Chapter 3

His blue eyes searched mine.

- He lied about not knowing how to dance. - His fingers caressed my waist. - You seem to know very well what you're doing.

I felt my face burn at having been discovered and looked away from him, returning to his collar. Damien laughed softly and his chest shook. - Is my appearance so astonishing, Miss Ellen? - He whispered and I felt the hairs of his stubble touch my face. His perfume was a fusion of notes unfamiliar to my sense of smell, but still undeniably overwhelming. - Or was it just impetuous nostalgia for his friends?

Once again, his voice was full of smugness and irony. My tongue couldn't keep itself inside my mouth:

- Do you consider irony to be a kind of charm?

To my surprise, he let out another hoarse laugh. Then he pulled me closer, if that was possible. His hands made a bold path down my bare back. It sent a shiver through my entire body.

- You always have an answer on the tip of your tongue, don't you? I like that. - I felt him brush his lips against my neck and I gasped. -

I also like that wonderful smell of yours. - That... That's not right. - I protested, but I didn't recognize my voice.

She sounded a bit groggy.

- It's all right, my Darling. - Damien's lips touched my ear. - Starting with those fantastic curves of yours that are driving me insane. - The velvety tone of his voice confused all my nerve fibers, and his mouth close to my skin sent shivers down my entire body.

I felt the blood rush to my face at his compliment and I didn't dare raise my face to resist the urge to turn to him. Then I tried to concentrate on the people around us.

I was surprised to realize that most of them were watching us. He's the evening's honoree, Ellen, what did you expect? Calm down. But I still couldn't help the slight tremor that spread through my body. I didn't usually attract attention and I liked it that way. How could I not draw attention to myself when my back was completely bare in that dress?

My hands started to freeze.

- Calm down. - Damien seemed to notice my nervousness and stroked my waist in an attempt to calm me down.

It didn't work.

- Everyone's watching. - I stammered.

- Of course they are my Darling. You're the most beautiful woman of the evening. - I felt him bring his nose close to my neck again. - The men are looking at you because they want you and the women are looking at you because they're jealous.

- Jealous? - I turned to look at him.

- Yes. Because they'd all like to be where you are now.

I looked at him again, perplexed. He really did think he was the last Coca-Cola in the desert, but what made me angry was the fact that he was probably right.

- Do you know what they say about a man's ego, Mr. Mason? Damien turned his blue eyes away from my lips and rested them on mine.

- I don't know, Miss Ellen, but I can see that you're very eager to tell me. - His gaze flashed in defiance and urged me on.

- An inflated ego is the worst enemy anyone can have, because it is the beginning of a man's decline.

I saw him arch his left eyebrow in surprise and then smile amusedly.

- I have to disagree with the lady. - Damien stroked my back again and I had to try to concentrate on his words. - I consider ego to be beneficial. We all like to be admired and it increases our self-esteem. Besides, deep down it's good to love being envied or even hated. Nobody wastes their time envying the ugly or hating the weak.

It was my turn to be surprised. Damien was not only handsome, I realized that he was also intelligent and perceptive. I felt sick. It was unfair that one person had so many qualities. I couldn't help my bitterness:

- That was certainly a good point, Mr. Mason. - He nodded. - But I would still suggest that you keep your ego on a leash. You never know when it might get the better of you and bite someone. Damien's eyes widened at the audacity of my words and for a second I thought he would finally finish the dance and leave me alone, but to my misfortune he started laughing and held me even tighter against him.

- Am I getting the wrong impression, or am I dancing with the only woman in the room who doesn't approve of me?

I suddenly felt guilty. I shouldn't even be there, let alone judging someone I barely knew. What right did I have?

I stared at my feet, ashamed of my rude attitude. Damien brought his lips close to my ear once more:

- You don't have to worry about that, my Darling. I'm the only one biting here and I'll only do it if you ask me to.

His words and his bold tone of voice made my skin crawl. And I was irritated to realize how much I had enjoyed it. I had to put an end to that dance.

- That was very bold of you! - I tried to pull away from him, but to no avail. He was stronger and held me in his arms.

- My Darling, you still have no idea how cheeky I can be. - His hands went down to my hips and caressed them subtly.

- Damien... - I gasped his name in a feeble attempt to protest, but the tingle his touch caused on my skin made me lose focus temporarily.

- You're going against a lot of my expectations, Ellen. - He confessed as he trailed his mouth down my neck. - But I can't deny how attracted I am to all this.

I felt his lips place a kiss on the curve between my shoulder and my neck and I gasped into his arms once more. He smiled against my skin and I lowered my head in shame, because it was clear that the attraction was mutual. My body responded to him before I could stop myself from doing so.

Damien stopped touching my hip and held my chin. Then he lifted my face, forcing me to look at him:

- I think I've found what I was looking for.