Chapter 5

DAMIEN

His kiss drove me mad, I have never kissed anyone like this…not since him

It was a punishing kiss, because something about it made me want to draw away, and at the same time, it made me want to take him right here, right now, find out what sounds this perfect mouth could make. And I still want to watch him dance

He pulled back and stared at me, chest rising, face flushed. The thought that I might look the same way ran into my own head, and I claimed his mouth again. He bit on my lower lip and pulled slightly, and I whimpered

I whimpered

I must really be losing my mind, and for a complete stranger. The sound seemed to do something for me because something about the kiss changed, it felt even more charged now, needy on both ends and dizzying

He pushed on my chest, and at first I thought he was pushing me away but his mouth never left mine, and I realized he wanted me to sit. I led us both backwards and sat down, him astride me, not breaking the kiss

The position gave me the opportunity to touch him even more, and he was perfect. He started to move on top of me, and I did it again. Whimpered. Just who was this man

I easily flipped us around, laying down now, me on top of him and made to remove his belt, but he reached down and stopped my hands, and said just one word, “No.

No? What did no mean? I could tell he wanted this as much as I did, but I wasn't about to force myself on anyone and he was still wearing that stupid mask. I didn't want to take that off either without his permission

I resigned to just touching him through his pants and it made me even worse

I needed release, and he must have thought about it because he reached for my belt and undid it. I didn't say no, why would I

He tilted his head up to look at me, and I imagined what his eyes must look like behind his mask. I just nodded at him, incapable of words, and adjusted myself so I was kneeling and he was sitting up again

I thought his mouth was the simple best thing ever, and I tried to stay as still as possible, to keep it going for longer. I lost that fight when his tongue flicked over me

Minutes later we sat still, silence hanging between us but comfortable still, like we had known each other for way longer than one night

“I need to go now.” He said, and stood

“What? Why?” I asked

“I've got work tomorrow.” He answered. Oh. This wasn't his only work

I nodded and he started to walk away

“Wait,” he turned around, “will you be back?” I asked

He looked like he was going to say no, but he nodded, “Yes, I will.” And then he was gone

I only realized later I didn't offer him payment, and he didn't ask either

Days after that, I kept my eyes open for him, watched the dance stage in case he was there again, but he didn't show up and no one seemed to know who he was

Had he lied to me? I felt anger at that thought. Or maybe, he was kept at work. That was much better to think. Only it didn't make me feel any ease, he had somehow worked his way into my system and I wasn't so sure if I wanted to get him out, at least not so soon

Someone appeared behind me, “What is it, Duke?” I bit out. He whispered, and my anger just multiplied

Yet another person on the job had been arrested, and although he wasn't talking, there was no telling when any of them would break and say something they shouldn't. Threatening their lives, and families could only do so much

“Do you want us to send another warning, get the LAPD to back off?” He asked

“No, don't do angry stupid like the last time. I don't kill people senselessly and killing that woman was senseless. The next time you make a decision without me, I'd show you just what kind of people I kill and how. Leave, I'll think up something.” My voice was cold, and he disappeared just as silently as he came

They had made a big, unnecessary show the last time. Even if they had wanted to send a warning like that, they could have blown up the empty car alone. Reasons like this are why I prefer to work alone or with people who can follow orders. I probably should do something about that

Movement on the stage caught my eye, and I was disappointed to see it wasn't him, but someone else who was trying to copy his dance steps from days ago and was failing spectacularly at it. I wanted to drag them off the stage by the hair

I left my drink, and got up, looks like I'll be heading home early tonight

The kids would be asleep by now, but Diana would be trailing around the house like a ghost

It had been a marriage of convenience, one to keep me down before ran off with the school's charity case. My parents never used his name when they spoke about him, it was always charity case or scholarship student, like it just got handed to him and he didn't work his way for it

I still remember that day clear and fresh, I had been happy until my part brought him up

It was either him or I'd leave and I chose to leave, it killed me to not have been able to even as much as leave him a note

It's time to go home, or just drive around. I wasn't the type to sulk and it wouldn't start now

My phone rang as soon as I got outside, it was one of the cops on our payroll

“Banks are being looked into.” He said quickly and hung up. I felt like kicking something or punching someone, or something. For the first time in years, it looked like we were going to suffer slight loses. And slight as they might be, I didn't like to lose. Something had to be done, I'll call the bank make sure they weren't tattling away and then devise a new system to move funds around

This was business and sometimes loses happen, I just don't like it happening to me. Not me Damien Salvatore

The next night he was back and I was just making my way to him when I got a call that had me hurrying out, he looked disappointed to see me leave or maybe I had imagined it

I should invite him to my private rooms sometime, I get the feeling he wouldn't say no and something about that agitated me. I would wait to have him, and all of him this time, and not just kisses, as nice as they might be

I made a few calls when I got out, and got certain things in place. The new drugs were ready and distribution had to go smoothly. In the meantime, the police have to be given a distraction, maybe a warning, or feed them a new lead to throw them off

I made a final call to Duke, “It might be time to send a warning, a better one this time. Let's meet.” I said, and hung up

Busines could be bad for others, but not for Damien Salvatore...............................?..”?......ad for others, but not for Damien Salvatore