Chapter 8

Chapter 8

POV: “Adelaide

Damon tasted like a glass of sweet red wine, like fresh fruit and saltwater in a dizzying explosion of

emotions. He tasted like home, and it took every ounce of restraint I possessed to pull away from him

when our lips parted.

We were both gasping, staring at each other. There was a vicious hunger in his dark eyes as we

breathed in each other’s air. Drunk on the wine or the kiss, I wasn’t sure but all I knew was I wanted

more.

I licked my bottom lip, chasing the last remnants of his taste, and his eyes followed my movements

closely. The hunger in his eyes intensified as he watched me.

I smirked at him, a challenging glint in my eye. It seemed I enjoyed teasing him in this way. His lips

twitched into a sly smile, and his fingers weaved around the back of my head. I gasped as he pulled me

into him, crashing our lips together for another kiss. I let out a soft moan involuntarily. Damon was like a

raging inferno, consuming everything in his path as he drank me up like a man dying of thirst. I felt the

desire for him growing in me with each kiss. We couldn’t tear ourselves. away from one another.

Damon ran his hands over my body, grazing my breasts before settling on my hips. His hands gripped

them with some force, as if he was stopping himself from letting them continue to wander around my

body.

My hands slid down his chest, slowly making their way to his waist, trying to press myself closer, but he

didn’t let me. His grip tightened on my hips, holding me still while he devoured my mouth with. hungry

kisses.

I broke the kiss first, gasping for breath as he buried his face in my neck and inhaled deeply. I

shuddered, my body feeling hot all over as my lips ached from his brutal kiss. 1 arched my head.

backward, giving him full access to my neck.

I could hear my heart pounding loudly in my ears, but I didn’t care. The smell of him was intoxicating,

and I was lost in the moment, no longer caring about my dislike of him. And wondering how I had ever

disliked him to begin with.

Softly, he trailed tiny kisses up and down my neck as I caught my breath, and I shivered, trying

desperately to calm my racing heart. But it was no use while his lips were on me. My body craved him

now.

Then he leaned back, a smug look on his face, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. He always was

so proud of himself.

He leaned in once more at the same time I did, and our coordination was lost.

Our noses knocked together, and I winced, pulling back, the moment now gone. We both chuckled

slightly under our breath at the collision.

But then, we looked at each other, and the merriment was lost, the awkward silence almost too much.

to bear. I could still see the desire on his face, but I knew it was gone from mine. Embarrassment was

taking over as my mind raced to catch up with my actions.

I blushed furiously, avoiding his eyes as I tried to move from his lap, but his hands tightened on my

hips, preventing my movement. I couldn’t stay like this, not now that reality had come crashing back

in on us.

I glared at him, crossing my arms. “I’d like to go back to my seat.”

“Tough luck,” Damon smirked, “I just so happen to like you right here.”

Chapter 8

My cheeks burned in indignation as I glared into his dark eyes. I had to admit to myself, I happened to

like being there too. I never imagined I’d feel any type of attraction to him.

Damon chuckled, and I felt his fingers slide down my hip. My breath caught in my throat at the intimate

feeling, but my skin felt cold as I suddenly remembered something that made me scowl.

This position was all too familiar. When I was sixteen. I just so happened to walk into Corinna’s room,

finding her on top of Damon, his shirt hanging off his chest.

I cursed myself for getting lost in the moment. Damon was always a playboy, and he always would be.

Fake marriage or not, I couldn’t fall for him, or think this was anything more than a business

arrangement.

“Sorry, but I’m not a replacement for Corinna,” I said bitterly, hoping the words stung him. He’d picked

her first, afterall.

He frowned as I threw off his hands, sliding over the console and back into my seat.

Damon’s dark eyes watched my every movement, but the memory of his hands on Corinna’s hips when

we were teenagers was a huge part of why I continued to dislike him. She had always tried to make me

jealous-or angry. He should’ve known better.

“That time..” Damon started, running a hand through his tousled hair, “with Corinna…”

“I don’t want to know what you and my sister did.” I hissed. “The memory of it is enough, thanks.”

He gazed at me for a silent minute and then sighed, looking out his window, avoiding making eye

contact with me. I looked straight ahead, my heart beat slowing, and my breathing returning to normal.

