my mouth and kissed my lips. “For being you,” she replied simply.

I laughed quietly before turning serious again. “Gail”—I sighed—“I will have your back every step of the way, but I need you to be honest with me.” I tugged on her bottom lip, enjoying its softness, before I pulled back. “I don’t want you to stress over money when I can help you.”

Her eyes filled with fury. “That’s just it, Damon. I don’t need your help beyond our living arrangement. I’ve been financially independent for a long time. That’s the way I like it.”

“Well, that’s about to change, sweetheart,” I said, cupping her jaw. “Because a woman who shares my heart and bed will share my help, too.”

An assortment of emotions flitted across her face before she ended with a playful glare. It gave me hope that we were making progress at subduing her stubborn streak.

“I don’t know about the help, but certain portions of your speech sounded wonderful,” she teased.

I was done talking for now. All I could think about was her being naked and beneath me with my mouth taking hers. If I could not get her to see I was here to stay with my words, I sure as hell would show her with my body. I would just have to keep working on the rest.

I slid my hands under her ass and tossed her over my shoulder in one fluid movement. Her loud squeal filled the apartment. I headed straight toward my bedroom with a grin on my face.

“We are going to agree to disagree—for now,” I huffed, lightly smacking her lovely ass. “We’ll get back to it…after I’ve had my way with you.”

~Gail~

I squeezed his glutes good and hard to steady myself as he carried me off. My feelings about our conversation were all over the place. Nevertheless, I knew without a doubt that I cared deeply for him. Right now, all I could focus on was getting to have hot, passionate make-up sex with this handsome man who had somehow chosen me.

Damon set me down at the foot of his bed. I stepped into him and snuck my hands under the hem of his shirt while his mouth crashed over mine. It was as if he could not wait a second longer. He pushed his tongue forward, parting my lips, and I opened for him. With each dueling stroke, I gave him everything. He consumed me in every way.