Free Damian by Jessica Wood Page A

my name.”
    “Oh shut up. Don’t think like that,” Kelly barked. “Hey, that redhead just got up. Looks like she’s about to leave. Let’s go over.”
    I looked over again at Damian’s direction.
    “Call me,” I heard the redhead say to Damian with a wink as she slipped him a piece of paper. She finished her cocktail and slowly pulled out a knotted cherry stem from her mouth, giving it a flirtatious flick with her tongue. “I told you I can double-knot it.” She pursed her lips seductively as she dropped the stem into the empty cocktail glass.
    “Slut,” Kelly hissed under her breath.
    Damian looked down at the cherry stem and raised an eyebrow. He looked up, gave the redhead a smoldering look, and smiled. “I had no doubt,” he said seductively.
    I looked around and noticed that we weren’t the only girls who were seeing this. I noticed that all the girls near the bar were gazing lustfully at Damian. I felt a rush of anger flood through me, and I wasn’t sure why I was so upset.
    To my surprise, when the redhead turned to leave, Damian looked directly at me and smiled. And immediately, my anger disappeared. I hated myself again for allowing him to affect me so easily.
    “Hey, beautiful. What can I get for you and your friends?” I felt Kelly nudge me hard from behind, motioning me to move closer towards him.
    “Hi,” I said and avoided his gaze. There was so much I wanted to say to him, but I knew I shouldn’t. He hadn’t done anything wrong. He was single and free to do whatever and whomever he wanted. And it was I who chose not to be a part of that.
    “Sex on the Beach?”
    I immediately looked up at him. “You remembered?” I was surprised that he’d remembered my favorite drink.
    There was a split-second pause before he said, “Lucky guess.” He flashed me a smile.
    “Oh.” I felt a little disappointed, but I didn’t let it show. “Yes, that would be great.” Then I turned to Kelly and Jen, who were both staring at Damian in silent awe. “What do you guys want? I’ll take care of this round.”
    “Captain Morgan and Coke,” Kelly said.
    “Vodka tonic,” Jen said.
    “Coming right up, ladies,” Damian said. He then leaned across the bar toward me. I thought he was about to kiss my cheek, but he didn’t. Instead, he whispered in my ear, “Have you missed me?”
    I was stunned by his words and the rasp of his voice. The heat of his breath against my ear sent shivers down my body.
    I turned to look at him and he gave me a wink. “Because I’ve missed you, beautiful.” With that, he leaned back and walked off to make our drinks.
    “What did he say?” Kelly and Jen asked as soon as he was out of earshot.
    “Uh…he asked if I missed him,” I admitted, still unable to process his words. Something stopped me from telling them what he had said next.
    “Ohmygod, he’s totally interested!” Jen shrieked with delight.
    “He’s just a cocky player, guys,” I tried to say convincingly. But even I was not convinced. As much as I had tried to resist it, I felt a flood of joy course through me at the idea that he was interested in me.
    “Oh come on. He didn’t say a thing to us! He is definitely interested!” Kelly reassured.
    “I think he just wants to sleep around.”
    “And what’s so wrong with that?” Kelly asked as she looked over at Damian. “I would do anything he wanted with me if I were you.”
    Maybe she’s right , a part of me thought. But then I realized that I wouldn’t be happy with just that. I wasn’t sure I could let Damian have his way with me and nothing else.
    “I just don’t know that it would be a good idea,” I said honestly.
    “Girl, just take it day by day. See what happens. What do you have to lose?” Jen asked.
    My heart.
    Before I could respond, Damian returned with our drinks.
    “Hey, Alexis. Jill and I are going to go dance for a bit,” Kelly said. Then she leaned toward my ear and whispered, “Stay and talk to him.”
    Before I