The car fell into silence, and I gazed at my darkened apartment building. Just as I was seriously

considering running inside and never talking about this ever again. something rumbled in my pocket.

I jumped at the sudden burst of sound and fished my phone out. I swiped to unlock it, scrolling to my

messages, and my mood went from bad to worse.

It was from Corinna. Of course. She always did have the worst timing.

I’m rather disappointed you didn’t congratulate me and Ashton tonight. Having a baby is a big step, and

I’d love to know we have your complete support. XOXO,’

I ground my teeth together, suddenly fed up with everything and everyone. The entire situation was

f*cked up, and my frustration reached a boiling point. I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to say something.

“I don’t get it,” I snapped, shoving my phone back into my pocket as I glared at Damon. He raised an

eyebrow like he didn’t know what I meant, and I scoffed.

No matter how much he played like it, I knew he wasn’t dumb. He proved that tonight at dinner.

“It doesn’t make sense, why you agreed to marry me when you’ve always hated me.”

I sulked in my seat, crossing my arms over my chest and staring out my window now. I didn’t want to

look at him. I was too angry.

“Hate you?” Damon asked, bewildered.

“YES!” I said as I threw my hands up in the air, “You’ve always been a pain in my “ss ever since we

were kids. You’d take all my toys and throw them on the roof,” I listed out the things he’d done one by

one, raising a finger. “You’d make up stupid nicknames like Addie Batty, just cause of that one time I

got attacked by a bat. People called me that all through middle school!”

Damon smiled at the fond memory, “To be fair, that was funny.”

“You told all the guys in high school not to date me because I’ve “got no boobs”!”

Chapter 8

“To be fair, you didn’t.” Damon pointed out with a grin. His eyes trailed my chest with a sly look,

“Though I admit, you’ve certainly blossomed in that area.”

“Shut up!” I blushed, covering my chest from his prying eyes.

Damon laughed, “I’ve never hated you, Addie. You’ve always been too serious for your own good.”

I scoffed, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re just like my mom was,” he replied bluntly.

My eyes widened as I stared at him in shock, but he continued before I could even respond.

“Always thinking too hard about things and worrying yourself into the ground over nothing.”

He shook his head, looking over at me with a charming smile, “Did it ever occur to you that I did those

things to get your attention? That maybe I liked you?”

My heart nearly stopped at the serious look in his eyes. I’d never even considered that.

He grinned, a distant look in his eyes like he was seeing something else in me. “You were always so

cute when we were kids, running to me whenever something was wrong or you needed help. And I

liked being able to help you.”

I blushed, and then a smirk crossed his face.

“It was always fun to tease you until you’d turn bright red, Applelaide.”

“You jerk! That wasn’t even a good one.” I huffed, rolling my eyes. I’d almost fallen inot his trap,

believing he had liked me or something.

No, I was just fun to tease, apparently. Even now, I hated being teased because of him.

“Not my best, no,” Damon chuckled and glanced at me.

“I’m leaving. I hope you forgot to pay your water bill and can’t take a shower,” I said and cursed him. as

I climbed out of the car.

Damon shrugged. “Whatever you say. I’ll see you tomorrow anyway.”

I froze, just before shutting the door as his car rumbled to life.

“What? Why would I see you tomorrow?” I frowned. I didn’t want to see him tomorrow.

His eyes landed on my stomach with a smirk.

“We can’t let Ashton and Corinna beat us. They can’t get that inheritance, and we both know it. They

don’t deserve it,” he said lazily, but his eyes showed his true heart.

He was serious, and he was right.

I nodded but still wasn’t seeing where he was going with this. “No, they don’t, but what does that have

to do with us seeing each other tomorrow?”

“We’ve got to get started on our end, too, don’t we?” he asked, nonchalantly, as if he was asking about

the weather.

My mouth dropped open and he laughed.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be sure to follow everything you request. Be ready for me, won’t you, princess?”

He flashed a flirtatious smile and winked at me. I shut the door, in a trance and watched him drive

away.

I stood there in shock. I knew he was right but that didn’t stop me from finally feeling the weight of the

responsibility that had been put on us.

A baby with Damon?

Adelaide in kindergarten would punch me in the stomach